Wings and Wheels Festival Saturday in Hot Springs

Hot Springs, Va. – A fun day for the family is in store on Saturday at the Wings and Wheels Festival at Ingalls Field in Hot Springs. The festival keeps growing, in both popularity and in activities.

Maggie Anderson is the Director of Tourism for Bath County.

“We’re welcoming one really cool new attraction,” says Anderson. “We’re bringing, believe it or not, flying lawnmowers. They’re really something. The group is called Radio Active Flyers and along with the flying lawnmowers, they’re going to bring two flight simulators and some model airplane demonstrations. So if you want to see what it feels like to fly a plane, come into one of the simulators, they’re free. And that’s also new this year.”

Wings and Wheels features a car show on the ground and an airplane show in the sky.

“In the middle of the day we have devoted two separate activities,” says Anderson. “One is for people to come in and vote People’s Choice Award for the trucks, tractors, cars and motorcycles. And then we have the acrobatic air show. So we’ve got Johnny White doing his upside down spins and twirls and he does a great Red Baron. And it’s a fun show. And we also have Roger Marshall and Charlie Schwenker, all of who are daredevil performers. And, of course, then we have the flying lawnmowers. That happens from 1 until 3:30.”

Registration for the car show for cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors is from 8 until 10am. The registration fee is $20.

“Wings and Wheels has morphed into, I think, the largest regional car and air show in western Virginia, which is really nice,” says Anderson. “I think it appeals to everyone. We have cars, we have motorcycles, we have old cars, we have new cars. So you can bring your family and the kids enjoy it. You can bring the older folks in the family and they remember when. And then of course, we just all have a love affair with our cars. And then you have the daredevil acrobatics and everybody likes to see exciting things. And the air show is really very exciting. Then you sprinkle in great food, entertainment, beautiful location and just an opportunity to spend an afternoon in a really beautiful place with lots of fun things and you have the great recipe for a great event.”

There will be live music throughout the day with Daryn Burkholder, The Announcers and Moonshine Express. There will also be vendors, games, activities and food all day.

“My personal favorite is the fried oreos, but you know, we won’t talk about that,” says Anderson. “We’ve got hot dogs, we’ve got hamburgers, we have all of the great carnival foods. We have a lot of our local groups coming up. Boys Scouts, Relay for Life, everyone is providing a different kind of food item and, of course, anything that they earn there will go into their treasuries to help support the community service efforts that they do.”

Wings and Wheels is Saturday August 4, from 8 until 6 at Ingalls Field off Route 220, south of Hot Springs. Admission is $5 per car, $10 for vans and buses. It’s a good idea to bring a chair and remember your sunscreen.

For more information visit discoverbath.com or call the Bath Chamber at 1-800-628-8092