CONTACTS:

Jo Anne Cooper - 252-459-7101

Cindy Puckett - 252-459-7407

Crystal Hyman - 252-903-9732

Amy Beasley (parade) - 252-459-2117

NASHVILLE, N.C. -- The 12th Annual Nashville Blooming Festival is set for Mother’s Day weekend, May 9-10, in downtown Nashville.

Amusement rides open Wednesday, May 7th at 5 p.m. in the parking lot next to the Nash County Courthouse.

Friday night, downtown comes alive with The Holiday Band performing from 8 p.m. until midnight. Vendors open early at 6 p.m. offering tasty festival food, and the amusement rides also open at 6 p.m.

Be sure to come early Saturday to get a good seat for the annual Blooming Festival parade which begins at 11:30 a.m.

You’ll also meet Nashville’s 2008 Mother of the Year, who will be announced Saturday morning prior to the parade.

Other performances Saturday include The Country Roads Band at 12:30 p.m., local talent at 3 p.m., David Dyer & The Crooked Smile Band at 4 p.m., and at 7 p.m., The Craig Woolard Band performs.

Also Saturday, the Goodness Grown in Nash County will be open offering local grown and made items such as strawberries, other fruits and vegetables and locally made BBQ sauces, in a mini-farmer’s market setting. Amusement rides will open after the parade and continue until 10 p.m.

Don’t forget your Annual Blooming Festival T-Shirt! This year’s logo was designed by Meghan Harper at Nash Central High School.  Students compete each year designing their vision of a festival logo and the winning entry is used on the T-Shirt.

Nashville is located off highway 64 east between Raleigh and Rocky Mount. For more information on the Nashville Blooming Festival, you may call the Nashville Chamber of Commerce at (252) 459-4050 or Jo Anne Cooper at (252) 459-7101.

For information on the Festival Schedule and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce's Official Press Release, please click below.  http://www.townofnashville.com/chamber.html