Area to celebrate Fourth of July
Staff ReportArticle Photos
If traveling far isn't on your agenda for the Independence Day weekend, there's plenty going on throughout the region. From car shows, poker runs and musical entertainment and fireworks area counties are ready to celebrate the holiday.
Randolph County
At 4 p.m. today, Elkins' Fourth of July celebration begins with the annual "Cruise-In" along the streets of downtown. Sponsored by the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce and the Mountain State Street Machines, hundreds of cars including hot rods, muscle, trucks, vintage and low riders will be on display throughout the evening. Entertainment in front of the Elkins railroad depot begins at 4 p.m. with Fletcher Rollison and Lucky Enough will take the stage from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Elkins and Beverly Fire Departments will have chicken and pork barbecue dinners available beginning at 5 p.m. behind Elkins City Hall. Concessions by the Episcopal Church will also be sold during the Cruise-In.
Staying with the 25-year tradition, the Mountain State Street Machine Car Show will open at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday in Elkins City Park. The Elkins Lions Club will sell chicken barbecue dinners starting at 11 a.m. in the park both Saturday and Sunday. Those who arrive early at the car show will also have the option of purchasing breakfast at Beander's booth on vendor's row.
Those looking for a little more speed can go to the Elkins Randolph County Airport on Saturday to watch cars drag race. The event is sponsored by Jolly Roger Motorsports and registration is from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Racing will begin at 10 a.m. and continue to 5 p.m. People who want to run their cars will have to pay a $30 registration and spectators are welcome for $5 a person.
Also on Saturday, motorcycle riders can rev up their engines for the fourth annual Patriot Poker Run. Registration is from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Elkins City Park tennis courts. The poker run will take bikers through Randolph and Tucker counties. There will be five stops on the run: Sandy's at Crystal Springs, C.J.'s at Parsons, Canaan Valley State Park Lodge, Bella's of Bowden and Beander's in Elkins. The entry fee is $10 and a second hand may be purchased for $5.
From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., bike games and a bike show will take place in front of Beander's in downtown Elkins. The winning hand will also be awarded $1,000 in cash. The prize money is sponsored by Mike Mullens Law Office and Beander's. Prizes will also be given for the best hand of aces, kings, queens and jacks and a People's Choice Award trophy.
Between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. the National Guard's 201st Artillery Battery will provide military equipment and information. Evening activities continue at the Davis & Elkins College amphitheater when the National Guard presents the colors at 5:50 p.m. followed by American Mountain Theater cast members Susie Heckel, Beverly Sexton and Denny Franks singing "The Star Spangled Banner." The scheduled C-130 Hercules flyover has been canceled because of military deployments. ERCCC Executive Director Ellen Spears said she looks forward to the return of the event next year.
From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., the ERCCC will sell concessions, Zuhl's frozen lemonades and patriotic novelties near the amphitheater. The Elkins Shop 'n Save Express will also open an ice cream and root beer float concession trailer with proceeds benefiting the ERCCC education scholarship program.
The George Shingleton Band will perform at 6 p.m., followed by the start of the Colgate Country Showdown, sponsored by Citizens Bank of West Virginia, WDNE Radio and Shop 'n Save Express. The showdown begins at 7 p.m. and 12 contestants will perform vying for a $1,000 cash prize.
Following the announcement of the Colgate Country Showdown winners, a fireworks display, sponsored by the ERCCC and the city of Elkins will light up the night sky over the campus of D&E College. Estimated time of the fireworks is 9:30 p.m.
Tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the American Mountain Theater will perform its regular show for audiences. Tickets are available by calling 304-630-3040.
The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad excursion trains will also be on the tracks this weekend. For ticket information, call 1-877-686-7245. Tickets are still available for the New Tygart Flyer, the Cheat Mountain Salamander and the Mountain Explorer Dinner Train.
