Priscilla Richardson

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Don't tell me there's nothing to do. Here's yet another Botetourt County fun offering: tomorrow's 12th annual Mountain Magic in Buchanan. And don't say you've seen it all just because you went once. This year's festival features many new things.

Mason Basten, 28, of Lynchburg, is bringing the James River Bateau Festival to town. Three boats will start their river trip above Buchanan, with a scheduled arrival on Lowe Street about 3 p.m. Once they pull the bateaux near shore, you can look at them and ask the crew all the questions you can think of. And if you can find Basten himself, ask him how he came to get involved. How his love affair with the boats started one day that stretched into a week away from home. And how he did major explaining to his wife and his boss.

These long, flat vessels, powered by men pushing poles into the river bottom, carried farm merchandise on the James from the early 1800s until the railroads put them out of business. The three you'll see are reproductions made by hand, just the way they would have been long ago. The town of Buchanan owns another that will be on display at the festival, too. I know a lot of you love those old cars, too. So you will want to visit the southern end of Main Street to see a display of antique cars and street rods. Until I talked to the organizers, Buchanan natives Patricia "Pat" Brooks and her husband Allen "Pedro" Brooks, I didn't know what made the categories different. The antiques have been refurbished to their original glory. Street rods start with old cars, but they're fixed to reflect individual tastes. Because they all are the pet projects of their owners, the only rule for viewers is no touching.

You may remember the service station and then auto parts store Pedro Brooks and his father ran in Buchanan for many years. Pedro now works for Interstate Batteries. Pat does hair at Hair Affair, near where her husband used to have the store.

The Brookses have been running the car show for the 12 years of Mountain Magic. "Somebody just knew about Pedro's cars and asked us," Pat Brooks said. "Pedro always has an old car he's working on." Right now, it's a 1952 Pontiac Chieftain, but it's not ready for the show yet. "It's in pieces," he explained.

The show attracts families. The car owners love to swap stories and advice with any who want it. They even sometimes trade parts. If you want to bring your own vehicle and haven't signed up, just show up before noon and pay your $5 registration. There's no judging, but you do get a dash plaque with the date of the show. "People collect these plaques," Pat Brooks said.

Now, on to another reason so many people love Mountain Magic: shopping. "It will be like an entire department store on Main Street." This is how Harry Gleason describes the vendors who will set up in town. You can buy pottery, woodcrafts, jewelry, holiday ornaments, bird feeders and houses, photos, maple products including syrup and baked goods, primitive style decorative items, seasoned peanuts, garden flags, pillows made from antique oriental rugs, pocketbooks, candles, wind chimes, handmade stuffed animals and dolls, and yo-yo quilts. A yo-yo quilt is created from tiny circles stitched together.

And you don't have to shop with piped-in music in the background. You'll hear live bluegrass bands all day, from the opening at 10 a.m. till the close at 5 p.m. Top bands from the area will perform on a stage set up next to town hall, with open street in front of it. This gives anyone who wants to flat foot plenty of room. All that viewing and shopping will surely make you hungry, so just try to control yourself at the funnel cake stand. I know I'll have a lot of trouble. But then I'll also be drooling over apple pie, homemade ice cream, and so much more.

See you there!

For Mountain Magic, Buchanan's Main Street is closed to traffic from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Park in the lots off of Lowe Street. For more information, call the town office at 254-1212.