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HELVETIA -- The quaint Swiss mountain town of Helvetia will come to life this weekend when many of the region's unique traditions are celebrated during "Helvetia Hoot."
The event, formerly known as "Dare to be Square West Virginia," will take place on Friday and Saturday. It will feature workshops in old-time music, craft, dance, folklore, square dance calling, camping and more.
"The goal of Helvetia Hoot is to bring together people from all over the region to celebrate West Virginia," event organizer Becky Hill said. "You can dabble in square dance calling, try your hand at paper making, shuffle your feet in a clogging workshop, or just soak up the beauty of Helvetia.
"I hope by the end of the weekend, attendants will have learned something new. To keep these traditions vibrant, it's all about sharing it with one another and passing it on."
More than 20 workshops will be offered for musicians, callers and dancers at the event.
The dance on Friday will get underway at 7 p.m. and will feature performances from the Helvetia Star Band and the Jesse Milnes Band.
The event will be half square dance and half honky-tonk.
The Saturday square dance, meanwhile, will feature Bobby Taylor and Kim Johnson with round-robin callers. Both night's dances are suitable for the entire family and are beginner friendly. Participants do not need a dance partner and visitors are welcomed to come to purely listen to the music.
Some of the workshop highlights will include: Helvetia Fiddle Tunes with Bobby Taylor; Gospel Sing with Ginny Hawker; Paper Making with Nevada Tribble; Beginning Square Dance Calling with T-Claw; Flatfooting with Becky Hill; West Virginia Square Dances with Lour Maiuri and Ellen and Eugene Ratcliff; Guided Walks through Helvetia with Dave Whipp; and Harmony Singing with Val Mindel and Emily Miller.
"Helvetia is a magical place and my first visit was for the 2015 Dare to Be Square," said Organizer and Square Dance Caller T-Claw Crawford. "I could not believe I was still in Randolph County. It was beautiful, welcoming, and a super idyllic spot for a traditional square dance convergence.
"The local community seemed happy to host. As a participant, I absorbed the stories and culture while becoming friends with some of my favorite old-timers. Over the years we have broadened the scope of the event to feature activities for friends and family in addition to the 24/7 dance and music."
Helvetia Hoot will be celebrating its sixth year in the small Randolph County village and Hill hopes it continues to be home to the event for many years to come.
"Helvetia is the perfect place to hold a workshop weekend. There are two beautiful dance halls, a rich old-time music and dance tradition, and a supportive community that helps make it happen," said Hill.
For more information, or to register for "Helvetia Hoot", visit the event's Facebook page or go to www.clawandfoot.org.