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ELKINS – Residents should expect changes to street access, parking and city operations during the 88th Mountain State Forest Festival, officials state.
City of Elkins departments “are busy preparing” for the 2026 Mountain State Forest Festival, which begins Saturday, officials said. With thousands of visitors coming to celebrate, residents can expect changes to city services, street closures, altered traffic and parking patterns, and “increased demands” on city, county and state resources.
“Preparing for the Forest Festival requires work from multiple city and utility departments, as well as public safety agencies and other partners from Randolph County and the State of West Virginia,” a City of Elkins press release states. “That work includes preparing streets, parks and other public spaces, coordinating closures and traffic control, maintaining city services, collecting the massive volume of additional trash generated during the Festival, and providing police, fire and emergency medical services for Festival-related incidents while continuing to respond to calls throughout the service area as usual.”
Changes will begin Saturday, as the annual MSFF carnival begins setting up. Third Street, part of Davis Avenue and a portion of Railroad Avenue will be closed through the following weekend, until Oct. 4, for the carnival. Other street closures and traffic changes will occur later during Festival week, officials said.
Free public parking will remain available at several downtown locations during the Festival, although “spaces will be limited,” the release states. The number of spaces available at City Hall will be “significantly reduced” due to ongoing construction at City Hall and the staging of public safety resources. Additional public parking is available in the Seneca Mall parking lot and in the lot near Sweco Furniture. Both lots contain “first-come-first-serve” spaces and reserved spaces, so officials suggest drivers pay close attention to signs before parking.
“Expect available spaces in all of these locations to fill early each day,” The release states. “Businesses and civic organizations may offer paid parking in various locations as well.”
Street closures and lack of parking will increase during the parades later in the week, officials said. The Elkins Fire Department Fireman’s Parade begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2. On Saturday, Oct. 3, the Antique and Classic Cars Parade, Log Truck & Equipment Parade and Grand Feature Parade will follow one another beginning at 1 p.m. The parades follow the same route, traveling up Davis Avenue from 12th Street, across Fifth Street and down Randolph Avenue past the Randolph County Courthouse. Parade staging also requires the use of “multiple blocks” south of 12th Street.
The city states that there will be no parking along the parade route for either parade. To avoid being towed, officials suggest that vehicles parked along the route should be moved no later than one hour before the parades step off. Those attending the parades are encouraged to arrive early, park outside the affected area and walk to the parade route.
“Drivers should avoid unnecessary travel through downtown during parade staging and the parades themselves,” the release states. “Street closures and the volume of pedestrian and vehicle traffic will make driving through downtown nearly impossible during these periods.”
City operations will also be impacted by the Festival. City Hall will be closed Friday, Oct. 2. Trash collection will operate on its regular schedule Monday, Sept. 28, through Thursday, Oct. 1. Customers whose regular collection day is Friday will instead have their trash collected beginning at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. Friday-route customers should have their trash out by 6 a.m. Thursday. The City’s sanitation crew will work a double route on Thursday to free up capacity for the large amount of garbage collection required during the final weekend of the Forest Festival.
Additional street closures and temporary traffic changes “will be necessary at various times” during Festival week. City officials will provide reminders about closures, parking restrictions, sanitation service and other changes as they approach.
“Please be careful, look out for each other and have a great Mountain State Forest Festival,” the release states.