June 18 , 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gail Justice
304-558-2003, ext. 337
gjustice@wvcommerce.org
West Virginia Events June 18-24
WV Day Celebrations at Welcome Centers
* I-77 Welcome Centerwill serve birthday cake and free soft drinks to everyone. Snacks will be available from the Society for the Blind, and Smokey Bear will be in attendance as well! Look for the huge sign celebrating the state’s birthday.
*I-64 West Welcome Center will host representatives from America’s first golf course, Oakhurst Links, and several rafting companies. Giveaways will be available throughout the day, such as Theatre WV tickets, Jet Boat Ride tickets, discount coupons, Greenbrier Valley Theatre tickets, and the Division of Natural Resources Monopoly game. Food includes pecan pies, strawberry pies, lemonade, and more.
I-79 Welcome Center will offer free food donated by area hotels, Sam’s, Giant Eagles and Wal-Mart. The LG Lamp Company and Browns Creations in Clay will demonstrate their wares. Free giveaways include tickets for Smoke Hole Caverns and the Potomac Eagle excursion train.
I-81 North Welcome Center will havea living history representation of Belle Boyd, the famous Confederate spy of the Civil War era, and her father, a Confederate general. Giveaways include whitewater rafting tickets and t-shirts donated by the Martinsburg/Berkeley County Convention and Visitors Bureau. There will be gifts such as copies of the Division of Natural Resources’ “Wonderful West Virginia” magazine, West Virginia wildflower seeds, "Keep West Virginia Beautiful" litter bags, and more. Costumed characters such as Smokey Bear, Scooby Doo, Power Girl, and the Chick-Fil-A cow will be at the center. The Berkeley County Soap Box Derby organization will also be displaying some of their soap box derby cars. The Martinsburg/Berkeley County CVB, the Jefferson County CVB, and the Harpers Ferry Historical National Park will all be there.
I-81 South Welcome Center will feature Comfort Inn and Hampton Inn, which will host a table with free coffee and cookies for all drivers. Another table with small handouts such as litter bags, pencils, WV pins, maps and guides. On Saturday the 23 rd, Falling Waters Battlefield will be represented.
I-70 West Welcome Center will feature the Marx Toy Museum, the Oglebay Institute Museum, Wood Carvers, Apple Pie Ridge Bed & Breakfast, Liberty Oaks Bed & Breakfast, the West Virginia Penitentiary, a live band and more. Free snacks and birthday cake will be available. The festivities will begin at 1p.m.
I-68 West Welcome Center will feature a live band, birthday cake and other food, and displays of motels and crafters.
Living History Days: June 23 & 24, WV State Farm Museum, Pt. Pleasant. The West Virginia State Farm Museum will hold an event that will include Civil War re-enactors camping and training on the farm grounds, and portrayals of pioneer and historical figures. There will be an Antique Tractor Pull on Saturday at 1 p.m. Church services will be Sunday at 9 a.m. with a Gospel Sing at 1:30 p.m. The Country Kitchen Restaurant will be open. Admission is free. Contact Lloyd Akers or Teresa Bailey at 304-675-5737 or wvsfm@wvfarmmuseum.org, or visit http://www.masoncountytourism.org or www.wvfarmmuseum.org.
Free Swim at selected State Parks: June 20. In honor of West Virginia’s 144 th birthday, Governor Joe Manchin announced a free swim day at eight state parks including Beech Fork State Park, Cabwaylingo State Forest, Cacapon Resort State Park, Cedar Creek State Park, Lost River State Park, Twin Falls Resort State Park, Watoga State Park and Watters Smith Memorial State Park. Other participating parks require paid admission but will offer free swim passes to be used throughout the summer. See the website www.wvstateparks.com or call 1-800-CALL WVA.
Snowshoe Grand National Cross Country: June 23-24, ATV/Motorcycle racing at Snowshoe Mountain. Snowshoe hosts round 8 of the largest off-road, all-terrain vehicle and motorcycle racing circuit in the country. The race area encompasses a large majority of the Snowshoe Basin and the Silver Creek area. The schedule includes races for youth, amateur, and pro participants. For more details, call 877-441-4FUN or visit www.snowshoemtn.com/todo/events/calendar/june/GNCC.htm.
