Celebrate the Fourth of July this year with Ashe County’s biggest event of the year, the Christmas in July Festival in downtown West Jefferson.

Christmas in July features the best in traditional mountain music and crafts from throughout the northwest mountains of North Carolina and all around the region. This is one of the best old-fashioned summer festivals in the south, drawing more than 20,000 visitors in one day to this beautiful part of the High Country.

Coming on Saturday, July 4, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Backstreet, the festival features a day of music, handmade arts and crafts, food, children’s activities, a Civil War era camp and re-enactments, demonstrations from local Christmas tree growers, farmer’s market and much more.

Festivities kick off on Friday evening, July 3, with music on the main stage, a street dance, and food vendors from 7-10 p.m. There is free admission to the festival and plenty of parking around town. Stop by the headquarters booth at the intersection of the Backstreet and West Main Street to find out more.

Friday night features country music with the Crossroads Band from 7-8:30 p.m. followed by Blue Country Band from 8:30-10 p.m. Enjoy the music and sample some of the offerings from festival food vendors.

Saturday opens the festival with craft vendors, the Ashe County Farmer’s Market, dance groups, the Colgate Country Music Showdown, a Civil War battle re-enactment, and lots of family fun for everyone.

Music lineup on the main stage features the following:

9 a.m.: Southern Accent

10 a.m.-Noon: Colgate Country Showdown

Noon: Ashe County High School Cans and Pans Steel Drum Band

1 p.m.: Amantha Mill Band

2 p.m.: Laura Boosinger & Josh Goforth

3 p.m.: Wayne Henderson & Friends

4 p.m.: Big Country Bluegrass

5 p.m.: Elkville String Band

6 p.m.: Dollar Brothers Band

7 p.m.: Dust to Dust contemporary Christian music.

Sponsors for this year’s festival include American Emergency Vehicles, Ashe Civic Center, Ashe County Arts Council, Dr Pepper Bottling Co., Jefferson Landing, Jefferson Post, Mountain Aire Golf Club and ‘Tis the Season.

Vendor space is still available for the event. Craft vendors can get a 12x12 space for $100 if paid by May 15 and $150 afterwards, or a 12x24 space for $150 by May 15 or $200 afterwards. Food vendors can get a 12x12 space for $200 by May 15 or $250 afterwards, or a 12x24 space for $250 by May 15 or $300 afterwards. Fees of $25 for 120v or $50 for 240v electricity are added. Specialty (snack) food vendors’ booth fees are the same as for craft vendors. Non-profit vendors can get a 12x12 space for $50 by May 15 or $75 afterwards, or a 12x24 space for $100 by May 15 or $150 afterwards. Vendor forms are available on the festival website at www.christmasinjuly.info. For more information, call the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce at 846-9196 or email cij@christmasinjuly.info.