Barbour County
Fireworks will light up the sky at the Barbour County Fairgrounds Friday night. The Barbour County Commission and Chamber of Commerce have scheduled the free show to begin at 10 p.m. Gates will open at 7:30 p.m. and donations will be accepted to help offset the costs. Although no other organized activities are planned, several food vendors will be open to the public.
Tucker County
Mountaineer Days in Thomas begins Friday at 7 p.m. with the coronation of Mr. and Miss Mountaineer in the Miners & Merchants Bank parking lot and will continue throughout the weekend. Fireworks will be at dark today in Thomas as part of the Mountaineer Days celebration. The Mountaineer Days parade begins at noon on Saturday in Thomas. Adair Smith will take the stage at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the bank parking lot in Thomas followed by "Elvis" at 7 p.m.
The Parsons Park Board's annual Fourth of July picnic will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday in Mill Race Park. The event includes free food, contests and door prizes.
On Sunday, the Thomas Fire Hall will host a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. until noon.
At Canaan Valley Resort State Park, fun can be found for the entire family during the annual Windfest Saturday and Sunday. Events include kite flying demos, construction workshops and more.
The Tucker County Alpine Festival will host the Celebration of the Arts in the Canaan Valley Resort amphitheater. This year the entertainment will be the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. The concert is free and donations are appreciated. Music will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Upshur County
Independence Day events in Upshur County are Friday at the Freal "Red" Crites Memorial Stadium beside Buckhannon-Upshur High School. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the cost of admission is $5 per car load. A rain date for the celebration has been set for July 10.
Several events and activities are planned throughout the evening prior to the start of a fireworks display by Premier Pyrotechnics of Hurricane at dark.
Live entertainment will begin at 6:15 p.m. and will be following by the annual Childrens Parade at 7 p.m. featuring local clowns Fuzzy and Stubbles. The official opening, with the presentation of colors by local veterans organizations will get under way at 7:30 p.m.
The River Towne Band from Little Hocking, Ohio, will headline the evening's entertainment. The group, which performs a varied selection of country, pop and classic, will take the stage at 8 p.m. for their first performance of the evening. The bands second set will be just prior to the start of the fireworks display.
The awarding of door prizes and 50/50 drawings will get underway at about 8:45 p.m.
Upshur County events are sponsored by the West Virginia Strawberry Festival and several area businesses.
Lewis County
The annual Weston Volunteer Fire Department's Independence Day celebration will be Saturday at the Robert L. Bland Middle School Athletic Field. All are invited to come and enjoy a fun-filled evening, capped off with one of the largest fireworks displays in northcentral West Virginia.
This year's fireworks are sponsored in part by the Lewis County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Concessions, games of chance, games for children, a dunking machine and other activities are also available. The Richards Brothers will perform from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Mountain Fury will perform from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. In the event of rain, the concerts will take place in the Robert L. Bland Middle School gymnasium.
Saturday's schedule is as follows: coronation of the Flame Queen at Weston Volunteer Fire Department, 4 p.m.; parade lineup in Robert L. Bland Middle School parking lot, 4 p.m.; Feature Parade, 5 p.m.; gates open immediately after the parade; Richard Brothers, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: crowning of the Flame Queen, 7 p.m.; Mountain Fury; and fireworks, 10:15 p.m.
Pocahontas County
Friday at Snowshoe Mountain Resort the Snowshoe Bluegrass Festival continues with concerts at the Village Stage beginning at 1 p.m. Entertainment starts at 5 p.m. on the Skidder Stage. A ticket is required for the night time bluegrass concerts.
Saturday, Bluegrass music continues with performances beginning at noon and recreational activities, including Eurobungy, a climbing wall and crafts, will be available throughout the day. At approximately 9:30 p.m., the resort will display fireworks on the mountaintop.
The DGVRR's Durbin Rocket will run at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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Bowden
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07-04-09 2:41 PM
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Another enjoyable afternoon at the city park. It was nice to see that there were so many cars on display. It would have been nice if they were downtown where you could get better pictures and they had more room.
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