Scuffletown Days the “Epitome of Tradition”

Summer weekends are a joy. We work in our yards cutting grass, gardening, or get to those projects that we planned so carefully over the winter, (whether or not they get finished is another thing entirely). Many of us do the mini-vacation thing, relishing the time to get away and be completely busy trying to do absolutely nothing. Still others of us enjoy nothing more than the chance to just get together and hang out with our friends. Few things can be more satisfying than a good old fashioned community get together. Grab a chair, kick back, and catch up on the news of the day, maybe drink a soda, have a bite, and shoot the breeze… nothing like it. Scuffletown Days are the very epitome of this tradition. Scuffletown has developed hanging out into an art form!

Linda Daniel is the creator of the weekend event that has been steadily growing for the last four years; she is also the owner of the corner grocery. “They tried to do it one year a while back,” she said. “When I bought the store I decided to do it (the event) again. I don’t make anything off of this, just on what is sold in the store, and that’s fine,” Linda continued. “To me this is a good way for local people to get their name out.”

Tents and concessions lined the little parking lot, and a decent crowd of friends and neighbors milled about, talking and laughing.  Everybody knew everybody. The whole crowd was on a first name basis, and it only took about 10 minutes for me to be as well. At one tent, tasty barbeque meals were selling at a good pace. Kids were getting their faces painted somewhere else. Staunton River Battlefield Park had a tent up selling books and souveniers. Someone else was selling Avon (my wife loved that!). At yet another tent mouthwatering, homemade baked goods were set out for sale. There were a couple of yard sales embedded in all of the activity as well. Out in the field behind the store a local civil war reenactment group had set up camp, and further down a matching team of horses patiently waited as passengers loaded into the wagon they were pulling. The team slowly trekked down the road and back time and again, pulling their wagon full of smiles and laughter.

There were a few antique cars and tractors in the yard across the corner, and three or four old friends had their chairs set on the corner right next to the cars, content to watch the goings on across the street and talk the news of the day…

One of the biggest surprises was the live band that kept everyone tapping their feet and a few dancing in the street. The Gary Wayne Band, a local country/western band did a fine job entertaining the gathering. Lisa Daniel had tried to get the band last year, but they were booked as the notice had been a little short. “This year I called them in February,” she told me, breaking into a big smile. “I told Gary, August now, don’t forget!” He did not forget, and the band did not disappoint. They consistently cranked out song after song, keeping us all nodding and tapping our feet to the music. In between songs Gary kept everyone entertained with his humor, poking at his friends and neighbors, and taking his fair share of pokes in return. The band is well known and very talented, with plenty of good nature and down home charm. The Nashville Recording Artist is originally from Bumpass, Virginia. He and his band are excited to have their first CD released at the end of August.

Next summer is a ways off, I know, but it is coming. I also know I’ll spend a good part of it cutting grass, and I want to make my garden a little bigger; I like having extras to give away. I may even get around to extending the deck around the back of the house like my wife and I talked about. I imagine there will be extensive planning sessions this winter. One thing is for sure: Scuffletown Days is going on the calendar now. The whole experience is a shining example of how close a community can, and should, be. The hospitality, good nature and harmony in one small community had to be seen to be believed. I am going back for some more next year!