NEWS
March 11, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tricia Sizemore
304-558-2003, ext. 319
Tricia.T.Sizemore@wv.gov
27 th Annual Irish Spring Festival: March 13-20, Ireland.
This small community festival includes Irish road bowling, snake chase (10K walk-run), harp workshops, car show, handcraft demonstrations, fried potato contest, food and much more. Most of the events are scheduled at the Ireland West Virginia Community Building. For more information, contact Sandy King 304-452-8962 or the Lewis County CVB 304-269-7328 or visit www.angelfire.com/wv/irishspringfestival.com.
Scrapbooking Workshop: March 14-16, Twin Falls Resort State Park, Mullens.
This scrapbooking workshop demonstrates how to get your scrapbooking project organized and offers discussions on cropping, matting and vellum. The sessions run Friday March 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday March 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday March 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is included in the $70 workshop registration. Overnight accommodations in a park lodge are available for a separate fee. To reserve your spot in the workshop or lodge, call (304) 294-4000.
4 th Annual Mid-Ohio Valley Heritage Quilt Show: March 15–30, Parkersburg.
Quilters are invited to display quilts and wall hangings at Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park’s museum . Items exhibited in 2007 are not eligible for display. For more information, call 304-420-4800 or visit www.blennerhassettislandstatepark.com.
West Virginia Chocolate Festival: March 15, Ripley.
Ripley hosts the city’s first-ever West Virginia Chocolate Festival on March 15 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Vendors from around West Virginia and the region will sell all types of chocolate. Entry into the event is free, and there will be an old fashioned Easter parade starting at 11 a.m. Ample parking is available at New Stone Square (old Wal-Mart location) immediately off Exit 138 of I-77. For more information, call (304) 372-3482.
Irish Festival: March 15, Pipestem Resort State Park, Pipestem.
Everybody’s Irish this time of year and everyone’s welcome to join in the fun of the 22 nd annual Irish Festival at Pipestem Resort State Park. Entertainment and traditional Irish foods highlight this year’s festival on Saturday, March 15. A buffet will be available for $17.95. For more information, contact Jeff Mullens at 304-466-1800, ext. 379.
“Getting to Know You!”: March 15, Father’s Day Church, Fairmont.
The Marion County Historical Society hosts “Getting to Know You!” an event that lets you learn, share and talk about history with local experts. The event takes place at Fairmont’s Father’s Day Church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 15; adult admission is $3 and children are free. Topics include architecture, literature, astronomy and photography, coal mining glory days, and pre-Revolutionary, Civil War and Depression eras. At 11 a.m. Jerry Vilar will portray union coal miner organizer Mother Jones. For more information, visit www.marionhistorical.org.
Maple Syrup Festival: March 15-16, Pickens.
The community of Pickens in Randolph County hosts the 24 th Annual West Virginia Maple Syrup Festival starting Saturday, March 15. The festivities kick off Saturday morning at the festival’s traditional Pancake and Buckwheat Cake Feed and continue through the day with a mix of activities, including demonstrations of basket weaving, wood chopping and crafting. This year’s festival also features a muzzle-loading contest and exhibit, the “Haven in the Hardwood” 5K, a Country Round and Square Dance, and an abundance of maple products, including syrup, candy and sugar. For more information, visit www.pickenswv.com or call 304-924-5096.
Easter Egg Hunt: March 22, Twin Falls Resort State Park, Mullens.
Come early and bring your Easter baskets to Twin Falls Resort State Park on Saturday, March 22 for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. This year’s event features two children’s hunts: one for infants to 5 year olds and a second for kids 6-12. More than 1,000 eggs will be hidden and prize drawings will take place. The cost is $1 per child, registration starts at noon and the hunt begins at 1 p.m. For more information, call either (304) 294-4000 or 1-800-CALL WVA.
Civil War Weekend: March 28-30, Valley Park, Hurricane.
History comes alive as Civil War re-enactors commemorate the skirmish of Hurricane Bridge and the Battle of Scary Creek at Valley Park in Hurricane. Activities start on Friday, March 28 and run through Sunday, March 30. Special events include a historical lantern tour, a military ball, storytelling and parade drills. A ladies tea is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday when all ladies, eight years of age and above, are cordially invited to bring their favorite tea cup to the Hurricane Valley Community Center. All events except the ladies tea are free, but donations will be accepted. For more information and to purchase tickets for the ladies tea, call the Putnam County Parks & Visitors Bureau at (304) 562-0518, ext. 3.
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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 or if you are an event organizer or promoter and would like to have your event considered for inclusion in the Adventure Advisory, please contact Tricia Sizemore at tricia.t.sizemore@wv.gov .