This year’s Gloucester Daffodil Festival is packed with plenty of family-friendly activities and events. Locals and tourists alike will be able to celebrate the first normal festival in three years as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to drop.
Make plans to attend this weekend’s festival, “In Full Bloom, Celebrating Our History,” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Daffodil Festival Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, making its way from Gloucester’s Main Street Center, along Main Street and ending at Botetourt Elementary School. Neal Steele of WXGM FM 99.1 will serve as host.
From 10 a.m. to close on Saturday, Steve Gryb from Miami, “the Pied Piper of Percussion” will hold his “Percussion Petting Zoo,” offering a hands-on experience for children throughout the day.
Opening ceremonies will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Main Stage, which is located in the parking lot behind County Building Two. The food court is also located there.
The opening ceremonies will include the introduction of Little Miss Daffodil, the 2022 scholarship awards and the crowning of the 2022 Daffodil Festival Queen. This will be followed on the stage by the traditional bluegrass sounds of “The Whiskey Rebellion.”
From 1-2 on the Daffodil Village Stage will be the “Amazing Mutt Show.” The stage is located across Main Street from Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Gryb will present his “Rhythm is Gonna Get You” high-energy stage show there from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. His show will be held the same time on Sunday. The Ware Church Children’s Choir and Music Program, directed by Patti Taylor, will perform at 4.
Sunday’s activities include performances by “Soul Expressions” on the Main Stage beginning at 12:45 p.m. On the Daffodil Festival Stage, the Rose & Sword Academy of Irish Dance will perform from noon to 12:45 p.m.; the crowning of Little Miss Daffodil from 1-2 p.m.; Gryb’s show from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and local musician Louis Vangieri playing acoustic guitar from 4-5 p.m.
A shuttle will be available at Gloucester High School both days. The shuttle ride costs $5 per person round trip. Children under two are free. Check daffodilfestivalva.org for details.