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Barksdale Cancer Foundation is busy making final plans for its annual wine festival, “Miss Janie’s Sit & Sip,” to be held from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24.

There will be a change of venue this year, as the event moves to the Osborne Street Park in Keysville, adjacent to the fire department.

“We feel that relocation of the event will give us more room for expansion this year,” said Larry Shook, president of the organization. “We will have more room for the wineries, the vendors, the band, parking … just a larger space for the event.”

Organizers have booked four local wineries this year. They are excited to have American Way Winery of Chase City, Bright Meadows of Nathalie, Devault of Concord and Woodbine from Buffalo Junction. All have unique and popular offerings for wine afficionados.

The Tobacco Road Band, a very popular group from neighboring Mecklenburg County, will headline entertainment for the day. The band consists of four Southside Virginia musicians “with roots deep in the soil, mining the music of our generation,” according to Ronnie Newcomb, band spokesperson. Newcomb, who provides bass and vocals for the group, says the band is the result of “years of musical collaboration.” Most band members have played together for decades. Rounding out the group is Barry Hughes on drums, Bill Baker on guitar, and Ronnie Jordan of Brookneal on lead guitar.

Their music blends old soul and blues, country and some good old southern rock ‘n’ roll. Newcomb laughingly shares that the band’s audiences often know the lyrics better than they do. The group’s motto is “Music that will make you move.”

Many vendors have been lined up for the event, offering everything from jewelry to wood crafts to BoHo fashions to all sorts of handmade offerings, truly providing something for everyone. Food will be available for purchase from Anita’s Homestyle Cooking food truck from Drakes Branch.

During the event, tickets will be sold for a queen-size Crown Royal quilt, custom-made for BCF by Coat of Many Colors Quilting Guild. Also being raffled at the same time is a vintage-style bar cart, handcrafted by local popular craftsman Daryl King of Victoria. Winners will be announced before the end of the wine festival.

Tasting and non-tasting tickets for the event may be purchased online through PayPal or by credit card by visiting the website, www.barksdalecancerfou.wixsite.com/mysite and clicking on the upcoming events tab. Note that the link is not supported through Google; use alternate web browser when purchasing tickets. Advance tickets are $20 for tasting and $15 for non-tasting. Tasting tickets are $25 at the gate; non-tasting ticket pricing is the same at the gate.

Barksdale is a grassroots organization founded in 1999. Its sole purpose is to give monetary and services support to Charlotte County cancer patients. The foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit manned by volunteers, with no ties to any other cancer organizations. Anyone who knows of a Charlotte County cancer patient in need, please call Wendy Lankford at 434-470-1538. To make a tax-deductible donation, it may be mailed to Barksdale Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 225, Charlotte Court House, Virginia 23923.