Sunday 20 April 2014

Experience West Virginia Fall Festivals

By Essie Osborn


A novel way to make memories in the Mountain State is to plan week-end excursions during the autumn months. West Virginia fall festivals will entice you all over the state. Many last for two or three days, so you need a mini-vacation to not miss a thing. Others are one-day extravaganzas or smaller town celebrations that youngsters of all ages will enjoy.

You will find things of interest no matter what you like or who you're planning for. Check out the calendar of special events posted on the official WV website. If you like music, you'll find bluegrass, country, jazz, rock, and classical. There are many arts and crafts demos and sales all over the state.

There are antique steam engine shows, parades, pig roasts and apple butter making, grape stompings and wine tastings, and something totally mysterious called the Mothman legend. The Civil War is not forgotten, with reenactments, cannon demonstrations, and period shopping venues. West Virginia is very scenic, so even the trip to get to your destination will be memorable.

There are so many events that you'll have to pick and choose. Maybe geography will help. Those who live in the DC area are within easy driving distance of the eastern panhandle of WV. People in Pennsylvania or Maryland can just cross the state line for fun and educational experiences. The western counties are even more mountainous than the eastern part of the state, so visitors can add in extreme whitewater rafting, hunting and fishing, and hiking if they want to go for a special event and stay a few days.

The month of September is crammed full of special events, which actually go on from April to Christmas. Early in the month is Culturefest 2014, a three-day celebration of ethnic food, music, art, and dance. It's held in the charming town of Pipestem on September 4th through the 7th, all day every day.

Living history is the focus of the Mercer County Heritage Festival in Princeton. This is also a three-day event. It features storytellers, Civil War reenactments and cannon firing demonstrations, many vendors, and craft demonstrations and sales.

The Nicholas County Potato Festival is an example of small-town revelry in downtown Summersville. There's a pet pageant, a Fireman's Parade, and activities like Corn Hole contests. Later in the month, the near-by Kirkwood Winery has two days of live music, crafts, and the opportunity to stomp some grapes in a large pit.

The Mothman flits around Point Pleasant, according to locals who attest to seeing the elusive - whatever. The Mothman Festival has documentaries on the local haunt, a pageant, and live entertainment by the Mothman Band. To learn more, go to the source for three days in mid-September.

To eat a pig or learn to clog, go to the annual Camp Creek State Park Fest. For a roadkill cook-off, visit Marlinton. (This one is famous, folks.) The oldest event is The Mountain State Forest Festival that crams over 100 activities into one day when the fall colors are usually at their peak.




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