Browntown Prepares for 23rd Annual Red Bud Festival

A small mountain community with deep roots is getting ready for one of its biggest traditions. The 23rd annual Red Bud Festival will take place Saturday, April 18, bringing a full day of music, food, and family fun to Browntown.

Martha Buracker and Mike McCool speak in the Royal Examiner studio about the upcoming Red Bud Festival in Browntown.

Festival organizer Martha Buracker says the event has earned a special nickname over the years. “I’ve always called it the Mayberry of Warren County festivals,” she said, pointing to its simple charm and strong sense of community.

The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Browntown Community Center and surrounding grounds. Admission, parking, and shuttle service are all free, making it an easy outing for families.

Live music will set the tone early in the day. Local group Caney Ridge takes the stage from 9 to 10 a.m., performing a mix of bluegrass, country, and gospel. At 11 a.m., Nashville recording artist and Warren County native Ryan Jewell will perform, drawing a hometown crowd.

One of the most popular traditions returns at 1 p.m.—the duck race. Despite what some first-time visitors may think, the race does not involve real ducks. Instead, participants buy numbered plastic ducks for $5 each. The ducks are dropped from a bridge and float down the creek to the finish line near the community center. Prizes include $100 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place.

Inside the community center, visitors will find crafts, a silent auction, baked goods, and Browntown merchandise. Homemade favorites like sausage gravy and biscuits, as well as soups, will be served in the kitchen. Outside, festivalgoers can enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs and browse booths from local vendors and nonprofits.

The silent auction will feature unique items, including local artwork and historical pieces tied to the area. Buracker noted that some rare photos and artifacts from the former Bentonville Mill will be auctioned this year.

Car enthusiasts will also have something to enjoy. The festival’s antique car show has been renamed the Dave McDermott Antique Car Show in honor of a longtime volunteer who passed away last year.

History plays a big role in the festival. The local museum will be open for the day, and members of the Gooney Valley History Club will be on site. Visitors can bring old photographs to be scanned for free and possibly included in future historical projects.

Another festival favorite is the sale of redbud tree seedlings. About 350 seedlings will be available for $5 each or five for $20. Though they take a few years to bloom, organizers say they are worth the wait and add beauty to the area.

Sponsors, including 84 Lumber, Revolution Mortgage, Partlow Insurance, and Manor Line Ranch, help make the event possible. Proceeds support community projects, including plans to remodel the kitchen in the historic schoolhouse that now serves as the community center.

Getting to Browntown is part of the experience. Visitors traveling from Front Royal can take Route 340 and turn onto Browntown Road, following the scenic, winding route for about eight miles.

With music, food, history, and small-town charm, organizers say the Red Bud Festival offers something for everyone. As Buracker put it, it’s simply “a nice family day.”

Town Talk, sponsored by National Media Services, Inc., is a Royal Examiner series that introduces you to local entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and public officials who help shape Warren County. Conversations cover a wide range of topics about our community and the people making a difference.