.jpg)
It’s going to seem like old times in Buena Vista this Monday, Labor Day, with the kickoff to Virginia’s fall political campaign featuring opposing candidates for U.S. Senate and the Sixth District seat in Congress.
Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and his Republican opponent, Hung Cao, will be delivering stump speeches on the same stage at Glen Maury Park, as will Republican Congressman Ben Cline of the Sixth District and his Democratic challenger, Ken Mitchell.
Political clashes at Buena Vista’s Labor Day celebrations have been more subdued in recent years as the Democratic statewide candidates had been opting to attend events in more populous and vote-rich regions of the state. This year, though, it appears, the state political spotlight will return to Buena Vista.
Also coming to Buena Vista Monday for the 53rd annual Labor Day Festival will be Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, state Sen. Creigh Deeds of the 11th District, state Sen. Chris Head of the Third District, Del. Ellen Campbell of the 36th District and Del. Terry Austin of the 37th District.
Political breakfasts will start the day’s activities. Republicans will gather at the American Legion building, with doors opening at 7 a.m. and breakfast being served at 7:45. Democrats will be holding their breakfast at Parry McCluer High School beginning at 7:30.
A 5K road race sponsored by PMHS’s cross country team will begin at 8:30 a.m. from Camden Field. A 600-meter fun run for children ages 9 and under starts at 8 on the Camden Field track. Entries in the Labor Day parade, which begins at 9:30 a.m., will line up on Magnolia Avenue in front of Parry McCluer Middle School. The parade wraps up at the park, where a Labor Day opening ceremony will be held at the main pavilion, behind the Paxton House, at 11 a.m. Political stump speeches will follow.
Activities at the park will include live music, concessions, carnival games, bounce houses and pony rides. The Blue Ridge Mountain Cloggers will perform at 1 p.m. and Vinyl Nation will follow at 2. Spencer Hatcher will provide an evening performance beginning at 6. Fireworks will cap off the day’s festivities at 9:15 p.m.
