MMA champion Jeff Monson will host a seminar on Friday as part of the West Virginia Games in Charleston.
Labor Day means a long weekend, and venues and groups across the state are taking advantage of that for some last minute fun before the unofficial end of summer.
Gathering at Sweet Creek
This fourth annual folk music festival runs Friday through Sunday and features 58 West Virginia old-time musicians. Admission is free to the event, which takes place on Sugar Creek Road in Mineral Wells. For information, call 304-580-6929 or 304-489-2042.
Fall Harvest Festival
Huntington's Heritage Farm hosts its Fall Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It features a cook-off, wagon rides, a petting zoo, museum tours and a children's activity museum. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children ages 2-12. Visit www.heritagefarmmuseum.com.
Holly River Festival
The 21st Holly River Festival at Holly River State Park in Webster County begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. Among the activities are an antique car show, hayrides, children's games, a horseshoe tournament, arts and crafts sale and tours of the Windy Gap One-Room School Museum. Food competitions include cakewalks, potato peeling, pie eating and pumpkin seed spitting.
Music is by country band Rob Lane and The Way from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, gospel singer Mark Chapman at 7 p.m. Saturday (concert at the Jerry Run Summer Theater) and the Swiss/bluegrass/country group the Helvetia Band from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
A complete schedule of events will be available at the festival grounds. Call 304-493-6699 or 304-493-6391.
Alderson Patriotic Days
Alderson will host its Patriotic Days celebration Saturday through Monday at various town locations. Activities are free unless noted.
Saturday events include a horseshoe tournament, field events, a 7:30 p.m. concert by The Esquires ($5 admission) and a 10 p.m. fireworks display. On Sunday, there are river events, including an Anything That Floats race, as well as a 7 p.m. fireman's rodeo. Monday features a grand parade at 10:30 a.m., a talent show at 1 p.m., a gospel concert with The Ball Brothers, Karen Peck and New River and Cody and Eva McVey ($5 admission) at 6 p.m. and a fireworks display at 9 p.m.
Visit www.alderson4th.com.
Aunt Jennie Music Festival
The eighth annual Aunt Jennie Music Festival, named for West Virginia folk legend Virginia Myrtle "Aunt Jennie" Wilson, takes place Saturday and Sunday at Chief Logan State Park's Liz Spurlock Amphitheater (near Museum in the Park). Admission is free.
Wilson's grandson, Logan native Roger Bryant, will emcee the event and open Saturday's concert, which runs 4 to 10 p.m. He will also perform during Sunday's concert, which runs 1 to 6 p.m.
Other acts on Saturday's bill are gospel singers Cora and Fred Hairston, folk musician Glen Simpson, activist songwriter Elaine Purkey, bluegrass group The Dick Taylor Band, Logan's East Street Band, Appalachian singer/songwriters Jack and David Morris, folk/Americana performer Jeff Ellis and classic pop/rock group the Daddy Rabbit Band.
Sunday will feature gospel group The Seekers, folk singer George "The Earl of Elkview" Daugherty, 2011 Vandalia Award winner Buddy Griffin with bluegrass/country duo Retro and Smiling, gospel singers the Stewart Family, country act Robert Shafer and the Pour House Band, old-time/bluegrass group The Samples Brothers and classic rockers The Street Players.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Williams at 304-792-7229.
Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys
The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys, one of West Virginia's longest-running bluegrass bands, perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pocahontas County Opera House in Marlinton. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8, with children 12 and under free. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at www.pocahontasoperahouse.org
W.Va. Symphony
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform its 26th annual Labor Day pops concert at 7 p.m. Monday at Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley. The free concert features music by John Williams, John Philip Sousa, Tchaikovsky and more. Call 304-253-3806.
Reach Amy Robinson at flips...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-4881.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Labor Day means a long weekend, and venues and groups across the state are taking advantage of that for some last minute fun before the unofficial end of summer. Whether you travel far or stay close to home, you won't be left wanting for something to do in the next several days.
Lincoln County Fall Festival
The Lincoln County Fall Festival runs Thursday through Sunday at the fairgrounds in Hamlin. Highlights include a 5 p.m. cruze in and 7:30 p.m. demolition derby Thursday, 7:30 p.m. truck and tractor pull Friday, a noon mud run and 9 p.m. fireworks display Saturday and 2 p.m. ATV mud racing Sunday. There is music by Idletymes at 7 p.m. Saturday and The Gracemen, Jimmie McKnight and The Heritage Brothers at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $10 for adults and children, $7 for seniors and free for children under 6 ($5 for a carnival wristband). Passes are good for the entire weekend. Call 304-549-7301 or visit www.lcfairsandfestivals.com.
Jane Lew Firemen's Arts & Crafts Festival
More than 200 artisans will display works during this free festival, which is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Jane Lew fire station. Items include glass, wood, leather, dolls, dried and silk flowers, baskets, ceramics, soaps, candles, paintings, candy, honey, jams and jellies. Call 304-457-3097.
Jackson's Mill Jubilee
The annual Jackson's Mill Jubilee takes place noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the venue near Weston. It features more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, a vintage car show, antique and book sales, fireworks on Saturday and numerous exhibits and demonstrations. There will also be old-time, gospel, country and Christian music.
In the historic area, watch wheat and corn grinding demonstrations, tour the Old Jackson's Mill Museum and the buckskinner encampment and take in Civil War reenactments. In the children's area, dig for goodies on Treasure Island, ride a fire truck, get your face painted and draw with sidewalk chalk.
Call 800-296-7329.
