Local News

Augusta Festival set for July 30

ELKINS -- One of the summer's biggest local events just around the corner as residents and visitors from far and wide prepare for the Augusta Heritage Center's annual Augusta Festival celebration on Saturday, July 30.

The traditional festival and craft fair for Augusta will take place at Elkins City Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Among the happenings at the park include craft workshops, music making, children's activities, a fiddle and banjo contest, and a wide variety of food.

All of the activities at the park are free and open to all ages. Food vendors will be set up throughout the entire day.

"We're so delighted to bring this festival to life every year," Seth Young, executive director of the Augusta Heritage Center, told The Inter-Mountain. "This year is special because we can finally hold the immersive Augusta traditional arts workshops leading to this wonderful event.

"Now we can share the joy of the festival with not only our immediate community, but also with those that come far and wide every summer to learn about folkways and music right here in Elkins."

Once the activities begin at the Elkins City Park, festival goers will want to make their way to Kerns Avenue, which is just across Harrison Avenue, for the second annual block party in front of El Gran Sabor.

The classic country extravaganza in the Big Timber Beer Garden will feature Miss Tess and Thomas, Jesse Milnes, and J.P. Harris.

Complete Festival and Craft Fair Schedule for Saturday, July 30 at Elkins City Park:

Craft Workshops: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Chinese Calligraphy 101, Zen and the Art of Brushwork with Yuru Cheng; noon to 1 p.m. – The Outer Self, Intro to Acting with Willa McWhorter; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Make Bar Art, Embrace Chaos and Unblock Creativity with Emily Prentice and Nevada Tribble.

Children's Activities: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Dulcimer Workshops with Kathy McArthur; 11 a.m. to noon – Earthworks with Kylie Proudfoot-Payne; afternoon – Singing Games Session with Olivia Perske.

Music Making: 10:30 a.m. to noon – Gospel Sing; noon to 2 p.m. – Old-Time Jam; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Bluegrass Jam.

Fiddle and Banjo Contest: 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. – Banjo Registration; 12:30 p.m. – Banjo Contest Begins; 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fiddle Registration; 2:30 p.m. – Fiddle Contest Begins.

Block Party: 7 p.m. – Miss Tess and Thomas; 8 p.m. – Jesse Milnes; 9 p.m. – J.P. Harris.

For more information, visit augustartsandculture.org or call 304-637-1209. Limited craft vending spaces are still available.