The third full weekend lights up our July and brings tourists and causes an economic boost to Virginia’s Only Lakeside Town—Clarksville. The Virginia Lake Festival aka “LAKEFEST,” begins with free tethered hot-air balloon tides on Thursday evening for children 12 and younger. On Friday morning, the sand sculpture artist begins creating a larger-than-life art sculpture. Around noontime, the main stage and children’s entertainment arrives as well as the crowds. That evening, the sponsors are introduced and saluted at welcoming ceremonies; a live band hits the stage and performs until 10 pm. Saturday begins at daybreak with 11 hot-air balloons flying over the festival and dipping their baskets in the lake, our main street comes alive all day long, juried arts & crafts show featuring 210 vendors, children’s games, antique auto show, helicopter rides, blood pressure screenings, and more live music. Sunset provides another hot-air balloon display and at 9:30 pm, boats filled with people gather on the lake and more people line the shoreline to view a spectacular fireworks presentation.