BUCKINGHAM — A Buckingham tradition, ingrained in the customs of springtime in Europe during the times of the Romans, will bring together people from all corners of the county on Saturday.

The deep roots of the county—which span over 250 years from Sheppards to New Canton, and from Toga to Centenary—will produce blooms of celebration and unity during May Fest at the Buckingham Historic Village on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Live music, food, kids games, a team of mules, cotton candy, fresh lemonade—all sweetened by the pride and spirit of Buckingham—will be present, all without an admission fee.

The purpose of May Fest is to celebrate Buckingham, says Martha Pennington Louis, president of Historic Buckingham Incorporated, the organizing group of the event.

“We have All Problems Solved and God’s Little Angels, a children’s group that sings gospel [performing],” she explained.

Pets are allowed, but only on a leash.

The event’s sponsors include the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce and Buckingham Family Dentistry as gold sponsors, and the silver sponsors of the event are Thomas Insurance Agency, Central Virginia Exterminating, and First Bank.

The Buckingham Ruritan Club will serve up fresh onion rings, while selling their Vidalia onions, Louis explained. The Buckingham Lion’s Club will sell barbeque and cotton candy, while the Boy Scouts will have hot dogs, chips, and drinks.

Vendors will also be selling lemonade, baked goods, and plants.

A May Pole will be erected, and races and games will be available to children and the young at heart. Mother’s Day gifts can be handmade during the event.

Village blacksmith David Wine will be showcasing his trade, while Moffett Evans will be displaying his antique woodworking tools. The Central Virginia Gold Prospectors will teach those in attendance how to pan for gold.

The VFW and American Legion posts will be vending, in addition to the Buckingham County Volunteer Rescue Squad, and the Future Farmers of America.

The Lion’s are set to perform vision screenings, while the Buckingham Masonic Lodge will be creating identification cards for children, along with fingerprinting.

Muscle and antique cars and trucks will be on display as well.

“We will have the entire Miss Buckingham court there, and they will ride on Bud Whitten’s mule team around the village, like a float,” Louis explained.

For more information on May Fest, contact Louis at 434-969-4355.