6/1/2010
Weston’s Amazing Weeks: June 12-14 and 19-26, Weston
Weston’s Amazing Weeks will begin with a Carp Fishing Tournament from June 12-14. June 19-26 events will include the Weston street fair, jazz music, West Virginia birthday cake contest, pet contest, cornhole competition, Guitar Hero contest for kids, car show, antique market, hot dog chili cook-off, Summer Cruzin’ night, karaoke competitions during the week with the final competition on Saturday, West Virginia Museum of Glass bottle show and other activities throughout the week. Hours vary each day. Contact 304-269-6141 for additional information.
West Virginia Coal Festival: June 15-19, Madison
Come out and enjoy the 17th annual celebration of coal and its heritage. Scheduled for the third week of June in Madison, the coal capital of West Virginia, events will include mine machinery displays, Nashville entertainment, parade, downtown coal museum, pageants, fireworks, miners’ memorial service, gospel singing, food vendors, arts and crafts, carnival and more. There is no admission charge and all concerts are free. Contact 304-369-9118 or 304-369-0316 or visit www.boonecountywv.org/ for additional information.
Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival: June 18-20, City Park, Parkersburg
Come to the city park and take a trip around the world at this annual outdoor international festival that features traditional music and dance, a wide variety of ethnic foods, an international marketplace and children's activities. The festival encourages the appreciation and recognition of community diversity through entertainment, cuisine, education and artistic expression of all cultures. Where in West Virginia will you find Irish rock music; African drummers; Klezmer music; African American gospel choir; Mexican, Greek and Asian-Indian dancers; reggae music; and a nationally known blues singer sharing the same billing? Where can you eat Polish kielbasa, Asian puff bread, Cajun red beans & rice, barbecued ribs, pizza, egg rolls, funnel cakes, cotton candy, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and an all-American hot dog, all within footsteps of one another? The answer is the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival. Hours on Friday are 6 p.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Sunday noon - 7 p.m. Admission is free. Contact 304-428-5554 or visit www.movmcf.org for additional information.
FestivALL: June 18-27, Charleston
FestivALL is a 10-day citywide comprehensive arts and entertainment festival. It includes visual arts, music, theater, dance and film as well as other events that might be of cultural interest, mixing fine arts and popular arts in venues and locations all over Charleston and including a wide variety of styles and genres. Two events this year that are causing a buzz are The Compagnia TPO FARFALLE (Butterflies) from June 16 - 20 and the FestivALL Dance Gala, featuring Flamenco dancer NelidaTirado with her partner and musicians along with the Charleston Ballet and River City Youth Ballet Ensemble, on June 23. Performances that require reserved seating are the Mountain Stage shows featuring Marc Cohn on June 18, Dierks Bentley on June 20, the Mayor's Concert featuring the Pointer Sisters on June 24 and Charleston Harmony on June 25. Contact 304-561-3570 for tickets and information. Additional activities will include Smoke on the Water Chili Cook-Off, river cruises, an ice cream social, Blues, Brews & BBQ and Wine & All That Jazz, West Side Wiener Dog Race, free concerts at Haddad Riverfront Park and much more. Visit www.festivallcharleston.com for more information about activities.
Annual Blenko Glass West Virginia Day Celebration: June 19, Milton
For 30 years Blenko has produced a limited edition piece to commemorate West Virginia’s birthday. The state’s age determines how many of these pieces are sold, and this year the number is 147 pieces, each signed and numbered. Blenko also will be having glass blowing demonstrations available along with West Virginia birthday cake and refreshments. Don’t miss your chance to own one of these beautiful pieces. Blenko president, Walter J. Blenko Jr., also will be on hand to sign all additional Blenko glass purchases. Special hours will be 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Those wishing to purchase a limited edition piece should be there by 6 a.m. on Saturday, if not before, to guarantee a number. Contact 877-425-3656 or visit www.blenkoglass.com for more information.
Annual Tour De Coal: June 19, Tornado
Come join us for The Tour De Coal, a family-oriented day trip for all paddlers. The trip takes paddlers through the mild (level 1) Lower Falls and miles of beautiful lazy river scenery. Children under 12 years must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian. Bring your required life vest, water and snack. You will be greeted by river residents who join the fun from land and many will offer water, fruit and snacks. More than 60 volunteers will be on hand to offer help, look after stragglers and to assist in emergencies. Representatives from four volunteer fire departments and the St. Albans Fire Department will be in the river, on the banks and ready to help if a need arises. Contact 304-419-4417 or e-mail bike1@suddenlink.net and 304-549-1348 or e-mail crgpaddler@yahoo.com for more information.
Annual Spring Wine Festival: June 19, Daniel Vineyards, Crab Orchard
Daniel Vineyards hosts the annual West Virginia Spring Wine Festival, which showcases West Virginia wineries, artisans, musicians and much more. Festivities are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $10 per person with valid identification and includes commemorative wine glass, wine tastings and live entertainment. Visit www.danielvineyards.com or contact 304-252-9750 or 877-378-1990 for additional information.
