TABLE OF
CONTENTS

THE WALDENSIAN FESTIVAL

IMPORTANT
INFORMATION

*** Click here for Festival Pictures ***

On the second Saturday of each August, Valdese holds a festival to celebrate the "Glorious Return" of the return of the Waldenses from exile in Switzerland to their native valleys in the Cottian Alps of Italy in 1689. This celebration is mirrored around the world by other Waldensian communities. Valdese held its first festival in 1976. The 2008 festival is on Saturday, August 9th.

The annual festival features music, crafts, exhibits, games, food, and a car show along a four block stretch of Main Street. An authentic Waldensian meal of soutissa (a type of sausage) is offered at the Waldensian Presbyterian Church and a bocce tournament (an Italian game similar to bowling and horseshoes) is held. There is also a foot race featuring a 10K, a 5K, and a one-mile fun run that begins before the festival.

On Friday evening, the night before the Festival, The Smith Family and Harry Deal and the Galaxies will perform in the Town Parking Lot as part of the Family Friday Nights series. Also, the rides to be featured as part of the Children's Festival on Saturday will be operating behind the Old Rock School, so the whole family came come and enjoy a great evening.

For information on attending or exhibiting in the festival, call: (828) 879-2129 or you can e-mail  Barbara Hefner at bhefner@ci.valdese.nc.us. 

2007 ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS

2007 ENTERTAINERS - Main Stage Beside Wachovia Bank

• 9:00 a.m. - National Anthem -- Tiffany Street

• 9:15 a.m. - Old Colony Players

• 9:45 a.m. - Paul C. Black

• 10:15 a.m. - East Burke Jazz Band

• 11:00 a.m. - Pilot Club – Little Miss & Master Pageant

• 11:45 a.m. - Paul C. Black

• 12:15 p.m. - John Pons and Friends

• 1:30 p.m. - Starz Unlimited Cloggers

• 2:00 p.m. - Three Mile Creek Family

• 3:00 p.m. - Walking Home Band

2007 SPONSORS

• Sara Lee Bakeries

• Myra's

• Paramount Ford/Hyundai

• Blue Ridge Healthcare System

• Table Rock SpringWater

• Town of Valdese

• The Pilot Club of Valdese

• The Settings of Lake Rhodhiss

• Absolut*Ink

• The News Herald

Associate Sponsors

• Wachovia

• Food Lion

• Hickory Hill Furniture

• The Wheelchair Company

• Holiday Inn of Morganton

• Waldensian Heritage Wines

• Butch's BBQ

BOCCI TOURNAMENT

The 11th annual Ernest Jahier Memorial Bocce Tournament will be held at this year's Waldensian Festival. Ten teams of four members each will face off beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Festival day.

The 2007 tournament's sponsors were: All Ways Travel, Valdese Business Association, LPDA, and Waldensian Heritage Wines.

There is an entrance fee of $40 per team. Trophies are awarded to first and second place with cash prizes of $160 for first place and $80 for second place. To register, contact Robert Heilman at 828-879-2138 before August 9, 2008.