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Friday night: Food, music, cars

Main Street in Valdese will close at 5 p.m. as antique cars line the street downtown for Myra’s Classic Car Cruise-In. If you’re interested in participating in the cruise-in, visit .

Waldensian Style Wines will be pouring glasses all night, including the frozen Brenda’s Peach Bellini. Alcoholic beverages must be kept within the allowed areas of the festival. The beer and wine garden will be open from 5-10 p.m.

The Embers band will take the stage after opening announcements at 7 p.m., playing beach music.

Food will be available at restaurants in Valdese and several food trucks, including Dig ‘n Dogs, Carolina Smoke, Village Inn Pizza and Pelican’s Snoballs. No outside coolers will be allowed.

Saturday: Races, bocce, vendors and more

The Great Waldensian Footrace will start at 8 a.m., with 5K and 10K races starting at the Valdese Community Recreation Center. Runners will head down Laurel Street, then to Lovelady Road before making their way back.

The 2025 Le Phare des Alpes Bocce Tournament will start at 8 a.m. on Laurel Street South. Competitions do not have age limits. The game was a popular pastime of early settlers in Valdese. Le Phare des Alpes also will serve hot Waldensian bread cooked on-site in a wood-burning oven, and soutissa, a pork-based sausage.

More than 160 vendors will be open for business on Main Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring a variety of options from crafts and furniture to apparel, children’s activities and food.

There will be free inflatables for kids on the Old Rock School front lawn. 

The Waldensian Heritage Museum will open at 10 a.m. Saturday, offering tours of the museum and soutissa tastings. 

The Piedmont and Western Railroad Museum, in the lower level of the Old Rock School, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as the museum houses a scale railroad model from Marion to Tennessee. 

Art galleries on the second floor of the Old Rock School will open at 9 a.m. Saturday. 

The Trail of Faith, detailing the founding of Valdese, will be open for self-guided tours at $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for students.

The Old Colony Players theater group will hold the final performances of the year of "From This Day Forward" on Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the the Fred B. Cranford Amphitheater. The play tells the story of the founding of Valdese. 

Saturday’s Main Stage lineup

• 9 a.m.: Mr. Pokeeto clown
• 10:30 a.m.: Old Colony Players: “From This Day Forward” preview
• 11 a.m.: Live music by Syncro-Tonic Swag
• 1 p.m.: Tumblemania Gymnastics and Elite Storm
• 2 p.m.: Dance Tyme Dancers
• 3-5 p.m.: Live music by Lost Wages

Questions?

Go to for more information about the festival and other events in Valdese.