Rowlesburg WWII War Re-enactment Weekend: June 19-20, Rowlesburg Community Park, Rowlesburg
Every year in June, American, French, German, English and Soviet soldiers, Jeeps, Army trucks, tents, weapons and the fabulous sound of Bobby Menear’s Maestros of Swing invade Rowlesburg. The event is anchored by Rowlesburg’s world-class museum celebrating the heroes of WWII. The museum contains a unique collection of WWII artifacts and fully uniformed soldiers displayed in real settings. On Saturday, the re-enactors present exhibitions of weapons firing and capturing prisoners. There will be many displays for visitors to enjoy, including a 1940s fashion show Saturday at 3 p.m. On Sunday as of 8 a.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3008 will serve its annual breakfast of buckwheat cakes and other traditional breakfast items. A wreath-laying ceremony is from 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Honor Roll Monument. There will be a rifle volley and taps will be played. Advance tickets are required for the big WWII dance on Saturday evening at the Szilagyi Center and will include drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Hours Saturday are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Contact 304-454-2009 or 304-454-9232 or visit www.rowlesburg.info for additional information.
West Virginia Day Celebration: June 20, Wheeling Independence Hall, Wheeling
The 19th Ohio Infantry will be encamped in the courtyard of WV Northern Community College providing presentations throughout the day. Visitors can join in military drills, witness cannon and musket firings, and enjoy presentations on the soldier’s way of life and their equipment. Join in the opening the newest exhibit, the “WHEELING” room, located on the second floor. JoAnne Lowe of the Marion County Historical Society will present a first-person presentation as Julia Pierpont, wife of Gov. Francis Pierpont, whose piano is an important part of the exhibit. Following the presentation, enjoy a Victorian tea reception in the second floor hallway. Matthew Dodd will present “Songs and Stories of the Civil War” in the third-floor courtroom. Dodd uses period songs, excerpts from letters and anecdotal stories to evoke the feelings and passions of a pivotal era in American history. He sings and plays guitar, harmonica, banjo and mandolin in an informal story-circle setting. Afterward, you may join us for our cake cutting and reception to commemorate West Virginia’s birthday. Hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Contact 304-238-1300 or visit www.wvculture.org for additional information.
West Virginia Quilters Inc., Quilt Festival: June 24-26, Summersville Arena & Conference Center, Summersville
Quilt Festival 2010 is the seventh biennial show and festival of West Virginia’s only statewide guild. The festival will feature more than 150 entry quilts, a special exhibit by featured guild Millennium Quilters of Bridgeport, display of guild banners, vendors and a boutique. Educational events include a class by Lois Smith on Thursday, a medley of teacher demonstrations on Saturday, a children’s quilt scavenger hunt, educational activities by Marion County Reading Council, and a “round robin” l930s-style raffle quilt, the center and four rounds of which were each designed and pieced by five quilt guilds. Other festival events include a sneak peek reception and preview for entrants, sponsors, and vendors on Wednesday evening, a banquet and lecture by Lois Smith on Thursday evening, a grand show and tell on Friday evening and a public “Little Quilt Auction” Saturday afternoon. Hours are 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $6 per day or $12 for a multi-day pass. Contact 304-610-6098 or visit www.wvquilters.org for forms and additional information on the various activities.
13th Annual Little Levels Heritage Fair: June 25-27, Various Locations, Hillsboro
Enjoy a three-day event with old-time music, open rodeo, mule race, stick horserace and a grand parade. Events also include a barbecue pig roast, arts and crafts, live bluegrass music, twilight fireman’s parade, mini-log race, Pearl S. Buck birthday celebration and writers’ fair with guest speakers Dr. Peter Conn, Dr. Laura Bentley and Dr. Chris Green on June 26, Old Timer’s soccer game, barnyard bingo, gospel sing and candlelight vespers. For further information, contact 304-653-8563 or visit www.littlelevelsheritagefair.com.
West Virginia Rails 2010- 100 Years Celebration: June 25-27, South Side Depot, Petersburg
The weekend theme will be trains, trains and trains! The sounds of steam whistles, the clickety-clack of steel wheels on rails, the smell of coal smoke and the excitement from children of all ages will take over Petersburg. The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad will be offering a rare railroading experience through the lush mountains of West Virginia. Three steam locomotives and diesel locomotives from around the country will be on display for visitors to tour the cabs, take photos, watch demonstrations and much more. Huge model train layouts will be on display. Railroad vendors from around the globe will have unique one-of-a-kind train items and mementos for purchase that you won't find anywhere else. Families will be able to take an all-day excursion or shorter one-hour train ride behind various vintage locomotives. For the thrill-seeking visitor, you will even be able to pull the throttle and blow the whistle on one of these steam locomotives. Scaled-down miniature trains will be hauling passengers around the grounds of the event as well. Interactive exhibits are set up for viewing as well as large model trains. Train rides are offered in different lengths and times to best accommodate your schedule. Take a one-hour round-trip or an all-day excursion in first class. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. For schedule, details and ticket sales, please visit www.wvrails2010.com or contact 304-424-0736. For lodging and tourist information, contact 204-257-9266.
9th Annual Don Redman Heritage Concert and Awards: June 26, Mather Training Center, Harpers Ferry
The 9th annual Don Redman Heritage Concert will be on the grounds of the Mather Training Center, former Storer College Campus, at 6 p.m. Don Redman was born in Piedmont, W.Va. He began playing trumpet at age 3 and by the age of 16 he came to Harpers Ferry to study music at Storer College. He was known as “The Little Giant of Jazz,” the first great arranger in jazz history. This free concert features Harold Mabern and Mickey Roker with the Howard Burns Quartet. Contact 304-535-6029 or 304-535-6298 or visit www.nps.gov/hafe for more information.
Contact Information
Tricia Sizemore
304-558-2003 x 59319
tricia.t.sizemore@wv.gov