ELKINS — The 85th Mountain State Forest Festival will kick off Saturday with a full day of ceremonies and festivities.

The 2023 MSFF Official Opening Ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Jennings Randolph Federal Building Plaza in Elkins.

Saturday will also feature a bass fishing tournament, a Highland Dance competition, a car show and live music downtown during the Forest Festival Kickoff Party.

Director General Jonathan R. Morgan as Director General has chosen the theme “Endlessly Wild & Wonderful” for this year’s Forest Festival. The theme also honors the Monongahela National Forest will provide the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on behalf of the USDA Forest Service and the state of West Virginia, kicking off a year-long celebration to connect people to West Virginia’s public lands.

The 85th Mountain State Forest Festival’s Maid Silvia is Anna Marie Ruf, 22, of Belington.

Ruf is the daughter of Eric and Jana Ruf of Belington. She is the granddaughter of the late Robert and Joan Donaldson of Belington and the late Henry “Bud” and Phyllis Ruf of Parkersburg.

The future Queen Silvia is a 2019 graduate of Philip Barbour High School, and a 2023 graduate of Davis & Elkins College.

Ruf’s Maids of Honor are Miriam Christienne Fath and Sophia Ann Shoemaker

Fath is the daughter of Rick and Tracy Fath of Elkins. Shoemaker is the daughter of Chad and Christie Shoemaker of Elkins.

The 85th Forest Festival will continue through Sunday, Oct. 8, with family friendly events offered each day.

The full schedule of events includes:

Saturday

6 a.m. – Bass Fishing Classic: Boat Launch

Scott Ford Boat Ramp

3 p.m. – Bass Fishing Classic: Weigh In

Scott Ford Boat Ramp

9 a.m. – MSFF Highland Dance Competition (Morning Session) Primary, Beginner, & Novice Contest, Registration 8:30 a.m. Citizens Bank of WV Amphitheatre, Davis & Elkins College

11 a.m. – Official Opening Ceremony

Jennings Randolph Federal Building Plaza

1 p.m. – MSFF Highland Dance Competition (Afternoon Session) Intermediate & Premier Contest, Registration 12:30 p.m. Citizens Bank of WV Amphitheatre, Davis & Elkins College

1 p.m. – Car Show/Mountain State Street Machines

Summit Church Lot

1 p.m. – Irish Road Bowling – Georgetown Road Course

Registration Noon/ Post Game Awards, Big Timber Brewing Co., 2 Davis Ave, Shuttle Service

2 p.m. – Cornhole Tournament

Registration 1 p.m., Summit Church Lot *Inclement Weather American Legion

4-8 p.m. – Forest Festival Kickoff Party

Elkins Town Square Live Music by Bon Journey – 6:30 p.m. *Inclement Weather Phil Gainer Community Center

Sunday, Oct. 1 – Sunday, Oct. 8 – Gambill Amusement Carnival

Downtown Streets

Sunday

10:30 a.m. – 10K Run/5K Walk & Kids Fun Run

Registration Begins (YMCA)

12: 30 p.m. – Runners & Walkers Step Off, 5th Street/Davis Avenue (Start)

12:45 p.m. – Kids Fun Run Step Off, 5th Street/Davis Avenue (Start)

Noon – 5 p.m. – Information Booth Open

Corner of Davis Avenue & 3rd Street

2:30 p.m. – Parade of Children “Wild, Wild West Virginia”

1:45 p.m. Lineup – Corner of 12th Street & S. Davis Avenue *Inclement Weather Date: Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.

3:30 – 5 p.m. – Children’s Festival

Davis Avenue (Between 3rd & 4th Streets) *Inclement Weather Location: YMCA

7 p.m. – Citizens Bank Festival Stage

Rotary Amphitheater, Elkins Town Square Gandy Dancer Theater – Branson Style Entertainment *Inclement Weather Location for all Downtown Stage Events, Elkins High School

Monday

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Randolph County Senior Bazaar

Randolph County Senior Center, 5th Street

5-9 p.m. – Information Booth Open

Corner of Davis Avenue & 3rd Street

6:30 p.m. – Citizens Bank Festival Stage

Rotary Amphitheater, Elkins Town Square A Night of Dance – Area Dance Groups

7 p.m. – Parade of Pets & Pet Show -Elkins High School gym

Tuesday

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Randolph County Senior Bazaar

Randolph County Senior Center, 5th Street

3-5 p.m. – Public Tours of Historic Governor Kump House Wild, Wonderful Woods Exhibit 401 Randolph Avenue (across from Kroger)

5-9 p.m. – Information Booth Open

Corner of Davis Avenue & 3rd Street

7 p.m. – Citizens Bank Festival Stage

Rotary Amphitheater, Elkins Town Square, Talent Show

Wednesday

9 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Primitive Campers Exhibit

Davis & Elkins College Front Lawn

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Randolph County Senior Bazaar

Randolph County Senior Center, 5th St.

