Shepherdstown 4th of July Parade and Picnic
The historic town of Shepherdstown WV will hold its annual Independence Day parade and community picnic on Wednesday, July 4. Both events will be held rain or shine. Everyone is welcome at both events and admission will be free. The parade and picnic are organized annually by the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown. The goal is to provide wholesome, family-oriented 4th of July events that everyone can enjoy. If you're looking for an old-fashioned, small-town 4th of July celebration, this is it. The parade will be held starting at 11:00 a.m. downtown. It will last about an hour. Entries will include veteran's groups, antique vehicles, local societies and organizations of all kinds, local businesses, government officials, children's groups, animals, historical re-enactors, fire trucks, and more. Plenty of parade parking will be available in the Shepherd University parking lot at the edge of downtown on High Street. The picnic will be held right after the parade, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m., in the pavilion at Morgan's Gove Park on Kearneysville Pike (Route 480) just southwest of town. The picnic will feature live music, with two popular local bands. The Speakeasy Boys will play from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the Gypsy Ramblers will play from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. There will be lots of free children's activities, including a waterslide, scavenger hunt, a water balloon toss, face painting, and more. The Rotary Club will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and non-alcoholic beverages at reasonable prices. All proceeds from those sales are used to help cover event costs. People can bring their own picnic lunches if they prefer. There is plenty of parking at the park. For more information go to the Rotary Club website at www.shepherdstownrotary.org/july_4_picnic, or go to "Shepherdstown 4th of July Parade and Picnic" on Facebook, or contact Rotarian Peter Smith at 304-876-1139 or pvsmith@frontiernet.net.
Blessing of the Animals
Got Pets? We Bless! Bring your furry, feathered, finned (and even scaled!) creatures to Saint Matthews Episcopal Church for a Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi Day. Join The Reverend Kim Webster at 6PM in the Payne Memorial Garden on October 4, 2017 for this wonderful ceremony. St. Matthew's is located at 36 Norwood Road in Charleston, WV. For more information, please call 304-343-3837.
Nature in Spring
Spring is a time of growth and renewal in the natural world. WVBG Education Director Erin Smaldone will discuss what plants and animals are doing in nature and the Garden during this time of year. The program will include a slide presentation followed by a walk. All ages. Free. * Registration is required for workshops at least one week prior to the workshop. Registration for free programs is required by the Friday prior to the program. All activities take place at the West Virginia Botanic Garden, 1061 Tyrone Rd., Morgantown, WV 26508 unless otherwise noted. Walks and presentations will last 1.5-2hrs. Please refrain from bringing your pet to activities. Contact us at 304-322-2093 or info@wvbg.org if you have any questions.
Friends of Cheat Presents Pups, Pints &Pickin’s
Bring the WHOLE family, including the furry ones, for some sun & fun - FOC style - at Pups, Pints, and Pickin! Save the date for a special end of summer event, hosted by Friends of the Cheat in partnership with the Preston County Animal Shelter, featuring live music, food, speciality vendors, kids activities, dog-centric demonstrations, workshops and contests! Silent auction & raffles – Prizes include outdoor gear, pet supplies and services, local arts and crafts, and gift certificates. For more information on costs and to get involved contact amanda@cheat.org.
Third Annual Shepherdstown DogFest
Shepherdstown will hold its third annual "DogFest" the weekend of August 15-16 The event will be held on North King Street in the heart of downtown, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., both days. It will include a wide variety of activities for dogs, their owners, and dog lovers, as well as activities that everybody can enjoy. The main activities on Saturday will be a parade of rescue dogs at 11:00 a.m. and a dog show open to dogs owned by residents and visitors at 3:00 p.m. Sunday's main activity will be an 11:00 a.m. "Look and Learn" parade of dogs featuring more than a dozen heritage breeds that are rarely seen outside of major dog shows. Both days will include blessings of the dogs; flyball demonstrations; exhibits and demonstrations by trainers, rescue organizations, and others; and children's activities. Throughout the weekend, many restaurants and stores and will let dog owners bring their dogs inside. Many will also be offering special dog-themed food, drinks, and items for sale. Pools and misters will be set up so dogs can stay cool in the August heat. Full schedule details are available on the Shepherdstown Visitors Center website at www.shepherdstown.info.