AHOSKIE – It promises to be a weekend to remember.

The Town of Ahoskie is gearing up to roll out the red carpet and welcome an expected small army of guests as Indian Summer Days and Ahoskie Heritage Day will headline a weekend full of activities. To add to the fun, the 87th annual Atlantic District Fair is already underway at the Holloman Ave. fairgrounds. This traditional event – featuring amusement rides, harness racing, exhibits and delicious food – continues through Saturday.

Meanwhile, another traditional Ahoskie event begins its 34th annual run today (Thursday) where the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its Indian Summer Days Craft Show and Sale.

At 7 p.m. today, Indian Summer Days begins with an auction at the Town of Ahoskie Gym (the old Ahoskie High School on West Main St.). Come out and place your bids on numerous items on the auction block. Ahoskie businessman Garry Frymier will handle the auctioneer duties.

The Craft Show and Sale will be held on Friday and Saturday, October 8 and 9, at the Town Gym. The hours for the show are from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Crafts people from North Carolina and Virginia will be participating in this year’s show and sale. There will be several crafts people returning from previous years and many new craftsmen who have not shown in the Ahoskie area before with a large variety of excellent crafts to choose from.

Some of the crafts to be shown for sale are: aprons; baskets; wreathes; novelty Items; pine needle craft; hand painted Items (lanterns, lighthouses, burner covers); dryer vent showmen; silver jewelry; toys; vests; cloth books; stuffed animals; all types bird houses and feeders; painted gourd bird houses; stepping stones, garden items; sculpture; art; handcrafted beaded jewelry; gifts in a jar; wood crafts; personalized Christmas ornaments; hand painted busy boxes for children; ceramics; nautical items; photos; counted cross stitch; framed birth announcements; t-shirts, sweat shirts; coffee mugs; mouse pads; paintings on records & saw blades; clocks; handwoven rag rugs; handwoven baskets; homemade scented candles; homemade jams, jellies, pickles, breads, etc.; hand painted mail boxes; key rings; book marks and more.

The Hertford County Board of Elections will also have a booth Friday to register voters or change voter information for the upcoming November 2 election. Friday is the last day to register for this election.

A concession stand will offer home baked goods along with hot dogs, soup and much, much more.

There is no admission charge to visit the Craft Show and Sale.

&uot;This is going to be an exciting weekend in Ahoskie,&uot; said Phyllis Frymier, Executive Director of the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce. &uot;Good food, lots of activities and the promise of beautiful weather – it can’t get much better than that. Come out, bring the family and plan to spend the day with us.&uot;

That excitement grows to a fever pitch on Saturday (Oct. 9) when Ahoskie Heritage Day makes its maiden voyage.

&uot;If the interest and enthusiasm I have seen so far is any indication – we are sure to have a wonderful day in Ahoskie on October 9th,&uot; stated Ahoskie Mayor Linda Blackburn. &uot;This is a day set aside to honor the long and proud history and heritage of this town. On behalf of the Ahoskie Town Council, I welcome one and all to our town. We hope it’s a day you’ll long remember.&uot;

One of the many faces of Heritage Day will present itself in a unique format. Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic, turning this heavily traveled two-lane strip of asphalt into a pedestrian-like mall. Heritage Day patrons can leisurely browse for bargains, take part in contests, view historical displays, satisfy their appetites with an assortment of food and listen to a wide variety of musical entertainment.

Included in the daylong celebration are a pancake and sausage breakfast (7:30-10 a.m. at the Kiwanis Club), 5K Run (Camlin St. near RCH; registration at 8:30 a.m.), Health Fair (9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at RCH), Historic Photo Display (Chamber of Commerce, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), Surplus Sale (10 a.m. on West Main St.), Chicken Pastry lunch (11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Kiwanis Club), Pie Eating Contest (Methodist Church, TBA), Pumpkin Decorating (1st Baptist Church, TBA) and a Bicycle Rodeo (10 a.m. – 12 noon, RCH lawn).

Also on the agenda is a Family Fun Festival (10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Ahoskie Christian Center), Pet Contest (2-3 p.m. next to Southern Bank), Youth Concert/Children’s rides, Carpenter’s Shop Church, TBA), Buckle Up and Car Seat Safety (10 a.m. – 12 noon across from Wal-Mart), Fine Arts Show (10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Methodist Church Fellowship Hall), Vaudeville Show (1 p.m. at The Gallery Theatre), Car Show (Main Street, registration: 9 a.m. – 12 noon, show from 12 noon to 3 p.m.), Children’s Fitness Activities (old Ahoskie High ballfield, TBA) and a slow pitch softball tournament at the HCHS athletic complex.

A dunking booth will be set up all day on Main Street. St. Thomas Episcopal Church will host a special interfaith display from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Yard sales, a Meherrin Indian Tribe display and a electric drag racing exhibit will be set-up in the empty lot adjacent to Southern Bank.

A &uot;Battle of the Bands&uot; will begin at 11 a.m. on Main St. Following this event, The Color Blind Band will perform from 3-5 p.m. followed by The Spare Change Band from 6-9 p.m.

Scheduled from 12 noon until 1 p.m. is a Fashion Show on East Main Street.

The crowning of Mr. and Mrs. Ahoskie Heritage Day will be held from 10-11 a.m.

Fireworks (launched from the old AHS ballfield) will begin at approximately 9 p.m. To help with the expenses involved in the fireworks show, the Downtown Merchants Group will be selling t-shirts with a fantastic downtown logo and names of downtown merchants.

For more information contact Stan Dixon at Stitch Count or any downtown merchant.

Transportation around the area and to all events/activities will be provided by CPTA.

Local Girl Scouts will be placing drop boxes in area businesses during the week of Oct. 4-9 in an effort to benefit the Ahoskie Food Pantry.

Some of the drop boxes will be placed at various Heritage Day activities on Saturday, Oct. 9.

Girl Scouts urge local citizens to help in this food drive by donating such non-perishable items as canned meats, juice, pasta, canned vegetables, cereal and peanut butter.