User:Mkelly22/sandbox

The Daffodil Festival, Gloucester, VA For 29 years, Gloucester County, Virginia has had its annual Daffodil Festival. This festival is well known to people of the area and around the area. The festival takes place every year in early April to celebrate the heritage and community of the county of Gloucester, as well as the heritage of daffodils in Gloucester. (http://issuu.com/daffodilfestivalva/docs/dfc_program_final_3.17.14_web/3?e=0/10155273) The Daffodil Festival offers many aspects including scholarships for local students, contests for Daffodil Queen, a parade, and other contests and events. People from anywhere can come enjoy this two day event that takes place in Gloucester Courthouse. The Daffodil Festival offers one four year renewable scholarship worth $1000 each year. The scholarship goes out every year to a graduating senior from Gloucester High School. (http://daffodilfestivalva.org/scholarships/) Past winners have included Trip Vaughn, Sam Markwith, and Kasey Koulhurst. Every year, a Daffodil Queen is selected from a pool of applicants of young women from throughout the county. The winner, while not only being named the Daffodil Queen, will be a staple of the parade and also will have to fulfill different responsibilities throughout the year, such as attending county meetings and other public events. Past winners include Nicolle Conry and Christine Riddett. The Daffodil Festival Parade is one of, if not, the biggest attractions of the whole event. Every major group or organization in Gloucester will partake in this event year after year and it always has a good turnout, ranging from kids to teenagers to whole families enjoying the spectacle. Some organizations that are annually represented are the Boy Scouts of Gloucester, The Masonic Lodge, The Gloucester High School Band, and many more. Entertainment and vendors include storytellers, magicians, musicians and bands. (http://www.virginia.org/Listings/Events/DaffodilFestival/) People can not only enjoy the area right around the courthouse, but can also venture out and take tours of special places in Gloucester such as Rosewell, a burnt down building that is very famous in Gloucester lore, or even Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, a local gardening and planting vendor. Children’s events include face painting, Laser Tag, checking out a sheriff’s vehicle while being taught about drunk driving and other dangers, along with many other things.