The 27th Annual James River Batteau Festival begins on Saturday, June 16, and runs through Saturday, June 23. This festival features authentic replicas of the sleek, shallow-draft merchant boats that were used during the late 1700s to transport tobacco, grain, and other goods on the James River from areas of central Virginia. Each year a small fleet of batteau travel 120 miles from Lynchburg to Richmond, stopping mid-way in Scottsville for music, fun, and festivities. Batteau will begin arriving in Scottsville in mid-afternoon on June 20, and tie up at Scottsville's Ferry Street public boat landing for the night. Scottsville Museum will be open on Wednesday, June 20, from 1-8 p.m. Across the street, Canal Basin Square will be filled with food and craft vendors as well as live bands.