June 11 , 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Corrie McKee
304-558-2003, ext. 318
cmckee@wvcommerce.org
July is National Picnic Month!
Get out and enjoy the weather, savor fresh summer foods and enjoy a day off! Make a date with family and friends to celebrate National Picnic Month in the Mountain State!
Take advantage of one of West Virginia State Parks or Forests, where picnic sites are open all week and other activities can round out a day outdoors. Or, discover a local park that you drive by every day and just never checked out. To find more parks that offer picnicking, visit the web site of our state’s Convention and Visitors Bureaus and search for a listing of local parks.
-- Blackwater Falls State Park– Davis – Tucker County. With more than 20 miles of hiking trails, horseback and pony rides, a nature center and fishing you might need more than one picnic if you also want to take in nearby attractions like Dolly Sods Wilderness, Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Smoke Hole Caverns and Fairfax Stone State Monument State Park. For more information, call 304-259-5216, email bwsoffice@frontiernet.net or visit www.blackwaterfalls.com/ .
-- Tomlinson Run State Park – New Manchester, Northern Panhandle. More than 33 acres of water offer excellent fishing for bass, catfish, bluegill and trout. Also a part of the water activities at the park are boat docks for the rental of row boats and paddle boats. Chief among Tomlinson Run's recreational facilities is the swimming pool, the waterslide/bathhouse complex and snack bar (open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day). The pool boasts a 182-ft. water slide. Not far from the pool area are basketball and volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, miniature golf, playground equipment and hiking. For more information or reservations of shelters, call 304-564-3651 or visit www.tomlinsonrunsp.com.
-- Coopers Rock State Forest– Bruceton Mills – Preston County. In addition to plenty of picnic sites, this park offers fishing, hiking, camping, biking, playgrounds, a gift shop and concessions. Not far from the forest, you can enjoy glass factory tours, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, golf and swimming and boating on Cheat Lake. Visit www.coopersrockstateforest.com/ for more information.
-- Kanawha State Forest, Charleston. More than 25 miles of hiking trails take you on cool mountain walks and mountain biking is permitted on certain trails. There’s also hunting and fishing, a shooting range, and horse riding trails for equestrians who bring their own horses. For more information, call 304-558-3500, email kanawha@wvdnr.gov or visit www.kanawhastateforest.com/.
--Twin Falls Resort State Park – Mullens, Wyoming County. Playground equipment, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts are all located close to the picnic areas. The park includes nine hiking trails and a year-round nature and outdoor recreation program. Pioneer Farm, a restored 1830s living history home place on Bowers Ridge, provides a glimpse into the lives and times of the people who settled the Twin Falls area. Nearby attractions include the New River Gorge Bridge/Visitors Center and these state parks: Hawks Nest, Babcock State, Pipestem, Bluestone and Camp Creek. For more information, call 304-294-4000, email twinfallsinfo@wvstateparks.com or visit www.twinfallsresort.com/.
-- Watoga State Park – Marlinton, Pocahontas County. The park consists of 10,100 acres with hiking, swimming, fishing and boating. The nearby Greenbrier River Trail was recently ranked by BackPacker Magazine as one of the top ten hiking trails in the United States. The Summer Performers Series will feature two events this month. On July 13, The Three Rivers Avian will present the Birds of Prey program and on July 14, Jim McDonald and Goldie Pratt will entertain guests with storytelling and bluegrass, country and old time gospel music played on the old mountain lap dulcimer, harmonica and autoharp. Call 304-799-4087, visit www.watoga.com, or email watoga@wvdnr.gov.
Add something special to that picnic basket with some fresh West Virginia foods and West Virginia Grown specialty food products.
-- Farmers’ Markets – Stop at a local farmer’s market for a unique way to add fresh foods to your basket. Check out markets in Charleston, Beckley, Logan, Milton, Fayetteville, Weston and Inwood. F or a listing of all of West Virginia Farmers’ Markets, visit www.wvagriculture.org/Brochures/Foods_and_Things/Retail_Outlets.html.
