The Little Levels Heritage Fair is acclaimed as one of the outstanding events in the Potomac Highlands region and this - the 12th year of heritage celebration - looks to be no different. The three-day event welcomes writers on June 25 with a two-day International Writers Workshop at Cliffside, the old home of Dr. Wallace, who delivered Pearl S. Buck, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author into this world in 1892. Buck was born in Hillsboro as Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker on June 26, 1892, the daughter of Absalom and Caroline Sydenstricker.

Two staples of this regional festival are music and food - both in plenty of supply this year, too. The old-fashioned pig roast will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 26 and is only outdone by the chicken barbecue planned for June 27 - all at the Hillsboro Elementary School cafeteria.

June 26 starts off with ham and biscuits in front of the McNeal Gymnasium. Freshly baked cakes and bread will be sold throughout the day by members of local civic and service groups. There are no professional vendors at this festival - all the cooks are local, the recipes made from scratch, and the proceeds staying in this small community to assist in the Pocahontas County Humane Society, the library, the school PTO and the historical society.

Music at 11 a.m. June 27 features the sounds of Juanita Fireball and the Continental Drifters. This band was formed nearly 25 years ago as a result of performances at the local radio station WVMR. The group plays music reminiscent of the sounds of the 1920s and 1930s. The quilt show and dinner on June 26 will feature music by Trista Rexrode and the Backroad Band.

The Viney Mountain Boys will play at 1 p.m. June 27 followed by the Heritage Parade at 2 p.m. Richard Hefner and the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys take the main stage for music and boot scootin' right after the parade. The day ends with the traditional and Civil War music of the Bill Hefner Family.

According to one organizer, "Every so often Bill throws in some sounds from the 1950s, but no matter what this group plays, there are always toes a tappin' and fingers snappin'."

For those who have never seen a mini-log race, you won't want to miss this fun family activity beginning at 4 p.m. June 27 at the T.C. Edgar Bridge at Seebert. Other fun events that day include a kid's carnival at the tennis courts, bossy bingo, and the old timer's soccer game at the school at 4 p.m. The birthday party for Pearl Buck is at the Buck birthplace at 4 p.m.

Sunday is relatively quiet making room for everyone to come out to enjoy the Open Rodeo, Mule Race and Stick Horse Race at Crazy Horse Corral on Main Street in Hillsboro, hosted by the West Virginia High School Rodeo Association.

The Little Levels Heritage Fair is designed to showcase local talent and products and to serve as a fundraiser for volunteer and civic organizations. The goal is to preserve as much of the history and heritage as possible through written stories and pictures of the special area.

Visit www.littlelevelsheritagefair.com to find out more.