Area Chamber Gets Evolution Finale Grant   Covington, VA (May 22, 2019) - The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism has been awarded one of 16 2019 Commemoration Finale Grants for their program – A Journey Home: 400 Years of Cultures, Customs & Cuisines. The 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution Finale Grants are for events taking place in November during the Virginia Customs, Cultures and Cuisine Festival. The grants are being administered by the Virginia Tourism Corporation. The month-long Virginia Customs, Cultures and Cuisine Festival, presented by TowneBank, will be filled with local, regional and statewide events honoring early Virginia history with cultures and styles that have shaped America over 400 years. This special capstone to the 2019 Commemoration will foster statewide participation, tourism, marketing and promotion, and public events to create a contemporary experience for all ages. A Journey Home: 400 Years of Cultures, Customs & Cuisines will feature several programs during the month of November. A residency concert will take place with members of the American Spiritual Ensemble and the local Resurrection Choir at Curfman Hall in Covington. A tasting demonstration and storytelling on the history of African American Cuisine will take place at the Historic Masonic Theatre and lastly, a Movie & History Expo event will take place at the Masonic Theatre as well. The expo event will have numerous local history and heritage organizations set up to offer valuable information to attendees and will be followed by the showing of the critically acclaimed movie, Hidden Figures. “We are very happy to be able to plan and execute these events with the help of our partners and to highlight the history in Virginia over the last 400 years,” said Josh Taylor, Special Projects and Marketing for the Chamber. Each event and many local businesses will have donating stations for attendees, visitors and locals to participate in the Share the Spirit of Thanksgiving Hunger Relief Campaign. Goods that are received will be donated to local food banks. “This is a new program of events for the region and it will be a great way to honor early history over the last 400 years not only in Virginia, but in the Alleghany Highlands as well” said Teresa Hammond, Executive Director for the Chamber. The Virginia Customs, Culture and Cuisine Festival is a strategic part of the larger 2019 Commemoration, that recognizes the 400th anniversary of pivotal 1619 Virginia events that forever changed the trajectory of Virginia and America’s history. These 1619 events include the first official English Thanksgiving in North America, the arrival of the first recorded Africans to English North America, the recruitment of English women in significant numbers to the Virginia colony, the launch of entrepreneurship and innovation in the Commonwealth and more. * * * * * About the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution The 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution™ highlights events that occurred in Virginia in 1619 that continue to influence America today. Featured programs, events and legacy projects position Virginia as a leader in education, tourism and economic development. American Evolution™ commemorates the ongoing journey toward the key ideals of democracy, diversity and opportunity. Dominion Energy is an American Evolution Founding Partner and Altria Group and TowneBank are Virginia Colony Partners.

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