-- West Virginia Grown products, from salsas and barbeque sauces to bread, brownies and fruit toppings, make great additions to an outdoor picnic. Find out where to visit local food companies or stores that sell West Virginia Grown foods by visiting www.wvagriculture.org/Brochures/Foods_and_Things/Retail_Outlets.html.
You can also take your picnic to one of these great events!
-- 2007 New Deal Festival: July 14, Arthurdale, Preston County. Arthurdale, the first of several planned New Deal resettlement towns designed by Eleanor Roosevelt to aid workers in becoming economically self-sufficient, celebrates its 73 rd birthday on Saturday July 14 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. The homestead is 14 miles east of Morgantown. The festival will include an antique car and tractor show, 5K race, antique craft market, tours of the museum and inn, lectures and book signings, artisan demonstrations, music group performances, story-telling, and a living history portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt. A general admission fee of $5 is requested. For more information, call Amanda Griffith at 304-864-3959, email ahi@arthurdaleheritage.org or visit www.arthurdaleheritage.org/.
-- Pocahontas Co. Pioneer Days: July 11-14, Marlinton. This 37th annual celebration includes Bluegrass and Old Time Mountain music, street dances, an antique car show, a Pioneer Village, a firemen’s parade on Friday at 7 p.m. and a grand parade on Saturday at 2 p.m. For more information, call Pocahontas County Tourism at 800-336-7009 or Chairperson Joe Smith at 304-799-4759.
-- Putnam County Fair, July 14-21, Eleanor, Earnest Page Jr. Fairgrounds. Enjoy a week of the best of Putnam County. Featured activities include livestock shows and 4-H exhibits, horse shows, petting zoo, baby contests, carnival, quilts and crafts, truck and tractor pull, mud runs, demolition derby, motorcycle and ATV races and more. Music concerts will feature Jake Owen, Rockie Lynne and Chris Young (2006 Nashville Star winner). See www.putnamcountyfair-wv.com/ or info@putnamcountyfair.com, or call 304- 586-4001for more information.
-- West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition: July 17-21, Mineral Wells, Wood County.
Country music shows, truck and tractor pulls, ATV mud bogs, drag racing, baby contests and pageants, concessions, livestock shows and carnival fill the schedule for this fair, located off exit 170 from I-77. Take Rt. 14 South onto Butcher Bend Rd. on the left. Contact: Mike Zoller at 304-489-1301 or visit www.wvinterstatefair.com.
-- Upshur Co. Fair, Rock Cave: July 20-22, Upshur County Recreation Park. This 22 nd annual fair offers fun for all ages. Activities include a talent show, crafts, concessions, lawn tractor pull, lawn mower races, line dancing, face painting, clowns, car show, flower show, a gospel sing, pie eating contest, state wood chopping competition, live music entertainment and more. Contact Gary Bonnett at (304) 924-5178 or visit www.geocities.com/upshurcountyfair.
-- Friends of Coal Auto Fair: July 20-22, Beckley. The fair will be held at the YMCA/Paul Cline Youth Sports Complex. Each day, the f irst 500 registered vehicles receive commemorative dash plaques and are entered to win door prizes. Featured activities include f ood and specialty vendors, flea market, car corral, swap meet, children's games, arts and crafts, live entertainment, carnival rides and door prizes. A Sponsors' Row will feature interactive displays that demonstrate the importance of coal in West Virginia. G eneral admission is $2 for a weekend pass. On Saturday, former WVU Head Football Coach Don Nehlen and former Marshall Head Football Coach Bob Pruett will make special appearances. Also on Saturday, t he Golden Knights Army Parachute Team will wow crowds with their amazing performance. For more information, contact Jay Rist, Beckley YMCA, at 304-252-0715, or visit www.friendsofcoalautofair.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 Corrie McKee at cmckee@wvcommerce.org.