About Bedford County, VA

Annual Forest Lions Club Christmas Tree Sale

It's that time of year where we start thinking about the upcoming holidays. The Forest Lions Club's Annual Christmas Tree Sale starts on November 28, 2009. The club plans to continue the sale through December 15 or until all the trees are sold. Thanks to the support of the local community, trees sold out early last year. One hundred percent of all proceeds from the sale are returned to the community through various charitable donations. Come out and support this great organization and purchase your tree from the Forest Lions' Tree Lot.

Members of the Forest Lions Club will be selling 300 trees including 6 to 10 feet Fraser firs and a limited number of 6 to 8 foot white pines. Trees will be on sale:

Mondays through Fridays 1:00 to 8:00 PM

Saturdays 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Sundays 1:00 to 8:00 PM

The Forest Lions’ Tree Lot is located on Virginia 221 across from the Bank of the James in Forest, Virginia. Volunteers are welcome! Interested in learning more about the Forest Lions Club? For more information on joining the Lions Club International call (434) 316-9110.

"I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new, ripened with

old age, the true old man's milk and restorative cordial."

Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush

Poplar Forest, 1811

According to an old Italian proverb, good wine makes for good cheer, and this will be the case November 21^st at the first ever Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival. The festival will take place at Poplar Forest, Jefferson's Virginia retreat. Thomas Jefferson was a big advocate of the benefits of wine. He was pivotal in the import of wines from such countries as Italy and France.

At the festival you can enjoy, food, wine, crafts and live music! You must be 21 years old to enjoy the wine tastings, so be sure and bring your ID! You can enjoy wines from around the region! All of the wineries of the Bedford Wine trail will be there with some of their award winning wines to sample! Some of the wineries in the area, like the Savoy-Lee, actually use both red and white European and French American grapevines. It is these lovingly tended vines that produce the quality wine Virginia is becoming known for.

Located in Huddleston, the Savoy-Lee is a family run winery located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you have considered the life of a wine maker, you may want to check out this vineyard that is currently for sale! The beautiful surrounding area includes Smith Mountain Lake, Bedford and Roanoke! This is a turnkey operation that is already producing award winning wines. Many of the wines produced here are lovingly barrel fermented before being moved to the more modern stainless steel vats. This allows the wines to have a complexity that may be missing in some other wines.

You can sample the wines from this and other vineyards along the Bedford wine trail at the Festival. Come for a visit and if you like it then move here!! From wineries to luxury waterfront homes, call Vicki Millehan for all your real estate needs in the Smith Mountain Lake area!

It may sound strange to talk about weddings in November, but when it comes to booking you want to make sure you have your venue in plenty of time. If you are considering a summer or fall wedding at Smith Mountain Lake, now is the time to consider what you want to do for your wedding by the water!

Just about every weekend from Spring through late fall, there is someone getting married somewhere at Smith Mountain Lake! With the variety of places to get married, it is no wonder. How about tying a "sailor's knot" and getting married on the Lake!! The Virginia Dare side wheeler offers full blown wedding packages to exchange vows. Their wedding packages vary from rehearsal dinner to the wedding ceremony. The menu choices are fantastic! You can have anything from hors d'oeuvres to a full meal chosen from the menu, from open bar to cash bar, pretty much anything you need for a wedding or reception can be created in a package for you!

If you prefer a wedding overlooking the water, rather than on it, the Mariner's Landing may be what you are looking for! Their wedding packages can be simple and intimate starting at around $1500 or you can go all the way up to Elegant and Extravagant at around $24,000. They even offer a wedding coordinator to help you plan all the details! Whether it is a weekday wedding or a weekend long celebration, they can help you create your dream wedding!

There are many breath taking places in Franklin and Bedford County to help you celebrate your Big Day! From the wineries to the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are many ways to relax before you walk down the aisle! From beginning to end you won't find a better place to tie the knot!

If you are still wondering why Smith Mountain Lake is such a popular place for these big events, then you need to plan at trip to the area! Come for a visit and if you like it, then move here! There are many places to enjoy whether it is for your Big Day or just a family vacation! If you are ready to make a commitment to a new home on Smith Mountain Lake, call Vicki Millehan! She is your local real estate expert!