Gordonsville Street Festival: Celebrate Fall, Food, and Old-fashioned Fun

Beneath the cool shade of the railroad track overpass that crisscrosses Main Street, parents and children rest against concrete buttresses and enjoy a variety of treats: kettle corn, pulled pork barbeque, and every kind of bake sale goodie under the sun. At the intersection of North and South Main Streets, a division that occurs at exactly that point in the roadway where the railroad extends above the street, bystanders can enjoy a scenic view of the mile-long street fair that is underway in Gordonsville. An annual tradition in this Orange County hamlet, the festival provides an opportunity for home-town vendors to display their wares, which include everything from semi-precious stone jewelry to pumpkin cake candles. Whether you’re in the market for a piece of local flair or are an avid window shopper for curiosity items, the Gordonsville street festival is a playground for children and adults alike.

Sandwiched between two BBQ vendors set up at either end of Gordonsville’s quaint Main Street are colorful tents manned by perky salespeople, whose shouts of “cotton candy, get your cotton candy,” and “cookies, a quarter a bag,” tempt the pedestrian, hungry from a stroll up and down the street, to pull out their wallets and spring for a treat. To pass the time between food stalls, visitors can peruse the handcrafted items on display upon the wooden tables beneath the tents. Rival jewelry stands, set up across the street from one another, showcase aquamarine beaded bracelets, amethyst earrings, and chunky turquoise necklaces resting atop velvet doilies. More traditional artistry is on display at the B. Edwin Talley Jr. stand, where original photography that captures the historical homes and landmarks of Orange County and the surrounding environs are sold. For budget-minded shoppers, sketches of the high-end photographs can be purchased for a paltry $20, an amazing cost savings for a high-quality piece of artistry. Just to the right of the Talley stand, an al fresco display of vibrant pictures shimmer in the lovely September sunshine. The proud elderly woman seated in front of the exhibition reveals that she and her daughter are the artists behind the portraits, which range from a 4” x 8” miniature frame of a sunflower to a 12” x 24” decorative scene of a harbor in St. Croix.

No authentic street festival would be complete without the homemade foodstuffs that are a hallmark of the fresh ingredients and traditional recipes of the Southern kitchen, and the Gordonsville street festival does not disappoint. At “Uncle Kevin’s Sauce” stand, a variety of sweet and spicy dips are on display, ranging from such traditional concoctions as honey mustard to more creative versions such as spicy parmesan peppercorn. Fittingly, the sauce stand is abutted by “Jennings’s Jellies,” where sweet fruit preserves are sold for a few dollars a jar. If you’ve worked up an appetite from all the sampling you’ve done at these two yummy food stalls, stop for a “giant BBQ turkey leg” from the next vendor in the row. The rarity of this type of gastronomic treat is surpassed only by the deliciousness of the juicy, sweet meat that’s been roasted within aluminum foil in a massive free-standing oven. Meat-lovers in particular have found a paradise at the Gordonsville street festival, where Southern cooking is on display throughout the Main Street strip and the temptation for slow-cooked BBQ is heightened by the delicious smells of pulled pork emanating from stands spaced strategically throughout the festival. If you resist the Tarheel Pig Pickers stand, home of the Original Carolina BBQ, you’re likely to cave for Bill’s Grill Catering Service, whose motto is “Life, It’s What You Do Between Meals.” The BBQ at this second stand is sold-out by midday, so the early bird most definitely gets the worm.

Strolling by the stands of the Gordonsville street festival is a feast for the nose, undoubtedly, but also the eye. Behind the red, gray, and ubiquitous white tents situated along Main Street, the classical brick façade of the small shops and restaurants lining the roadway peek through at enticing intervals. A black wooden sign announcing the location of “Laurie Holladay Interiors: Fine Furniture, Accessories, and Antiques” is suspended on a wrought iron pole that extends from a picturesque row house. Above the “Graves Fine Art Gallery” are four charming window floral beds, from which lovely red and white peonies are sprouting. And below the storefront sign, a painted arch of yellow flowers is suspended upon a sky blue background, demarcating the entryway of the shop. In marked contrast to the makeshift trailer housing the fragrant VA Kettle Corn Company, the refined French eatery, Restaurant Pomme, advertises its grand reopening. As you bid farewell to the festival grounds, the smooth tunes of a jazz trio serenade you from the makeshift stage at the entrance to the street. Toting your hand-carved wooden jewelry box, crystal wind chimes, or powdered sugar funnel cake, you can leave the festival with your wallet intact and your mood boosted after the perfect Saturday afternoon stroll.