The Blue Ridge PBS Spring Festival continues with great local stories that you can only see here on Blue Ridge PBS.
Lakeside:66 years of Fun in the Sun
Tuesday at 7:00pm 
  The sound of a roller coaster flying down the tracks, screams and squeals of delight, blinking lights, and cotton candy. Those are but a few of the things that immediately come to mind when thinking about a visit to Lakeside Amusement Park.
It has been 30 years since Lakeside Amusement Park turned off the lights and closed the gates, yet many still remember their time there fondly. What began as a 2 million gallon pool in 1920’s, eventually became an amusement park with a variety of rides and games along with concerts from the likes of Conway Twitty, Rick Nelson and many more.

Blue Ridge PBS’s newest documentary will take a look back at Lakeside Amusement Park through the years. Included will be memories from those who worked there in the 1940s, members of the Roberts family who owned the park the longest, Bill Anderson who performed at the park several times, and more! 

Smith Mountain Lake: Generating Power, Creating Memories
 Tuesday at 8:30pm

For more than 50 years, the beauty of the lake has been a draw for those seeking rest and recreation. Embedded in the minds of generations of lake goers are memories of camping, boating, fishing, swimming, and cookouts. Today the face of the lake has changed as more and more folks call it home. Lots that used to host tents and trailers now contain large homes. The surrounding area once dotted with tobacco barns and farms is today home to a wide variety of businesses. However, the main purpose of the lake and the reason it was built remains the same – to generate electricity.

Smith Mountain Lake is 40 miles long with 500 miles of shoreline. Construction on the dam which holds it in place started in 1960. The lake began filling in September of 1963 and reached full pond in March 1966.

This documentary, by award winning Blue Ridge PBS, explores the history of the lake and learns about the communities that were flooded when it was created. Viewers will see how the lake and dam was built and hear first-hand accounts from those who built them. Also included will be stories, photos and footage of the lake down through the years. 
Best of Trains Around North America
Thursday at 7:00pm
  Hosted by Grammy-winning musician and storyteller David Holt, TRAINS AROUND NORTH AMERICA traces America's railroad history, telling the unforgettable stories of the continent's historic and scenic tourist railroads. More than just a tour, these stories capture railroads as they defined the spirit of North America, creating a new industry and re-writing transportation history.

The program transports viewers to a variety of railways — from quiet and relaxing trains featuring spectacular meals and views, to fast-paced trains full of glitz, glamour and movie stars. 
All of us at Blue Ridge PBS thank Newman's Own Foundation for their generous support. Every pledge you make during our Spring Festival will be matched by Newman's Own Foundation.  Donate now and double your pledge.
Blue Ridge PBS - 1215 McNeil Drive SW - Roanoke, VA 24015 - (540) 344-0991