Smithfield will host its first arts festival on Saturday, May 21, to celebrate visual, performing, literary and culinary arts along Main Street downtown.

Activities will include a juried art show, craft vendors, food, live music performances, demonstrations by artists, a children’s “make and take” art project, a story walk along Hayden’s Lane, children’s story time, “meet and greets” with local authors, a collaborative art project, a food court and cocktail garden.

The 1750 Isle of Wight Courthouse will present “Trial by Jury,” a live theatrical reenactment based on an actual court case from the late 1700s. Performances will be at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 each at https://1750courthouse.com/. Children 6 and under will be admitted free.

Tidewater Dogs of War will present a duel reenactment. The group is the first full-contact, medieval armored combat team in southeast Virginia, with members from Richmond to the North Carolina border.

The music schedule is:

• 9 a.m. to noon: acoustic sounds of Gaylon Ryan on the porch at the Historic Smithfield Inn.
• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: James Arellano playing acoustic easy-listening tunes at the Art Center @319 Main Street.
• 1 p.m to 4 p.m.: Patrick Wray playing 1960’s to present-day acoustic and vocals covering pop, rock, folk, alternative and county music at The Smithfield Times Gazebo, 224 Main St.
• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Louis C. Vangieri playing acoustic instrumental folk music on the porch at the Smithfield Inn, 112 Main St.

All performances are free.

Additionally, Sundays at Four Concert Series will present a solo recital by Ricky Goodwyn Jr. featuring opera arias, folk songs and more on Sunday, May 22. A free-will offering will be taken to support Goodwyn’s education to further his musical studies. 

The concert will be held at Christ Church, 111 S. Church St., at 4 p.m. The church will also be open for tours on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For further information contact Connie Chapman, special events coordinator for Smithfield and Isle of Wight Tourism, at cchapman@isleofwightus.net or 757-902-2164 or 757-365-1644.