Put a big circle on the calendar around Saturday, May 4. Better yet, make that circle a heart, for that's the date of the 35th Annual Heart of Virginia Festival. This annual event, always held the first Saturday in May, brings people from all over the state and beyond to Farmville to celebrate the arts, crafts, food and music in central Virginia.

Traditionally the weather in Farmville conspires with the festival to encourage nearly 30,000 people to line the blocks of Main and High Streets. Featured events include the 10K run/5K walk coordinated by Farmville Recreation Department, the Children's Art workshop run by the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, and the Classic Car Cruise-In put on by the Heart of Virginia Classic Car Club. Children of all ages enjoy performances by a variety of musicians and entertainers along with arts, crafts, karaoke, and the lure of once-a-year festival food. The day will culminate at the Farmville airport with more food and live music, against the backdrop of an always impressive show of fireworks.

The Heart of Virginia is a community-wide effort, sustained by many volunteers, sponsors, town employees, contributors, and participants from throughout the region. The Board of Directors volunteer their time year-round to plan the Festival, presenting an opportunity for active participation for citizens who take pride in our community. Many volunteers are needed on the day of the Festival, so if you are interested, please contact Terri Wilson, director of volunteers, at tawilson@tawlaw.net.

The Festival is an excellent way to promote Farmville and Prince Edward County and provides economic benefit to the area. The day brings people from our community together in a unique and friendly cultural setting and provides an excellent opportunity of out-of-town visitors to see the area's shops, restaurants, universities, hotels, natural resources, and historic sites. Vendors return every year from Virginia, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, and beyond.

As with any large scale event, in-kind and financial contributions alike are a crucial source of funding for costs associated with the festival. The day and evening festivities would not be possible without the support from local business and municipalities who continue to value the event and support it financially. The cost to provide the festival is approximately $40,000, so the Board is constantly seeking sponsors. Each contribution is significant to the success of the Festival. Interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact info@heartofvirginia.org. or visit this site to learn more and sign up to receive updates about this year's Festival.