MONETA (WSLS 10) -- This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Smith Mountain Lake. On March 7, 1966, the lake reached full pond for the first time ever. The official anniversary was at 5:03 a.m. but celebrations at the lake will happen Monday morning.
There will be a dedication and unveiling ceremony of three historical highway markers for Bedford County, Franklin County and Pittsylvania County, the three counties that boarder the lake. Congressman Robert Hurt and Delegate Charles Poindexter will both be on hand for the event. It kicks off at 11 a.m.
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Today is just the first big event of nearly one hundred celebrations that will take place throughout the rest of the year. There's a 50K race, pirate day and a Guinness World Record attempt.
"If you haven't been to view the jewel of the Blue Ridge, if you haven't been down here to play, this is the year to do it," says Bill Piatt, chair of the SML 50th Anniversary steering committee. "Don't let this year go by without coming here and seeing this beautiful place."
Monday at 1:30 p.m. there will be a ribbon cutting for the new Smith Mountain Lake LOVEwork sculpture. That will be at the Westlake Towne Center.