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Ramps and Rails Festival to return after two COVID-canceled years

The Inter-Mountain photo Rachel Varner, left, and Mark Armentrout, both of Kiwanis International, take part in the 2018 Ramps and Rail Festival, offering their famous ramp burgers. This year’s festival will be April 23.

ELKINS — After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Ramps and Rail Festival will make a triumphant return to the Elkins Railroad Depot on Saturday, April 23.

The festival, which will get underway at 10 a.m., will spill over into Elkins Town Square as the entire depot section of the city transforms into Ramp Paradise for the day.

“Everyone I’m talking to is really excited for the festival to return this year,” Anne Beardslee, executive director of the Elkins Depot Welcome Center CVB, told the Inter-Mountain Thursday. “Everyone is just ready to get out and to be part of things again. Having events after COVID is really special to us.”

The 12th annual festival will feature 50 vendors, most of which will concoct an array of delicious ramp-themed foods, including the ever-popular ramp burger. Craft booths will also be spread among the food vendors.

“The reason we started this entire event was to benefit local vendors,” Beardslee said. “For a lot of them, being able to do events like this is their livelihood. So when we had to cancel, it was really upsetting to a lot of them. So we are excited that the festival is back and thrilled to be able to help the vendors support themselves again.”

The festival will also feature train rides and live entertainment throughout the day. Musicians performing on the Rotary Amphitheater stage will include the Max Sample Band at 11 a.m., followed by Aurora Celtic at 1:30 p.m. The hour-long train excursions, which are provided by the Durbin & Greenbrier Railroad, are sold out for the day of the event.

Top food and craft vendors will be awarded plaques based on popular vote, while the EDWC will sell festival apparel and coordinate a gift basket raffle for those who would like to participate.

“Nothing quite says spring like the arrival of ramps and the annual Ramps and Rail Festival,” Beardslee said. “We couldn’t be happier to have the full-scale Ramps and Rail Festival back to its rightful place in April.”

The Highlands Trail Foundation also will be hosting a guided bike ride on the Allegheny Highlands Trail during the day of the festival. Registration will be at the Elkins Depot Welcome Center at 9:30 a.m., and the ride will get underway at 10 a.m.

Helmets are required for the ride that will begin and end at the Depot, and children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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