Orange celebrates 275th anniversary Saturday night

County officials are burning the midnight oil in order to plan and coordinate an ambitious block party Saturday night and celebration of Orange County’s 275th anniversary.

Final party plans are still falling into place for the event, but even at this late date, planners think the party—a collaboration between the Town of Orange and Orange County—will draw crowds of locals and visitors who are already in Orange for other events. The idea is that out-of-towners, who travel to Orange County for the weekend’s wealth of events and activities, can extend their stays and help the county commemorate one of its most important dates.

The county’s anniversary merriment, scheduled for 5 - 10 p.m. Saturday night will commence as other events wind down. Earlier in the day are the 22nd annual Fall Fiber Festival and Sheep Dog Trials at Montpelier, and the Gordonsville Street Festival. And other local events planned for that first weekend in October are Woodberry Forest’s parents’ weekend and Barboursville Vineyard’s Autumn Barrel Tasting.

Acting Orange County Administrator Julie Jordan said coordinating the daytime and evening events makes for an attractive event package for county visitors and residents who are already in Orange for daytime events.

County party planners are coordinating anniversary plans with the Orange Downtown Alliance, which will host an evening blues concert Saturday. In addition, ODA will block off Short Street for a downtown bash with food and beverage vendors and a performance by the popular Blues Farm Band. Courtesy of Frank Walker’s Tourguide Ltd., party-goers can enjoy walking tours of some of the Town of Orange’s most historic sites. And from 4 - 7 p.m., author Emyl Jenkins will sign copies of her new novel, The Big Steal, a mystery set in Orange County at the Arts Center in Orange.

ODA Director Jeff Curtis said the Town of Orange’s Short Street will transform into a family-friendly party for celebrants-with a guest list of county locals and visitors.

Barricades blocking traffic from Short Street will go up around 5 p.m., and festivities will begin, Curtis said. The band will begin its first set, food vendors will start feeding the crowd and grown-ups can sip adult beverages.

As part of the celebration, local elementary school children will compete in an art contest, and older students will write essays. Jordan said planners are selecting judges for both contests. In addition, county staffers are signing, sealing and sending out invitations to VIPs from other localities-like governors of states which were originally part of Orange County a couple of centuries ago.

Revelers will be treated to a fireworks display at 8 p.m. to cap off the county’s anniversary celebration.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done, but we’re pushing ahead with it,“ Jordan said.