The event, which ran from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. with family friendly activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., saw multiple visitors, participants and families of all ages having fun throughout the day.

“I’d definitely say it was a success,” The Inter-Mountain General Manager Michelle Hammonds said after the event. “We had a great turnout and I think everyone had a good time.”

Beginning at 6 a.m., The Inter-Mountain began selling the Thanksgiving Edition newspaper, which included special Black Friday Sales flyers from Boscov’s, Cupp’s Furniture, Davis Health System, Dollar General, Dunham’s Sports, Long John Silver’s, Menards, Shop ‘n Save and Tractor Supply. 

Hardback books printed by The Inter-Mountain were also on sale, including Elkins High School 125th Anniversary, Elkins Fire Department 125th Anniversary, Tygarts Valley High School 100th Anniversary and Randolph County in Photos. Cookies, coffee and hot chocolate were available for free throughout the day.

The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Jacob Currence from the Old Brick Playhouse face paints a little girl to look like a cat during The Inter-Mountain’s Wild Wednesday community event Wednesday.

For the family friendly community event, which started at 10 a.m., participants were invited to either buy a copy of the newspaper or donate a food item or pet item for admission to the festivities. The food was donated to Parish House in Buckhannon and pet items were donated to Animal Friends of Barbour County.

Joining The Inter-Mountain for the event was the Elkins Fire Department, which brought a fire truck to display, the Randolph County Emergency Squad, who brought an ambulance, and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, which brought a K9 officer and the popular Deputy Trading Cards for kids. 

Participants were also able to have their face painted by the Old Brick Playhouse, take photos with a professional wrestler and a ticket giveaway for a December wrestling event from the Tygart Valley Wrestling Federation, receive free items and information from Centers Against Violence, and were able to buy lunch at the Mona’s food truck.

Kids were also treated to a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, who took photos with the children and gave out candy canes and chocolate.

Giveaway and raffle prizes were also drawn, including a two-night stay with food at Elk Springs Resort, a $200 Gift Certificate to Elkins Shop ‘n Save and a $300 Cash Prize. Youth prizes included certificates to Elkins Cinema 8 and Skate Zone, water bottles, wireless phone chargers and more.

Tickets for The Inter-Mountain’s Live High on the Hog Freezer Fill Up raffle were also sold, the prize being half a hog and a 5-cubic-feet freezer. The proceeds go towards Newspapers in Education, a program that provides newspapers to local schools. The winner will be pulled today.

“We’re definitely going to do this again next year,” Hammonds said. “We already have some new ideas of things to add and do for next time.”