Preston Court Days brings thousands to Bath County for longtime tradition of shopping, selling

The town of Preston, in Bath County, drew large crowds for Preston Court Days on Thursday, turning the small community into a regional destination for people looking to shop, sell and take part in a longtime local tradition, according to LEX18.

Court Days, which centers on vendors setting up in and around the town, has become known for bringing visitors from outside the immediate area to browse goods and conduct transactions on a day when the local streets are filled with shoppers. LEX18 reported that thousands of people attend the event each year.

For local residents and longtime attendees, Court Days functions as more than a weekend outing. The annual event is presented as an ongoing community tradition, with the town’s scale allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of a rural marketplace while vendors and buyers gather in one place.

LEX18’s coverage described the event as a draw for people who come specifically to participate in the buying and selling portion of Court Days, rather than only to view or attend as spectators. That focus on commerce is reflected in the variety of sellers who come to the town during the event window.

As part of the event’s appeal, Preston Court Days also offers a concentrated timeframe for shopping activity, with the day serving as a focal point for visitors traveling to Bath County. The event’s reputation for drawing substantial crowds is a key part of why it functions as a destination beyond the town’s normal daily foot traffic, LEX18 reported.

Officials and organizers were not further detailed in the LEX18 report, including any specific enforcement actions, venue rules, or public safety measures. With large crowds showing up for a one-day market-style event, organizers typically rely on established local procedures to keep traffic and activity orderly, but those particulars were not specified in the coverage.

With Court Days concluding at the end of the event day, vendors and visitors generally return to their regular schedules. The next iteration will likely be watched by residents and outside shoppers who plan trips around the annual timing of the tradition, based on the event’s established pattern and the scale of attendance described by LEX18.