Lynchburg readies for Magnolia Festival

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

LYNCHBURG – The small town with a big festival is expecting big crowds for its Magnolia Festival on Friday and Saturday.

Jacqueline Josey, chairwoman of the Magnolia Festival Committee, said one of Lynchburg's favorite sons is responsible for several first-time events in 2009.

Patrick Dennis, better known as "Cake Man Raven," will host a gospel sing on Friday. He has secured several big-name acts, including New York gospel artist and evangelist Maxine Casellas. The gospel concert will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at the main concert tent on Main Street.

Dennis and the Brooklyn Style Foundation will present a fashion show at 2 p.m. Saturday at the concert tent. The winner of the fashion show will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York in the fall to participate in a fall fashion show, Dennis said.

He also has put his mark on Saturday's parade, which will begin at noon at Fleming Lighthouse Center.

The Brooklyn Steppers, the official band of New York for the Presidential Inaugural Parade, will be featured. The lineup also includes the South Carolina State Drum Line from Orangeburg, Josey said.

"We have a great parade lined up," she said.

After the parade, there will be games and activities for children of all ages, Josey said.

Inflatable bouncers and slides for the kids, a cake bake-off contest, music, arts and crafts and food vendors will pack downtown Lynchburg, Josey said.

"We're hoping for a big turnout," Josey said. "We know everyone who attends will have a good time. There's going to be something for everybody. The Magnolia Festival is a family affair."

Dennis, nationally recognized for baking cakes for the famous, has been featured in national magazines and on "The View," "Good Morning America" and The Food Network, and he has his own successful show in Brooklyn, N.Y.

For more information on the festival, contact Jackie McDonald at the Lynchburg Town Hall at (803) 437-2933.



Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.