West Virginia State Folk Festival: June 21-24, Glenville. This annual festival, founded to preserve traditional, un-amplified mountain string music, will feature crafts, a quilt show, square dancing, living history presentations, children’s activities, banjo and fiddle contests, and many jam sessions. A must for all lovers of old-time music! Admission is free. For more information, contact 304-462-5000, information@wvfolkfestival.org, or visit www.wvfolkfestival.org.
Music in the Mountains Bluegrass Festival: June 21-24, Summersville. Experience four big days of jamming from 9 a.m. till midnight at West Virginia Nazarene Camp’s Summersville Music Park. Approximately 11 bands will be playing each day. Food will be available; camping space is free, and electricity is available at an extra cost. Children under 12 are free. Tickets are required for all events. $130 at the gate for all 4 days, or $45 for a full day ($20 after 6:30 p.m.). For information on ticket prices or lodging, call 304-872-6853.
West Virginia Day Celebration and Brunch with Margaret Blennerhassett: June 20 and 21, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. Take a ride on the beautiful Ohio River to Blennerhasset Island and celebrate the state’s 144 th birthday on June 20. Cake will be served at 2 p.m. The following day, June 21, go back in time to 1798 and enjoy brunch with Margaret Blennerhassett. The visit includes a tour of the mansion. Reservations are required for the brunch, and group prices are available. Contact 304-420-4800 for more information.
West Virginia Day Celebration at Prickett’s Fort State Park: June 20, Fairmont. From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., celebrate West Virginia’s Statehood by participating in guided tours of the fort and house led by living history interpreters dressed in 18 th century attire. There will be demonstrations of crafts and pottery, while community members will display artifacts from pre-historic and Civil War eras. The Visitors’ Center will be open, offering free birthday cake and lemonade. The tours require $1.00 admission. For more information, call (304) 363-3030 or visit http://www.prickettsfortstatepark.com.
West Virginia Day Statehood Celebration: June 20, Wheeling. Beginning at 10 a.m., festivities will include Civil-War era music, children’s activities, a book-signing, re-enactments, and speeches in the West Virginia Independence Hall museum in downtown Wheeling. A tour of the museum will be led by a 19 th century character dressed in period clothing. Speeches will include a true story-telling program about the Underground Railroad and the reading of the original proclamation from Abraham Lincoln commemorating West Virginia’s statehood. Admission is free. Visit the website http://www.wvculture.org/news.aspx?Agency=Division&Id=665 for more information or contact Melissa Brown at 304-238-1300.
WV Coal Festival: June 19-23, Madison. Celebrate coal and its heritage in the Coal Capital of the state. Activities available include mine equipment displays, arts and crafts displays, a carnival, Gospel music entertainment, a miners’ memorial service, fireworks, and a grand parade. The Coal Museum in downtown Madison will be open during the festival. For more details, visit www.wvcoalmuseum.org, or call Joy Underwood at 304-369-3391.
WV Day Celebration / FestivALL Preview: June 20, The Clay Center in Charleston . This free pre-FestivALL event from 6 to 9 p.m. will serve up some great music, food and drinks outdoors on the lawn of The Clay Center. The music will include the reunion of two of Charleston’s favorite bands of the late 60’s and early 70’s, The Original Mojos and Quiet. The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame has helped to organize the reunions in conjunction with its “Music of the Kanawha Valley” display. Later in the evening, across the street in Blues BBQ restaurant, the Gazz will have its annual FestivALL Preview event with a discussion about the arts in the Kanawha Valley. For more information, visitwww.festivallcharleston.com or contact Larry Groce at ldiggyg@hotmail.com.
FestivALL: June 21-24, Charleston. Enjoy a weekend celebration of the arts: music, dance, theater, visual art and film. While FestivALL will feature artists of world class stature, local artists and arts organizations will also be showcased. Most events are free and others require tickets. For tickets call 304-561-3570, log on to www.theclaycenter.org, or drop by the Clay Center box office. Tickets to many events can also be purchased at Taylor Books and at the WVSU Capitol Center in downtown Charleston. For more information, visit www.festivallcharleston.com or contact Larry Groce at ldiggyg@hotmail.com.
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The West Virginia Division of Tourism produces this media advisory with the help of other agencies and tourism businesses across the Mountain State. If you wish additional information about coming events in the Mountain State, please contact Caryn Gresham with the Division of Tourism at 1-800-CALL WVA. If you are an event organizer or promoter and would like to have your event considered for inclusion in the Adventure Advisory, please contact Gail Justice at gjustice@wvcommerce.org.