West Virginia Games
Athletic activities of all kinds take over Magic Island and Kanawha Boulevard as part of the West Virginia Games on Saturday. Events on tap this year are the Charleston Distance Run, West Virginia state Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission wrestling championships, distance skateboarding competition, strength challenge with Phil Pfister and a zumbathon. There are also tournaments for beach wrestling, beach volleyball, five-on-five basketball and cornhole as well as a children's play area with inflatables.
Opening ceremonies are in conjunction with Live on the Levee, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Haddad Riverfront Park, and MMA champion Jeff Monson hosts a seminar (admission $40 and $50) at Butch Hiles BJJ & MMA at 7 p.m. that day. An after party runs 7:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Haddad.
Events are free to watch; for information on how to participate, visit www.thewvgames.com. Call 304-340-3544.
Gospel singing convention
The 62nd annual West Virginia Gospel Singers Convention takes place Friday through Sunday in Mt. Nebo. The event has sings at 7 p.m. nightly with 24 performers scheduled, though all singers and groups are welcome.
An invitation-only sing at 2 p.m. Saturday features West Virginia groups The Cross Bearers, Glorymen Trio, The Hale Family, Heavens Harmony, Laborers, New Prophets and Pathfinders as well as South Carolina's Soldiers of Faith. A worship service begins at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Admission is by donation. Camping is available. Call 304-622-0546 or 304-872-1977or visit www.wvgospelsing.com.
Tribute to the River
Tribute to the River, an annual free event, will take place Friday and Saturday at Point Pleasant Riverfront Park. It features a sternwheel boat parade at 2 p.m. Saturday, towboat tours and exhibits at the River Museum.
Friday's live entertainment comes from bluegrass group Smith & Company at 8 p.m. Saturday's entertainment is Myron "King of the Calliope Players" Duffield at 1 p.m., a sing-along with the stars at 4 p.m., the All of the Above band at 6 p.m., storytelling from Donna Wilson at 7:30 p.m. and gospel music by The Elsons at 8:30 p.m.
Other Saturday events are kids' games and inflatables beginning at noon, cornhole and line throw competitions at noon (registration at 11 a.m.), a captain's dinner at 5 p.m. and a memorial service for deceased rivermen at 7 p.m.
Call 304-674-0144.
Gathering at Sweet Creek
This fourth annual folk music festival runs Friday through Sunday and features 58 West Virginia old-time musicians. Admission is free to the event, which takes place on Sugar Creek Road in Mineral Wells. For information, call 304-580-6929 or 304-489-2042.
Fall Harvest Festival
Huntington's Heritage Farm hosts its Fall Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It features a cook-off, wagon rides, a petting zoo, museum tours and a children's activity museum. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children ages 2-12. Visit www.heritagefarmmuseum.com.
Holly River Festival
The 21st Holly River Festival at Holly River State Park in Webster County begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. Among the activities are an antique car show, hayrides, children's games, a horseshoe tournament, arts and crafts sale and tours of the Windy Gap One-Room School Museum. Food competitions include cakewalks, potato peeling, pie eating and pumpkin seed spitting.
Music is by country band Rob Lane and The Way from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, gospel singer Mark Chapman at 7 p.m. Saturday (concert at the Jerry Run Summer Theater) and the Swiss/bluegrass/country group the Helvetia Band from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
A complete schedule of events will be available at the festival grounds. Call 304-493-6699 or 304-493-6391.
Alderson Patriotic Days
Alderson will host its Patriotic Days celebration Saturday through Monday at various town locations. Activities are free unless noted.
Saturday events include a horseshoe tournament, field events, a 7:30 p.m. concert by The Esquires ($5 admission) and a 10 p.m. fireworks display. On Sunday, there are river events, including an Anything That Floats race, as well as a 7 p.m. fireman's rodeo. Monday features a grand parade at 10:30 a.m., a talent show at 1 p.m., a gospel concert with The Ball Brothers, Karen Peck and New River and Cody and Eva McVey ($5 admission) at 6 p.m. and a fireworks display at 9 p.m.
Visit www.alderson4th.com.
Aunt Jennie Music Festival
The eighth annual Aunt Jennie Music Festival, named for West Virginia folk legend Virginia Myrtle "Aunt Jennie" Wilson, takes place Saturday and Sunday at Chief Logan State Park's Liz Spurlock Amphitheater (near Museum in the Park). Admission is free.
Wilson's grandson, Logan native Roger Bryant, will emcee the event and open Saturday's concert, which runs 4 to 10 p.m. He will also perform during Sunday's concert, which runs 1 to 6 p.m.
Other acts on Saturday's bill are gospel singers Cora and Fred Hairston, folk musician Glen Simpson, activist songwriter Elaine Purkey, bluegrass group The Dick Taylor Band, Logan's East Street Band, Appalachian singer/songwriters Jack and David Morris, folk/Americana performer Jeff Ellis and classic pop/rock group the Daddy Rabbit Band.
Sunday will feature gospel group The Seekers, folk singer George "The Earl of Elkview" Daugherty, 2011 Vandalia Award winner Buddy Griffin with bluegrass/country duo Retro and Smiling, gospel singers the Stewart Family, country act Robert Shafer and the Pour House Band, old-time/bluegrass group The Samples Brothers and classic rockers The Street Players.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Williams at 304-792-7229.
Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys
The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys, one of West Virginia's longest-running bluegrass bands, perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pocahontas County Opera House in Marlinton. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8, with children 12 and under free. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at www.pocahontasoperahouse.org
W.Va. Symphony
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform its 26th annual Labor Day pops concert at 7 p.m. Monday at Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley. The free concert features music by John Williams, John Philip Sousa, Tchaikovsky and more. Call 304-253-3806.
Reach Amy Robinson at flips...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-4881.
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