More than 160 vendors are expected to participate in the 27th annual Daffodil Festival that is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday along Gloucester’s Main Street.
“I think we’ve got a great weekend lined up,” said Gloucester’s special events coordinator Denise Carter. “There will be things for everybody.”
She said she has seen some comments of various Facebook pages that many former residents expect to come home to enjoy the festival. “I anticipate a lot of reunions on Main Street,” Carter said. “And that’s always one of those things that gets me excited about the festival.”
Hours for the festival are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Shuttle parking for $2 will be available starting at 8 a.m. from the Gloucester High School parking lot. Proceeds will benefit Literacy Volunteers of Gloucester.
One of the first major events Saturday is the Daffodil Festival Parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. from Main Street Center and continue to Botetourt Elementary School. Over 50 entries are expected to participate in this year’s parade, Carter said.
Andre Viette will be broadcasting his nationwide call-in garden show, “In the Garden with Andre Viette,” live from the colonial courthouse once again this year, beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday. Carter said that even though this broadcast begins before the actual starting time of the festival, the colonial courthouse will be open for those who would like to watch and listen to the live broadcast.
The opening ceremonies for the festival, including the crowning of this year’s Daffodil Festival Queen and scholarship awards, will begin at 11:15 on the main stage, located adjacent to the food court behind county office building #2.
Also on Saturday, tours of Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, Ware Neck, will be given by members of the Gloucester Master Gardeners beginning at 10:30 a.m. Tickets at $5 will be available Saturday near the bus stop at the corner of Duval Avenue and Main Street.
Other activities Saturday will include laser tag for children of all ages from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; the DMV 2 Go unit will be offering DMV services from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Gloucester Sheriff’s Office’s SIDNE vehicle will be on site from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; it simulates the effects of drunk driving as well as texting while driving.
Entertainment will be available throughout the day Saturday at several locations and will include the Island Boys, Susan Greenbaum, James Redmond and more. Gospel music by Brent Pirkey Ministries, Soul Seeking Disciples, and 2 of a Kind Plus will entertain visitors Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Active Adult Life Center stage.
Children’s activities including face painting, a magic show, strolling characters and more are planned throughout the festival.
On Sunday, visitors to the festival will once again be able to take advantage of the DMV 2 Go van, laser tag and the SIDNE vehicle, all from noon to 5 p.m.
The Rappahannock River Railroaders will be on Main Street Sunday, also from noon to 5 p.m.
Carter said this year’s Daffodil Festival 5K will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday on Ware House Road. The Daffodil Festival Rotary 2 Miler Fun Run will follow at 2, also on Ware House Road.
The Janitors will bring their music Sunday from 12:45-4 p.m. to the main stage.
Vendors at the festival Saturday and Sunday will sell everything from pottery, photography and paintings to handmade jewelry and furniture.
Carnival games and a petting zoo will be set up county office building #1 throughout the weekend.
The Mathews Lions Club will join other food vendors this year, Carter said, as they took last year off to revamp their vehicle.
Carter said this year’s festival will be centered more along Main Street rather than side streets like it used to be. “That way, when people ride by, they will see that something is definitely going on,” Carter said.
In other news, the Gloucester Main Library will be closed on Saturday for the festival, reopening Sunday. The Gloucester Point branch library will operate its regular hours.
Also, Daffodil Festival souvenirs will be available today from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday in the old jail building inside the court circle.
Carter said 25 people have served on this year’s Daffodil Council, planning and helping to make the festival become a reality. “Even though it started with 25, a couple hundred have made it possible,” she added.
Grand marshal
John Gordon III, owner/operator for Chick-fil-A of Gloucester, has been selected as grand marshal of the 2013 Daffodil Festival parade.
“He won a national award recently for his community work at Chick-fil-A,” Carter said, “and this is our opportunity to thank him too. He helps us out here at Parks and Rec quite a bit.”
Gordon was raised in Florida and North Carolina and attended the Roman Catholic seminary in Rome, Italy, for one year. After leaving the seminary, he pursued career opportunities in software sales and banking.
He married Erin in 2007 and in August 2010, the couple was selected by Chick-fil-A, Inc., to open the franchise in Gloucester. They celebrated its grand opening in January 2011. The Gordons have two children, Johnny and Frances.