Adventure Advisory: Culture, Crafts and Communities
The Adventure Advisory, prepared and distributed by Wild, Wonderful West Virginia (GoToWV), highlights some of the many activities happening across the Mountain State. Additional listings are posted at www.GoToWV.com. Event organizers and promoters are encouraged to submit items electronically at https://GoToWV.com/partners/.
Sept. 4-6: Blue and Gray Days Civil War Re-enactment, St. Mary’s
304-684-3208; 304-299-0991; haddox99@suddenlink.net; https://www.facebook.com/smbluegraydays?fref=ts
Activities include a barn dance, Ladies’ Tea on Saturday, bluegrass music by The Tower Street String Band, and a battle on Main Street. Friday is School Day for kids to learn and observe about Civil War history. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Events are free for both re-enactors and the public.
Sept. 3-6: West Virginia Hillbilly Days, Lincoln County Memorial Fairgrounds, Hamlin
304-549-7301; www.lcfairsandfestivals.com; www.facebook.com/LCFairsAndFestivals
Activities and attractions include concessions, vendors, arts and crafts, quilt show, baked goods contest, home-grown veggies contest (canned and fresh), inflatables, bungee jump, chain saw carving, petting zoo, monster trucks, mud run, horse show, live musical entertainment and more.
Sept. 4-5: Tribute to the River, Riverfront Park in Point Pleasant
304-674-0144; 304-675-6788; museum@pprivermuseum.com;
Attractions and activities include a tow boat tour, line throw, cornhole contests with cash prizes, children’s games Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., inflatables, 50/50 drawing, concessions, entertainments and much more. Free admission.
Sept. 4-6: 10th Annual Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta, Heritage Port, Wheeling
800-828-3097; www.wheelingvintageregatta.com
The event features races with vintage raceboats and hydroplanes throughout the day along with live music and radio-controlled airplane shows by the Ohio Valley Hillhoppers. Opening ceremonies begin at 9:45 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Heats are scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon and again at 2 p.m. until the heats are completed.
Sept. 4-6: 37th West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival, Main Street, Clarksburg
304-622-7314; wvihf@wvihf.com; www.wvihf.com
The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival offers events, authentic Italian cuisine and fun and games for people of all ages. The event features top-named entertainers on the main stage and a special children’s area and stage for the youngsters.
Sept. 4-6: Jackson’s Mill Jubilee, Weston
800-296-7329; 304-269-7328; 304-269-4988; 304-269-6131; 304-269-2092; dsgar67@gmail.com; www.jacksonsmilljubilee.net; www.stonewallcountry.com/jubilee.html
Attractions and activities include folk dancing, live music, arts and crafts, historical encampments, a Hillbilly Zip Line, chainsaw carving, grist mill demonstrations, horse and carriage rides, antique tractors and engines and more.
Sept. 4-6: Jane Lew Firemen’s Arts and Crafts Festival, Jane Lew
304-269-7328; tour@stonewallcountry.com; kgeer@stonewallcountry.com; www.stonewallcountry.com/jane-lew-arts-festival.html
Over 200 contemporary and heritage crafters will feature works in glass, wood, leather, jewelry, dolls, dried and silk flowers, baskets, ceramics, soaps, candles, paintings, honey, jams and jellies and more.
Sept. 5: 5th Annual Heritage Farm’s Cast-Iron Cook-off, Huntington
304-522-1244; 304-544-6948; info@heritagefarmmuseum.com; Joshua.sowards@gmail.com; www.heritagefarmmuseum.com
Appalachian ingredients entice chefs to prepare the finest of country cuisines. Come taste and see why this is a local attraction that brings in the crowd! Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sept. 5: Charles Town Car Show, Charles Town
304-725-2311; 304-724-3862; www.charlestownwv.us
Downtown streets will be closed to allow the display of hundreds of classic cars, shopping and great food.
Sept. 5-6: Shepherdstown Community Club 1st Weekend Handmade Market, War Memorial Building, Shepherdstown
304-995-3728; creativeartandsoul@gmail.com; https://facebook.com/scchandmademarket
The market is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Featured arts and crafts include pottery, fine art, woodcraft, housewares, jewelry, fiber art, specialty food and more. Some sellers will participate each weekend while others will rotate in and out, so you will see something new each month.
Sept. 10-12: Pennsboro Country Roads Festival, Pennsboro Speedway, Pennsboro
304-299-0101; 304-659-3555; crfpdirector@yahoo.com; pennsborocountryroadsfestival@yahoo.com
The theme for this year’s festival is “Time Warp.” Activities include pageants, carnival rides, parade, clogging and square dancing, cake walks, craft and flea market, hot dog eating contest, talent show, live music and more.
Sept. 10-13: 12th Annual Culturefest World Music and Arts Festival, Appalachian South Folk Life Center, Pipestem
304-425-6425; 800-221-3206; https://www.culturefestwv.com/
Music groups from all over the East Coast travel to this festival that focuses on multicultural celebrations of music, art, ethnic foods and dance.
Sept. 11-12: Nicholas County Potato Festival, Summersville
866-716-0448; info@summersvillecvb.com; www.nicholascountypotatofestival.com
Activities and attractions include a potato display/auction, contests, live music featuring headliner Bucky Covington, amusement rides, pet pageant, parades, car show, 5K Spud Run/Walk, Potato Idol Talent Search, fireworks and more.
Sept. 11-13: 25th Annual West Virginia Black Heritage Festival, Clarksburg
304-641-9963; 304-622-2157; https://www.wvbhf.com/
This event features live music from Dennis Edwards and the Temptations Review and The Intruders; unique crafts and gifts; and lots of food and family fun.
Sept. 11-13: Hancock County Oldtime Fair, Tomlinson Run State Park, New Manchester
304-564-3651; 877-723-7114; danny@topofwv.com; https://www.topofwv.com/ai1ec_event/hancock-county-oldtime-fair-3/?instance_id=7598
Featured events include a tractor parade, live entertainment and Barnyard Olympics—sack races, skillet tosses, seed spitting, stick horse race and several food-related contests.
Sept. 12: Festival of Colors—World’s Happiest Event, Palace of Gold in Moundsville
304-843-1812; info@festivalofcolors.us; info@MarshallCountyTourism.com; www.facebook.com/festivalofcolor; www.festivalofcolors.us
Festival of Colors is a family-friendly Indian cultural event promoting peace, love, and unity. The Festival of Colors is an exuberant festival complete with food, music, dance and throwing of organic colored powders. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sept. 12-13: 17th Annual Elizabethtown Festival, Moundsville
304-845-6200; festival@wvpentours.com; www.wvpentours.com
This event features turn-of-the-century crafts such as basket making, quilting, sewing and weaving, scissor paper cuttings and blacksmith skills. Educational exhibits include old-time working tools, a covered wagon and a pen of goats where you can see demonstrations of goat milk candy and soap making.
Sept. 12-13: Helvetia Community Fair, Helvetia
304-924-9247; www.helvetiafair.com; https://www.facebook.com/helvetiafair?fref=ts
Celebrate the rich culture and history of this small Swiss community with a parade, horseshoe contest, 10K Mountain Run, Kid’s Mountain Run, Swiss folk dancing, Fahnenschwingen (Swiss flag swinging), Alphorn playing, yodeling, field games, relays, arts and crafts and a square dance.
Real. Excitement * Real. Family Time * Real. Mountain Flavor * Real. Adventure * Real. Fun * Real. Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. You can find it here. Call 800-CALL WVA or visit GoToWV.com. Share your Real. West Virginia stories on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #GoToWV and #RealWV.###
This post was last updated on November 11, 2015