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Bedford Plans Contest For National Tourism Week

Download Contest Entry Form

The Bedford Office of Tourism is sponsoring a contest in recognition of National Tourism Week (May 10-18, 2008) to draw attention to the importance of tourism on the national, state and local economy. The “National Tourism Week Contest in Bedford, Virginia” encourages individuals to visit at least five sites in the Bedford area for clues which can be collected for a chance to win a gift basket of items that represent a range of items produced in Bedford or representative of area sites. The contest runs from May 10 through May 18 and contest forms are available at the Bedford Area Welcome Center located at Routes 460 and 122 (816 Burks Hill Road). The Welcome Center is open seven days a week from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Contest participants are being encouraged to collect clues at such sites as The National D-Day Memorial, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, The Bedford City/County Museum, The Bedford Academy for the Arts, Art on Depot, and all five wineries that comprise The Bedford Wine Trail: Hickory Hill Winery, Peaks of Otter Winery, Savoy-Lee Winery, LeoGrande Vineyards and Winery and White Rock Vineyards and Winery.

“Tourism is important to the area’s economy,” according to Sergei Troubetzkoy, Director of Tourism for Bedford City and County, adding that Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) figures indicate that the tourism industry “generates expenditures in Bedford County and in the City of Bedford of approximately $74 million annually.” Troubetzkoy added that the VTC figures also show that Bedford had a tourism payroll of $17,369,832 in 2006 with 1,080 people employed by the travel industry and local tax receipts that are generated by tourism amount to $ 2,377,043 and state taxes collected as the result of tourism in the Bedford City and County area amount to $ 3,680, 897 for 2006

Download Contest Entry Form

Upcoming Events

• Jul 4 - Independence Day Celebration - Bring the entire family to hear the Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence come alive on July 4th at Poplar Forest! A festive day of music, dance, historical interpretation and the spirit of patriotism. The celebration will culminate with the annual, stirring reading of the Declaration of Independence from the porch of Jefferson’s retreat. Admission charge for parking and house tours. Grounds activities free. - Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, 1548 Bateman Bridge Road, Forest - 434-525-1806 - www.poplarforest.org

• Jul 11 - 5th annual “Horse and Hound” Wine Festival - 11:00am to 6:00pm - Enjoy wine from eight of Virginia’s finest wineries while listening to good music and visiting art, craft and food vendors. Virginia’s most unique wine festival has numerous events throughout the day with horses and dogs as the primary attractions such as the Parade of Horses, agility dogs and muskrat racing. Families will enjoy this festival because it appeals to both young and old. The event takes place on the spacious and gracious grounds of Johnson’s Orchards 2122 Sheep Creek Rd, Bedford Va 24523 with spectacular Blue Ridge mountain views. Part of the proceeds will go to Commonwealth Search and Rescue, The Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue, Inc and the Bedford Humane Society. Tasters $15.00 --Gen. Adm. $10.00 --Children & Dogs $5.00 - 540-586-3707 - www.bedfordwine.com
• Jul 11 - The Sedalia Blues Festival - Blues Competition in the afternoon, followed by headliners and a blues workshop that evening. Definitely the hottest blues ticket in Virginia, this is a must on your summer calendar! - Sedalia Center, 1108 Sedalia School Road, Bedford - 434-299-5080 - www.sedaliacenter.org

These events and more can be found in our event calendar.

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