Bid farewell to summer while attending the Lexington Community Festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Five blocks on Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic and open only to the festival and foot traffic, plus it's free-- no entrance fee charges. Full police coverage includes personalized directions for parking locations and distribution of maps for those unfamiliar with the area.

This is the 29th year the three major civic organizations -- the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Kiwanis -- have organized this annual event, which features 170 exhibitors, arts and crafts, ethnic food and entertainment from cloggers to bluegrass bands. The three clubs sell hot dogs at the festival, and it's their biggest fundraising activity of the year.

So you won't need a compass for escaping the street to a sit-down eating establishment during your stay, I've rounded up a list of five new downtown places that have opened during the past few years. These new establishments (listed in alphabetical order) join two other Main Street restaurants: George Huger's pace-setting Southern Inn and the exciting cuisine of new head chef Sean Gonzales at Sheridan Livery.

HEADS UP

If you can't make it to Lexington this weekend, perhaps you'll want to plan on attending another big festival in September.

What: 11th annual Rockbridge Food and Wine Festival

When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10

Where: Theater at Lime Kiln, Lexington

What: Samples from 12 wineries and 11 Rockbridge-area food merchants. Live music by the Pop Rivets and more.

Cost: $15 in advance; $18 at the gate; $8 advance/$10 at the gate for designated drivers and those under age 21.

Call: (540) 463-5375

Net: lexrockchamber.com

A JOYFUL SPIRIT CAFE

26 South Main St.

The panini craze hit Lexington and A Joyful Spirit Cafe led the way. Folks continue to pack into this nook of a sandwich shop for their four different well-stuffed grilled Italian-style sandwiches on ciabatta bread ($4.99-$6.49). There are tight wraps and loose wraps ($3.99-$6.49), and these happen to be loose, so they're not made for eating while walking around. My favorites are the Greek wrap with chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, feta, olives, dill and Greek sauce as well as the chicken fiesta, a layering of grilled chicken, salsa, avocado, lettuce and three cheeses. Feast on salads, especially the Tuscan ($4.99) and the Kickin' Chicken ($5.99) with chicken, black beans, corn salsa and hot sauce on lettuce. The single page menu lists breakfast items including bagels, eggs, drinks, muffins, cookies and soup of the day. Ward bakes her well-liked array of sweet bars in lemon, triple layers, butterscotch and raspberry.

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m, Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (540) 463-4191.

BISTRO ON MAIN

8 Main St.

A popular dining spot for the past two years, the bistro offers varied, mostly well-prepared creations for both lunch and dinner. Lunch entrees ($3.25-$6.95) include an assortment of quesadillas, burritos, salads, organic beef burgers and daily changing quiche plus several delicious options for vegetarians. At dinner ($9.95-$19.95), Chef Aladio Cruz expertly flat grills salmon fillet, pan-fries Creole catfish and cooks up a complexly flavored Jambalaya served with an abundance of chicken and andouille sausage in a spicy tomato sauce. I also love the steak fajitas, shrimp and grits and the surprising deliciousness of the chef's specials, but I'm not a fan of the overly pureed dark crab cakes. Three homemade desserts -- sorbets, white chocolate mousse and pecan -- are worth every calorie.

Hours: Lunch is 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and dinner is 5-9 p.m. Reservations recommended. (540) 464-4888.

BLUE SKY BAKERY

16 Lee Ave.

Located just down from Main Street on the corner of Nelson and Lee opposite the post office, Blue Sky Bakery makes folks happy in the morning with their freshly baked muffins, pastries and breakfast treats ($1.25 and up) joined by a jolt of espresso or a cup of regular java. Ever-popular lunches of soups and sandwiches layered on their home-baked breads ($5-$6) eaten al fresco at the outdoor tables has a European touch. Finish it off with the big flavors of their homemade brownies, lemon bars or a piece of rich carrot cake and a cup of premium tea. You're set to meet the world.

Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

(540) 464-6546.

CITY SUBS & STEAKS

159 South Main St.

With seating for 60, the short order menu gives you just what you're looking for: Well-filled deli sandwiches and subs ($4.39-$6) and a great cheesesteak topped with your selections from a long list. Wing fanatics are happy here, and at breakfast there's every kind of egg-sausage-bacon-toast-bagel-cream cheese combination you can think of. Three different kinds of fresh cookies (3 for a $1) are made every day and if you're lucky, you'll hit on the once a month classy live music Dorey likes to feature.

Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m., daily.

(540) 464-7827.

TUSCAN ITALIAN RESTAURANT

24 North Main St.

The menu features most of the crowd-pleasing dishes we look for at affordable prices: Highly praised pasta Bolognese, fried calamari, mussels in wine sauce, an abundant antipasto, veal Milanese, lovely vegetable salads, a range of chicken dishes, deftly prepared fish and seafood, pizza, lasagna and well-stuffed ravioli.

Hours: 5:30-10 p.m. daily.

(540) 463-9888.