Area Celebrates Independence
By LINDSAY ANDERSON, Staff WriterArticle Photos
Fact Box
Where are the Fireworks?
Randolph County
A fireworks show is scheduled at 9:30 p.m. Saturday over the Davis & Elkins College campus.
Tucker County
Mountaineer Days will begin Friday in Thomas and the night will end with music and a fireworks display.
Barbour County
Fireworks are scheduled for 10 p.m. Friday at the Barbour County Fairgrounds.
Lewis County
A fireworks display will light up the night sky Friday at 10:15 p.m. at the athletic fields at the Weston Volunteer Fire Department.
Stonewall Jackson Resort will host a fireworks display on Saturday evening.
Pocahontas County
A fireworks display will be at Snowshoe Mountain resort at 10 p.m. on Friday.
Although rain is in the forecast, Independence Day celebrations across the region won't be a complete washout as communities plan to go ahead with their events this weekend. Anyone looking for entertainment, will have a variety of activities to choose from as the counties of northcentral West Virginia gear up to honor the nation's 232nd birthday.
Randolph County
The fun begins in Randolph County at 5 p.m. Friday when classic car owners make their way to Railroad Avenue and Third Street in Elkins for the largest cruise-in event in West Virginia. Put on by the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce and the Mountain State Street Machines, this cruise-in is expected to draw approximately 400 cars.
Also at 5 p.m., hungry spectators can purchase grilled chicken and pork barbecue prepared by the Elkins and Beverly Fire Departments behind Elkins City Hall.
The last event of the night will be live entertainment from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. near the train depot.
Saturday's events will begin with the Mountain State Street Machine Car Show at 9 a.m. in Elkins City Park. Foto 1 will provide custom photos for car show entrants.
Those interested in participating in the third annual Patriot Poker Run can register between 9:30 a.m. and noon at the tennis courts in Elkins City Park. All bikes should be out by noon. The entry fee is $10 per hand and a second hand may be purchased for $5.
A bike show will take place in front of the Davis & Elkins College gym. A trophy will be awarded for a People's Choice and the $12 entry fee for the bike show will include a participation plaque and entry into drawings for hundreds of dollars in prizes.
Chicken barbecue dinners from the Elkins Lion's Club will be on sale beginning at 11 a.m. in Elkins City Park. Beander's will have a booth open for breakfast on vendor's row for those who arrive early.
Military hour will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at D&E's outdoor amphitheater. The National Guard will post our nation's colors and three members of the American Mountain Theater cast will sing the "Star Spangled Banner." A C-130 Hercules will fly over the campus during the last chord of the song thanks to the 130th Airlift Wing of Charleston. Military equipment will be on display courtesy of the National Guard's 201st Field Artillery Unit. D&E's new president, "Buck" Smith, will be the featured speaker for this event.
The ERCCC will be selling concessions, Zuhl's frozen lemonade and patriotic novelties, near the outdoor amphitheater between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. The Elkins Shop 'n Save Express will also open an ice cream and root beer float concession trailer with proceeds to benefit the chamber's education scholarship program.
Things will heat up with The Smokin' Section band at 6 p.m. before the finals of the Colgate Country Showdown. The Showdown will begin at 7 p.m. and The Smokin' Section Band will provide back-up music for the 12 contestants.
The evening will come to a close with a fireworks show over the D&E campus. The estimated time for fireworks is 9:30 p.m. after the announcement of the Showdown finalists.
Festivities end Sunday with the car show opening at 9 a.m. The Elkins Lion's Club will once again serve its chicken barbecue at 11 a.m. in Elkins City Park.
Kathy Leombruno, president of the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, said that in the event of rain, all activities will be moved to the Hermanson Campus Center, the Colgate Country Showdown will move to Harper-McNeeley Auditorium, the military fly over will be cancelled and fireworks will be moved closer to the amphitheater.
Also in Randolph County, the first-ever homecoming for the three communities that make up the Tygart Valley Homestead - Dailey, East Dailey and Valley Bend - will take place Friday through Sunday.
The celebration, according to event organizers, is to offer an opportunity for those who lived in those communities several years ago to make a return visit to their old home place.
Tucker County
Mountaineer Days will begin Friday in Thomas when the Little Miss and Mr. Mountaineer are crowned. The night will end with music and a fireworks display.
The Tucker Community Endowment Foundation will host its annual "Uncle Sam's Birthday Party" at Canaan Valley resort Friday at 5 p.m. Tickets are $100 per couple and include a prime rib dinner. Elimination-style raffle ticket sales are limited to 250. Proceeds from this even will go toward scholarship and grant awards.
To purchase a ticket for this event contact any TCEF member or call 478-2930.
Saturday's events will kick off at 10 a.m. with the opening of craft booths, a patriotic bicycle decorating contest and a dance performance by Dance by Sarah. A parade will go through Thomas at noon and a cake walk will follow at 1:30 p.m. The firefighters water battle will be at 2:30 p.m.
Adair Smith will perform from 5 pm. to 6:30 p.m. and an Elvis impersonator will follow at 7 p.m.
A pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon and a performance by the Tucker County Community Chorus at 2 p.m. will finish up the Mountaineer Days celebration on Sunday.
