The 2013 Day of Brochure is ready for download!  Paper copies of this will be available at different sites on the festival grounds on May 5.

The Heart of Virginia Festival needs you!

The Heart of Virginia Festival is made possible through the efforts of many volunteers. Each year we rely on over 50 volunteers to help set up the festival and run our annual activities. The 2013 Festival will be on Saturday, May 4 and we would love to have you come out and help. 

The annual Heart of Virginia Festival on Saturday, May 7, will get off to a running start with a 10 kilometer run. Those who prefer a slightly less vigorous way to begin the day may substitute a 5 kilometer fun walk instead.

Both the run and the walk will originate at Hampden-Sydney College at 8:30 a.m. and finish at the First Avenue Field in Farmville.

The 10K begins at Hampden Sydney near the intersection of College Road and Via Sacra and follows a mostly flat, fast course along the Back Hampden-Sydney Road to the finish at First Avenue Field. 5K participants will be shuttled from First Avenue field to their start line along the Back Hampden Sydney Road and will follow Back Hampden Sydney Road to the finish line at First Avenue Field. Entry fees for the event are $15 if paid by April 15 and $25 after that. These fees are non-refundable.

Medals will be presented to the top 3 male & female finishers in each age category that participated in the 10K. Categories for men and women include: 18 & under, 19 - 24, 25 - 29, 30 - 34, 35 - 39, 40 - 44, 45 - 49, 50 - 54, 55 - 59, 60 - 64, 65 & over.

Transportation will only be available to Hampden-Sydney College (start line) from 7:30-8:00AM if you would like to leave your car at the finish line (First Ave Field.)

For more information please contact the Farmville Recreation Department at (434) 392-8465 or email the race director at  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

The Heart of Virginia Festival is an annual family-oriented celebration of the arts, crafts, culture and music in Virginia and is held in Farmville the first Saturday in May.

The appearance of daffodils and tulips is an unmistakable sign that it will soon be time for Farmville’s annual Heart of Virginia Festival. Each year on the first Saturday in May, which this year is May 4, the town’s Main Street and High Street are transformed from the usual traffic corridors into a pedestrian mall, packed with residents and visitors who have come to celebrate life in the heart of Virginia.

And since Mother’s Day is the week after the festival this year, attendees will be able to find a wide selection of appropriate gifts at the craft or art booths. Most of the attractions are home grown, although some of the vendors and performers come from a distance. A majority of the handicrafts, especially those displayed in the art show, have been produced within a few miles of Farmville.

The Heart of Virginia Festival prides itself on offering something for everyone. The festival kicks off with a 10K Run / 5K Fun Walk from Hampden-Sydney College to the First Avenue Field in Farmville. Civic groups offer chances for involvement in various forms of community service. For car enthusiasts we have a Classic Car Cruise-In. Much of the entertainment is presented by local talent, and there are many wonderful activities for children, including an art workshop. Again this year the festival will conclude with a fireworks show at the Farmville airport.

The festival showcases many vendors, including local organizations, offering a wide variety of food choices. (Spots are still available if a local organization or vendor would like to dish out their favorite food to the crowd at the night time airport festivities.) Vendors and exhibitors can receive information at www.heartofvirginia.org .

A festival of this size and diversity is possible because of the work of countless volunteers. Even as the festival is two months away, the Board of Directors is issuing a call for help at this time. Volunteers will be needed to help on the day of the festival. If you are interested, contact Sarah Hobgood, Director of Volunteers, at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

The HOVF Board of Directors work year round, with the aim that each year’s festival will be better than the one before. This requires constant planning, coordinating and fund raising, as community financial support is a major key to the success of each year’s event. We are already looking for people with fresh ideas to help us in planning the 2013 festival. If you are interested in joining the HOVF Board of Directors, please email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Those who are willing to provide financial sponsorship may contact Blair Potts at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

As May approaches, watch the pages of this paper and listen to the local radio stations for news about this year’s lineup of events. Also, mark your calendars and invite your family and friends for an entertaining visit to Farmville on May 4th.