Forest Festival begins today
By ANTHONY GAYNOR, Staff WriterArticle Photos
Fact Box
"I think besides the parade I am excited to see the city park. I want to see the Dock Dogs live. It's brand new and logistically it took lots of planning."
Bob Woolwine,
Director General
After months of planning and growing anticipation, the 73rd Mountain State Forest Festival kicks off officially with the Opening Ceremony today at 10:30 a.m. Several events will highlight the weekend and get the festival into full swing.
As the MSFF begins, Director General Bob Woolwine is ready to see the months of planning come together and provide a memorable week for organizers, royalty and festival visitors.
"I think besides the parade I am excited to see the city park," Woolwine said. "I want to see the Dock Dogs live. It's brand new and logistically it took lots of planning."
The new event which opens in Elkins City Park on Thursday has been featured on ABC and ESPN's "Great Outdoor Games." The dog handlers will compete to see which dog can have the longest leap into a 27,000-gallon pool. The winning dog is dubbed "The Big Air Dog."
Woolwine is also excited for the Distinguished Guest Dinner on Thursday. He said it is considered the Director General's dinner and he can't wait to hear speaker Rod Snyder, a Jefferson County native and executive vice president of the Young Democrats of America. Woolwine said Snyder, who was a contestant on NBC's "Nashville Star," will also sing at the dinner.
Woolwine is looking forward to the school tours, which begin Monday. Arrangements have been made for Maid Silvia LXXIII Alicia Ruth Taylor and her court to travel to several area schools and business.
"I picked Maid Silvia to relate to the students and I want them to know the queen was there," Woolwine said. "The jesters are going along to do a special routine."
Later in the week during the coronation, Woolwine said the crowd will be surprised by the jesters' performance. At 1 p.m., there will also be a steel drum performance by Teal Steel from Fort Ashby's Frankfort Middle School, which is the same school Taylor attended.
In the event of rain, the coronation will be moved to Harper-McNeeley Auditorium on the Davis & Elkins College campus. Woolwine said a decision will be made by 10:30 a.m. the day of coronation.
"The colors of the gowns are new and very vibrant this year," Woolwine said.
Woolwine and his assistants will introduce Festival City to Taylor, her maids of honor and minor court during the Opening Ceremony today at Elkins Town Square.
Woolwine will greet the crowd and hand out awards of appreciation to his assistant directors and Maid Silvia's court, including flower girls, train bearers, jesters, scepter bearer, crown bearer, royal scouts, Woodly the Elf and maids of honor.
The 2010 royal quilt will be revealed and the winners of the quilt square contest will be recognized. The royal scouts will raise the American flag, West Virginia flag and the official Forest Festival flag. In the event of inclement weather, the location will be changed to the Jennings Randolph Federal Building Plaza.
The tennis tournament and horseshoe tournaments will continue today beginning at 9 a.m.
At noon, The Strongman Competition at Wimer Field will begin and competitors will test their strength to see who the is the strongest in the forest. Contestants will participate in six events: Farmer's Walk, Apollo's Stones, Truck Tire Press, Squat Challenge, Crucifix and Truck Pull. This year, the event will feature two weight classes, contestants can participate at 200 pounds and under or more than 200 pounds.
At 1:30 p.m. today, the Irish Road Bowling Tournament will begin on Georgetown Road. Teams will compete to see who can hurl a 28-ounce iron bowl across the finish line in the fewest attempts.
Harper-McNeeley Auditorium will be rocking tonight as Starship takes the stage. The Davisson Brothers Band will open the show at 7 p.m. with a unique sound that infuses country, southern rock and bluegrass.
Runners and walkers will compete on Sunday during the MSFF 10K Run/Walk. Registration for the event is from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Elkins-Randolph County Family YMCA. The race begins at 12:30 p.m. at the intersection of Davis Avenue and Fourth Street in Elkins. Registration for the race is $15 per person.
Kids will invade Davis Avenue during the Children's Parade that steps off at 2:30 p.m. Children ages 12 and younger will wear costumes to reflect the theme "It's Fun Going Green."
Costumes will not be judged, but each child participant will receive a free gift. All vehicles will begin lining up at 1:15 p.m. and all walkers will line up at 1:45 p.m. on South Davis Avenue.
The parade will step off at 2:30 p.m. and will end at the Huntington Bank drive-through. In the event of rain, the Parade of Children will take place at the Elkins High School gymnasium.
According to the National Weather Service, there is a near 100 percent chance for rain today with highs in the upper 50s. There is a 50 percent chance of rain on Sunday with highs in the upper 60s.
Gambill Amusement will open the carnival at 1 p.m. Sunday in downtown Elkins. Carnival rides will be $2 each following the children's parade. Rides for Monday through Thursday will be $15 and they will be open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The carnival will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and rides will cost $17 and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. for $17. The rides will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 and will cost $17 and from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. for $17. On Oct. 4, the rides will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will cost $12.
To close out the events on Sunday, the Beach Boys tribute band Still Surfin' will play the downtown stage in Elkins Town Square.
On Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Randolph County Senior Center Bazaar will offer a wide variety of homemade items to be purchased during the Forest Festival. This year, there will be woodworking, homemade pies, jams and many other items.
On Monday at 7 p.m., two signature MSFF events will take place: the Pet Show at the EHS gymnasium and the Gospel Talent Show on the Downtown Stage at the Elkins Town Square.
Also on Monday, Maid Silvia and her royal entourage will tour several area businesses and schools including Kissel Stop, Davis Trust Co., First United Methodist Pre-School, Youth Health Childcare, Pickens School, Helvetia, The Hutte, Nella's Inc., Colonial Place and Youth Health Pre-school.
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GRizzly56
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09-28-09 9:03 PM
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DISNEYLAND???
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GRizzly56
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09-28-09 9:00 PM
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WHAT A BUMMER IM NOT PAYING THAT KIND$$$$ WOW ARE THE TRYING TO RIP OF THE PEOPLE SOME $$$PEOPLE DO NOT GIVE A HOT OOPS HOOTANNY???BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BRING YOUR OWN COFFEE AND SANDWICHES TO THE PARADES R IDES ON SUNDAY WOW! WHERS THE PREACHER OH HE MADE ENOUGH IN CHURCH SO HIS FAMILY CAN RIDE THE RIDES AND ENJOY????OOOOOHHHH!!!!
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GOWEST
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09-27-09 11:59 AM
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TO MUCH MONEY......EVERYONE BOYCOT THIS FESTIVAL.....DOWN WITH THE RICH
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punkette
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09-27-09 10:53 AM
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while the forest festival could be an interesting and unique experience, the people of the town have turned it into a way to take money from the poor and give to the rich. and since the prices were raised this year, during one our economies lowest financial points of all time, the lower class citizens and their children arn't going to be able to enjoy themselves as well as the upper class citizens that profit and benefit from it. congradulations on disappointing hundreds and possibly thousands of our future leaders of america. i hope those fat pockets and dollar signs put a smile on your face, because i know there aren't going to be very many smiles at the festival this year.
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GOWEST
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09-26-09 12:20 PM
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Family with two children: $30-34 Family with four children: $60-68 and on some days times that by 2 if your kids want to ride all day. WOW !!!! PROTEST this crap.....Just another day in ELKINS....
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GOWEST
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09-26-09 12:12 PM
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WOW !!! those rides "for the kids" are outragious....Barbour County Fair is bigger, better, and far cheaper than the allmighty forets fest...WAY TO RAPE THE CITIZENS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY....I hope is goes bankrupt...good ridence !!!!!!!!!
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