51st Annual Railroad Days
For two weekends in October, the streets are filled with a variety of vendors, great food, live entertainment, and carriage rides through the Hinton Historic District. The Railroad Museum showcases model railroad and John Henry exhibits, photo and art exhibits, and more. New River Train Excursions runs daily trips from Huntington, WV to Hinton, WV each day of the festival.
20th Annual Shepherdstown Back Alley Garden Tour and Tea
The historic town of Shepherdstown WV will hold its 20th annual Back Alley Garden Tour and Tea the weekend of May 21 and 22. The event, which is sponsored by the Shepherdstown Community Club, will include a self-guided walking tour of some 20 private gardens rarely open to the public and an elegant afternoon tea. Incorporated in 1762, Shepherdstown has many interesting 18th- and early 19th-century homes. Many of the gardens on the Garden Tour will be located on the grounds of those homes. The town will be hosting other garden-related activities both days, including a Native Plant Sale on Saturday and a Farmers' Market on Sunday. Both days will also include a variety of other activities for visitors: live music, children's events, carriage rides, displays by local artists, access to local historic sites, and special spring menus at many local restaurants. The Tour and Tea and all the other weekend activities will be held rain or shine. Garden Tour hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Teas will be offered from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. each day. Admission to both the Garden Tour and Tea will be $20 per person before May 17, and $25 after that. Advance tickets to the Garden Tour and Tea and more information are available online at www.backalleygarden.org. The Saturday Native Plant Sale will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Sponsored by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, it will emphasize plants that benefit endangered pollinators like honeybees and butterflies, and it will include informational displays as well as vendors. The Sunday Farmers Market will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All the weekend's other activities will follow the same hours as the Garden Tour.
Shepherdstown “BooFest” Halloween Celebration
The historic town of Shepherdstown WV will celebrate Halloween this year with its fourth annual "BooFest." The BooFest will begin the evening of Wednesday, October 26 with a showing of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and conclude with trick-or-treating and other events on Halloween night, Monday, October 31. In between, there will be a wide variety of activities that everybody can enjoy, with a special emphasis on activities for children and families. Most activities will be free and everyone will be welcome. One of the highlights of this year's BooFest will be a visit on Saturday, October 29, by Bill Hartley, one of the stars of the popular "Ghosts of Shepherdstown" television series. The series aired this summer on the Destination America cable TV channel. Hartley, who was the tech expert of the series' paranormal investigative team, is the head of the Greater Maryland Paranormal Society. He will lead a discussion about the series from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Shepherdstown Opera House. He will be joined by local historian Dana Mitchell and town police chief Mike King, who also appeared in the series, The discussion will be followed by a Ghosts of Shepherdstown walk led by Mitchell from 4 to 5 p.m. and a "Meet the Stars of Ghosts of Shepherdstown" event, where Hartley, Mitchell and King will sign posters, DVDs, and pictures, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. There will also be a showing of Hartley's favorite episodes from the Ghosts of Shepherdstown series from 3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Opera House. Other BooFest events will include the following: • a "Vampire Ball" at the Community Club on Friday night, October 28 • special Halloween concerts at the Opera House on Friday, Saturday, and Monday • a Haunted Hogs Poker Run and bike judging Saturday afternoon • a Saturday evening Thriller dance and street party • a Sunday costume competition There will also be history walks, carriage rides and many children's activities on Saturday and Sunday, plus family Halloween movies on Sunday. On Halloween night, in addition to trick-or-treating, there will also be a "Haunted Hallway" for young children and a performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth with a post-show costume party at the Black Box Theatre. Go to the Shepherdstown Visitors Center website at www.shepherdstown.info for a full schedule of activities. For more information, contact Marianne Davis at 304-876-2786 or svc@shepherdstown.info.
Shepherdstown Garden Fest Weekend
The historic town of Shepherdstown, WV, will hold a "GardenFest Weekend" May 21 and 22. The centerpiece of of both days will be the town's 17th annual Back Alley Garden Tour and Tea, which will include a self-guided walking tour of private gardens rarely open to the public and an elegant afternoon tea. Incorporated in 1762, Shepherdstown has many interesting 18th- and early 19th-century homes. Many of the gardens on the Garden Tour will be located on the grounds of those homes. The town will be hosting other garden-related activities both days, including a Native Plant Sale on Saturday and a Farmers' Market on Sunday. Both days will also include displays by local artists, access to local historic sites, live music, children's events, carriage rides, and special spring menus at many local restaurants. The Tour and Tea and all the other weekend activities will be held rain or shine. Garden Tour hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Teas will be offered from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. each day. Admission to both the Tour and Tea will be $20 per person through May 18, and $25 after that. Tour and Tea tickets and more information are available online now at www.backalleygarden.org. The Native Plant Sale will be held Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, it will emphasize plants that benefit endangered pollinators like honeybees and butterflies, and it will include informational displays as well as vendors. Participating native plant vendors will include Hill House Farm and Nursery, from Castletown, VA; Enchanter's Garden, from Hinton, WV; Bluebell Ridge Nursery, from Sharpsburg, MD; and Star Eagle Gardens, from Berkeley Springs. There will also be garden art for sale and a local apiary will be selling honey and offering tastings of different honeys. Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, bee keepers and other experts will be on hand to answer questions about pollinators and the selection and cultivation of plants that help sustain them. The Monarch Alliance of Washington County, MD, will have literature available, including sample plans for butterfly gardens. All of the weekend's other activities will be free and will follow the same hours as the Garden Tour. For more details about these other activities and information about parking locations during the weekend, go to the Shepherdstown Visitor's Center web site at www.shepherdstown.info or contact the Center at svc@shepherdstown.info 304-876-2786.
Holiday in the Park
Celebrate the holidays by driving with family and friends through the skillfully decorated City and Southwood Parks while listening to
Jackson’s Mill Jubilee
A celebration of Appalachian Heritage, Educational Demonstrations, featuring Indigenous and Bluegrass music concerts, Native American Style Dancing, Chainsaw Carvings, Gristmill demos, Homestead Activities, Photography, Needle Arts and Quilt Show, Antique Tractors and Engines, Carriage Rides, Civil War Encampment, Top quality Artisans, a Zip Line for the active ones, and Kid’s Land for the younger festival participants. Foods – BBQ (Chicken, Beef, & Pork), Homemade Donuts and Ice Cream, Deep Fried Pickles, and more. Fun for the entire family. Hours: Fri. Noon-9 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.