5-9 p.m. – Information Booth Open

Corner of Davis Avenue & 3rd Street

5-7 p.m. – MSFF Juried Arts Exhibit Seneca Trail Artist Guild

Juried Art Show Reception – The Arts Center

6-8 p.m. – Photography Participant Reception

Elkins/Randolph County YMCA

7 p.m. – Citizens Bank Festival Stage

Rotary Amphitheater, Elkins Town Square

American Pride – The Statler Brothers Tribute

Thursday

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Randolph County Senior Bazaar

Randolph County Senior Center, 5th Street

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Kids Day in the Park

Elkins City Park

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Elkins City Park Events *Three Days of Events: (Shows primarily in the morning for Kids Day in the Park)

Chainsaw Carvers – The Mason Dixon Boys

Conservation Village

Dino-ROAR! (Friday Only!)

The Dynamo Dogs

Glass Blowing – Appalachian Glass

HillBilly Fun Inflatable Bounce Houses

Laurel Fork Falconry

Vendors & Exhibitors

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Log Cabin Quilters’ Guild Quilt Show

Elkins/Randolph County YMCA

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Mountain State Forest Festival Crafts & More

First United Methodist Church

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Photography Contest Exhibit

Elkins/Randolph County YMCA

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – GFWC Woman’s Club of Elkins Juried Arts & Craft Show Martin Fieldhouse of Davis & Elkins College

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Forestry & Wood Products Exhibit & WV Christmas Tree Growers Assoc. Elkins/Randolph County YMCA

9 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Primitive Campers Exhibit

Davis & Elkins College Front Lawn

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – MSFF Juried Arts Exhibit Seneca Trail Artist Guild

The Arts Center

11a.m. – 3 p.m. – Log-A-Load for Kids

Newlon’s International Log Inspection/Log Auction, Ward Road

3 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Public Tours of Historic Governor Kump House Wild, Wonderful Woods Exhibit 401 Randolph Avenue (across from Kroger)

5 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Information Booth Open

Corner of Davis Avenue & 3rd Street

5:30 p.m. – Distinguished Guest Pre-Dinner Reception

Phil Gainer Community Center

6 p.m. – Distinguished Guest Dinner

Phil Gainer Community Center

7 p.m. – Citizens Bank Festival Stage

Rotary Amphitheater, Elkins Town Square Vegas McGraw – Tribute to Tim McGraw

Friday

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Randolph County Senior Bazaar

Randolph County Senior Center, 5th Street

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Elkins City Park Events

Elkins City Park

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Mountain State Forest Festival Crafts & More

First United Methodist Church

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – GFWC Woman’s Club of Elkins Juried Arts & Craft Show

Martin Fieldhouse of Davis & Elkins College

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Log Cabin Quilters’ Guild Quilt Show

Elkins/Randolph County YMCA

9 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Photography Contest Exhibit

Elkins/Randolph County YMCA

9 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Forestry & Wood Products Exhibit & WV Christmas Tree Growers Assoc. Elkins/Randolph Co. YMCA

9 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Primitive Campers Exhibit

Davis & Elkins College Front Lawn

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Mountain Weavers Guild

Darden Mill Museum – Railroad Avenue

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – MSFF Juried Arts Exhibit Seneca Trail Artist Guild

The Arts Center

11 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Information Booth Open

Corner of Davis Avenue & 3rd Street

Noon – Axe Women Loggers of Maine

Elkins City Park, Presented by Naylor’s Ace Hardware

1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Pre-Coronation Music & Entertainment

Citizens Bank of WV Amphitheater, Davis & Elkins College

2 p.m. – Coronation of Maid Silvia LXXXV

Citizens Bank of WV Amphitheater, Davis & Elkins College

3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. – Axe Women Loggers of Maine

Elkins City Park, Presented by Naylor’s Ace Hardware

7:30 p.m. – Elkins Volunteer Fire Department Fireman’s Parade

Davis & Randolph Avenues

9 p.m. – Queen’s Ball

Phil Gainer Community Center

Saturday, Oct. 7

8 a.m. – Lumberjack Contest

Citizens Bank of WV Amphitheater, Davis & Elkins College

8 a.m. -4 p.m. – MSFF Juried Arts Exhibit Seneca Trail Artist Guild

The Arts Center

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Log Cabin Quilters’ Guild Quilt Show

Elkins/Randolph County YMCA

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – City Park Events

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Mountain State Forest Festival Crafts & More

First United Methodist Church

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – GFWC Woman’s Club of Elkins Juried Arts & Craft Show Martin Fieldhouse of Davis & Elkins College

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Photography Contest Exhibit

Elkins/Randolph County YMCA

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Forestry & Wood Products Exhibit & WV Christmas Tree Growers Assoc. Elkins/Randolph Co. YMCA

9 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Primitive Campers Exhibit

Davis & Elkins College Front Lawn

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Mountain Weavers Guild

Darden Mill Museum – Railroad Avenue

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Information Booth Open

Corner of Davis Avenue & 3rd Street

11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Axe Women Loggers of Maine

Elkins City Park, Presented by Naylor’s Ace Hardware

1 p.m. – Antique and Classic Street Rod Car Parade

12th Street Start

1:15 p.m. – Log Truck & Equipment Parade

12th Street Start

1:30 p.m. – Grand Feature Parade

12th Street Start, Presented by Polino Contracting, Inc.

5 p.m. – Jack Basil Band Field Show

Elkins High School

Sunday

Oct. 8

7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Buckwheat Cake and Sausage Feed

Izzak Walton League

11 a.m. – Muzzleloading Contest

Izaak Walton League Tygart Valley Muzzleloading Range

2 p.m. – Official Closing Ceremony

Jennings Randolph Federal Building Plaza