Barbour County
The Barbour County Chamber of Commerce will host the fourth annual Salute to the Troops & Veterans ceremony Friday at the Barbour County Fairgrounds. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. and beginning at 4 p.m. there will be food, games, stage entertainment, kids activities, a Miss July 4 Pageant, hot dog-eating contest, sack races and a seed-spitting contest. There will be a small charge for certain youth activities such as the water slide, basketball shoot, bouncing gym and pick-up ducks.
Barbour County veterans and troops can join the "Heroes Walk" to accompany the color bearers who will present the flags at the beginning of the ceremony. Those who want to participate should meet at the main stage at 5:45 p.m.
Jim Spears, cabinet secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety and homeland security adviser to Gov. Joe Manchin, will be the guest speaker at the ceremony to honor veterans at 6 p.m. Representatives from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans will also speak.
Following the ceremony, The Shaffers will entertain the crowd with their music on the main stage. A four-wheeler rodeo will begin at 7 p.m. on the dirt track.
The evening will wind down with fireworks scheduled for 10 p.m.
Don Smith, director of the Barbour County Chamber of Commerce, said that unless the weather is life threatening the celebration will go as planned. For more information about the event, call Terri Kittle at 823-1531 or visit Freedom Bank in Belington.
Lewis County
Although the Lewis County Independence Day celebration officially began Thursday, the merrymaking will continue Friday with the crowning of the flame queen at 4 p.m.at the Weston Volunteer Fire Department. A parade will follow at 5 p.m.
Gates at the athletic field open at 6 p.m. for events, which include the Fireman's Rodeo with fire departments from throughout North Central West Virginia, games, concessions, music and other activities.
There will be several musical performances Friday night as well. The Drew Bowyer Band will play from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Next up will be the Richards Brothers from the Parkersburg area from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The evening will end as a traditional July 4 celebration should with a fireworks display at 10:15 p.m. Admission for the entire evening is $4.
Also in Lewis County, Stonewall Resort will be having its old fashioned Independence Day celebration continuing through Sunday.
The resort will be host to numerous activities, including games, boat tours, fireworks, outdoor dining, "dive-in" movies, live entertainment and more.
Kids will also have plenty of things to keep them occupied, such as kayak races, watermelon eating contests, storytelling, sack races and a model rocket launch. Children can also enjoy the resort's Bright Star Park, which offers water-trikes, paddle boats, canoes and fishing equipment.
More adult-oriented places include the Palmer Golf Course, the spa, hiking or biking trails and the resort's pool.
Visitors can also enjoy excursion boat tours on scenic Stonewall Jackson Lake, weekend entertainment by the Stalnaker Brothers and Bryan Riffle and a Saturday evening fireworks display.
Pocahontas County
Friday's Independence Day celebration at Snowshoe Mountain Resort begins at 11 a.m. with a "Day of Play" with inflatable attractions, eurobungy/climbing wall and an orbitron. This will end at 2 p.m. and a village access pass must be purchased to enjoy these attractions.
Visitors can also make a variety of crafts throughout the day Friday. Participants can make patriotic pins between 11 a.m. and noon, water bracelets at 11 a.m., dessert sushi at 2 p.m., candy bingo at 5 p.m. and a marshmallow roast will start at 7 p.m. between Ballhooter and Skidder slope.
On the Village Stage, Everett Lilly and the Lilly Mountaineers will perform at noon, Halftime Sting Band will perform at 2:30 p.m., Steep Canyon Rangers will perform at 4 p.m.
An evening concert will begin at 5 p.m. at Skidder Stage and a ticket is required for this event. Wyatt Rice and Ronnie Bowen will perform at 6 p.m. followed by Larry Cordle at 7 p.m. The Del McCoury Band will end the night's performances at 8:30 p.m.
Fireworks will start at 10 p.m. in the Village with the best viewpoint being Skidder Slope.
Saturday's events will kick off once again with another "Day of Play" between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Once again, a village access pass must be purchased for these events.
Crafts on Saturday include an All-American Cook-out between 11 a.m. and noon, frog blowers at 2 p.m. and unbreakable bubble making at 3 p.m.
The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys will be at Village Stage at 11 a.m. followed by Mountain Therapy at 1 p.m. The Jack Ass Flats will take the stage at 3 p.m., and the Deer Creek Boys will finish the performances at Village Stage at 4:30 p.m.
For the evening concert at Skidder Stage, Steep Canyon Rangers will begin at 5:30 p.m. with Larry Keel following at 7:15 p.m. iii rd Tyme Out will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. and the Del McCoury Band will play once again at 9:30 p.m.
Events will end at Snowshoe on Sunday with an extended "Day of Play" from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A village access pass must be purchased.
Participants can make sand art from 11 a.m. to noon and homemade ice cream in a bag from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Trent Wagner and the Steel Wagler will take the Village Stage at 11:30 a.m. followed by the Deer Creek Boys at 1 p.m. and Poor Tater at 3 p.m..
The Movie in the Village will be "Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium" at 9 p.m.
For more information, visit www.snowshoemtn.com.
Upshur County
Fireworks and fun were rained out Thursday, but the Upshur County community of Buckhannon will offer a second-chance viewing Friday. Residents will celebrate Independence Day at the Freal "Red" Crites Memorial Stadium near Buckhannon-Upshur High School. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the cost of admission is $5 per car.
Events include live entertainment and fireworks.
Upshur's celebration is sponsored by the Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call the chamber office at 472-1722.
