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2008 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 76
Recognizing the Town of Independence as the Official Home of the Grand Privy Race in Virginia.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 18, 2008
Agreed to by the Senate, February 26, 2008

 

WHEREAS, the Town of Independence is known across the Commonwealth for its Mountain Foliage Festival, held in October each year, a celebration that features the official Grand Privy Race, an unusual competitive event thought to be the first and only one of its kind in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the Independence Fine Arts Council organized the first Mountain Foliage Festival in 1982, and former town manager Darrell Ward and his staff came up with the idea to hold a privy race to culminate the town's fall celebration with a fun and creative event; and

WHEREAS, interest waned in the annual celebration for about eight years, when in 1994,  the Historic 1908 Courthouse Foundation and the Grayson Business Association resurrected the Mountain Foliage Festival and the official Grand Privy Race; and

WHEREAS, the highlights of Independence's Mountain Foliage Festival are the Grand Privy Race that takes place in the streets at the center of the Town of Independence and the crowning of the winners of the event as the Grand Privy Champions; and

WHEREAS, the townspeople are great supporters and enthusiastic volunteers at the festival, which includes a multitude of family-friendly activities, including a parade featuring the winner of the “Potty Princess Pageant,” art and craft exhibits by regional artisans, plenty of delicious food, and diverse entertainment from bluegrass music to local theatre; and

WHEREAS, the Mountain Foliage Festival is a successful and popular celebration and the Town of Independence's recognition as its host and the "Official Home of the Grand Privy Race" is a tremendous asset to the town and the citizens of Independence and Grayson County, creating community unity, supporting local artists and entertainers, promoting area tourism and business, and attracting new visitors to the region; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Town of Independence be recognized as the Official Home of the Grand Privy Race in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the mayor of the Town of Independence, requesting that the Town Council further disseminate copies of this resolution to their respective constituents so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.