By Diana McFarland

Managing editor

Plans for Smithfield’s signature festival, Olden Days, are still in the works but one thing is certain — the Pagan River Raft Race is on.

It will be at Smithfield Station on Saturday, June 29 and is being organized by Station co-owner Randy Pack, who is also on the Smithfield Town Council. {mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

“We do have tentative plans (for an Olden Days event), but don’t want to announce anything until they are formalized. We do anticipate having some definitive answers by Feb. 1 or sooner,” said Special Events coordinator Connie Chapman with Isle of Wight County Tourism. 

Typically, the festival is held the last weekend in June, starting off with a popular outdoor concert and “ghost walk” downtown on Friday evening, followed with crafts, food, the Kids, Bike and Pet parade and other activities on Main Street on Saturday. The festival, in the past, has culminated with the raft race, which has included adult and youth competitors. 

“There is not a committee overseeing the June festivities,” Chapman wrote “but we have taken data from various meetings and group input to form some new ideas.” 

Conversations about changing Olden Days into an event that would draw all ages began last year.  {/mprestriction}