The 38th Annual Waldensian Festival will be held on August 9th and 10th, 2013 in Valdese, North Carolina. On the second Saturday of each August, Valdese holds its annual Waldensian Festival to commemorate the return of the Waldenses from exile in Switzerland to their native valleys in the Cottian Alps of Italy in 1689. This event, known as the Glorious Return, is celebrated all around the world by other Waldensian communities. Now, as with the first Valdese celebration held in 1976, we invite you to enjoy the rich heritage and magic of the 38th Annual Historic Valdese Waldensian Festival.
This year the Main Street will close on Friday, August 9th at 5:30pm to prepare for over a 150 antique and classic cars to park on the street for visitors to view. Children’s rides will be located across the street from the Valdese Fire Department and begin at 5pm.
The stage area will be located on the corner of Roderet and Main Street and will showcase the Beach Music of Jim Quick and Coastline beginning promptly at 7:00pm. Quick and his band have been touring the Southeast for more than 15 years, playing nearly 300 shows per year and has released more than 11 albums including his newest, Down South. Originally introducing their music as the Coastline Band-a band of friends who played the Carolina Beach area-the group pushed Quick to the forefront and naturally transformed into Jim Quick & Coastline. Known for his all-out performances and deliberate, off –the-cuff wisecracks, Jim has been a gracious recipient of the Carolina Music Awards “Entertainer of the Year” nine times.
The festival continues with over 170 food and craft vendors lining the streets for visitors to enjoy on Saturday, August 10th. Careful consideration is used to deicide which vendors will showcase for the event and festival goers will be pleased with the variety of crafts on hand.
Local Bands will perform throughout the day and the festival will conclude on Saturday evening with “The Fantastic Shakers”. Known for their great beach music, The Shakers are considered one of the "South's Finest Show Bands”. They have performed many memorable engagements, including featured performances at the Grand National Dance Championships in Atlanta, GA on three occasions, the Lincoln Center in New York City (Hot Summer Nights Dance Fest), and the American Bop Association Convention in Cincinnati Ohio.
Local attractions such as the Waldensian Museum, The Waldensian Trail of Faith, The Waldensian Heritage Winery and Piedmont and Western Railroad will remain open all day Saturday for those that want to know more about the settlers of Valdese. A special church service will be held at the Waldensian Presbyterian Church followed by a traditional Waldensian meal at 11:30am. Tickets must be purchased for the meal and can be ordered by calling 828-874-2531. A shuttle bus will be available to drive visitors to all the attractions and will be running hourly.
For those that enjoy sports, be sure to check out the bocce tournaments! A state qualifying tournament will be held at the Les Phares Des Alpes (LPDA) on Laurel Street South and a Junior Tournament will be held in front of the Presbyterian Church on Main Street.
The final night of the festival will also conclude the production of “From This Day Forward” held at the Fred Cranford Amphitheater. The 4th longest outdoor drama in North Carolina, “From This Day Forward” tells the story of the Waldensians and their struggles in their homeland of Italy and their re-location to Valdese, North Carolina. Showtime is 7:45pm.
Whatever your interest, The Waldensain Festival has it all and you will not be disappointed. For further information go to www.visitvaldese.com or call 828-879-2126.
