Iron City Fest attracts thousands

Gary Scruggs, in top hat, delights two and a half year-old Katelyn Barnett by twisting a balloon into a ladybug-shaped bracelet at the Iron City Festival on Saturday. Also shown is Katelyn's grandmother Deborah Harris. A little drizzle couldn't dampen spirits at the Third Annual Iron City Festival on Saturday.

The event, held in downtown Blacksburg, attracted between 3,000 and 4,000 people to the city's streets for two days of food and entertainment and put a spotlight on area businesses.

Organizers such as Mark McDaniel, co-owner of Iron City Screen Printing and Embroidery, said the event has grown each year and planning will no doubt begin soon for next year's event.

"I think it went very well," McDaniel said.

Not only did organizers see bigger crowds, they also saw increased participation in the event's classic and antique auto show as well as larger numbers of vendors signing up for booth space.

The Blacksburg Business Association uses proceeds from the event to fund scholarships for Blacksburg High School students.

Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue, who got to enjoy the event as an entertainer and a regular spectator, said, "I saw a lot of people I didn't know, a lot of people that weren't from Blacksburg. I think the (Blacksburg Business) association did a super job promoting the town."

Among the new attractions for this year's Iron City Festival were trackless train rides through town and several inflatable play areas for children, including a 2- story slide that stayed busy for hours as children lined up to take their turns.