2011 West Virginia calendar of events

From wood chopping, strawberries and pumpkins to international water tasting championships, the state of West Virginia offers a wide range of rural festivals throughout the year

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February 24 – 27, 2011 - The Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting:

The Country Inn at Berkeley Springs, in downtown Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

Preliminary judging will be on Thursday, February 24 and the final tasting will be conducted on Saturday, February 26, followed by a reception announcing winners for both bottlers and municipalities.

The award-winning Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting welcomes more than one hundred waters from across the country and around the globe. Held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, it is the largest water tasting competition in the world.

Municipal waters compete for the coveted honour of the best tasting tap water. Bottled waters, both still and sparkling are judged along with waters in a new category, purified drinking water. The public will have an opportunity to vote for the People's Choice award for the best packaging

Web: www.berkeleysprings.com/water/about.htm

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May 18 – 22, 2011 – West Virginia Strawberry Festival, Buckhannon, WV:
The Festival is a unique, traditional celebration to promote the strawberry harvest.

Web: www.wvstrawberryfestival.com

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May 27 – 30, 2010 – Webster County Wood chopping Festival, Webster Springs, WV:
Southeastern US World Championship, Memorial Day Weekend, Baker's Island Recreational Area, Webster Springs, WV:

Each Memorial Day weekend, the Southern U.S. World Championship Woodchopper title is won at the annual Webster County Wood chopping Festival in Webster Springs, WV. The festival has grown out of a long timbering heritage from which some of the finest woodchoppers and lumbermen in the world have come to fame. The choppers come from as near as the scenic mountains of Webster County in West Virginia and as far away as Australia and New Zealand to compete.

The hometown festival was the natural outgrowth of the multi-talented all-around Champion, Arden Cogar, Sr. Arden began competing in 1956 and has since won 47 championship titles in the United States and Australia. Contestants from around the world converge on Webster Springs to participate in the World Championship Wood chopping Contest the premiere event of this festival.

Web: www.woodchoppingfestival.com

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May 27 – 29, 2011 – Vandalia Gathering, State Capitol Complex, Charleston, WV:
This popular festival highlights West Virginia’s ethnic and traditional music. Held on the Capitol lawn and in the Culture Center, other features include craft demonstrations, a quilt exhibit, and banjo-fiddle contests.

Web: www.wvculture.org/vandalia/

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May 31 – June 4, 2011 – Carnegie Hall’s 4th Annual Rhythm, Blues, and All That Jazz Weekend, Lewisburg, WV:
A weekend featuring some of the best jazz and blues artists from Thursday evening for a free concert outside on Carnegie Hall’s Ivy Terrace, Friday enjoy a night of jazz, and Saturday is a full day event featuring 3 blues artists throughout the afternoon into the evening.

Web: www.carnegiehallwv.com

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October 7 – October 10, 2011 – West Virginia Pumpkin Festival, Milton, WV:
The West Virginia Pumpkin Festival is a family activity with juried arts and crafts, commercial and business displays, live entertainment and food! The Festival features the WV Largest Pumpkin contest this year!

Web: www.wvpumpkinpark.com

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October 1 – 31, 2011 – Weston Hospital of Horrors, Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Asylum, Weston, WV:
The scene for this year’s scare fest is the long abandoned tuberculosis hospital, previously unseen to the public. Now, for the first time in decades, its doors have opened to provide the most frightening visions of horror.

Web: www.trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com

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October 1 – 31, 2011 – Dungeon of Horrors, former West Virginia Penitentiary, Moundsville, WV:
The Former West Virginia Penitentiary housed some of the most violent criminals in history. Many of the prisoners who lived here also died here. The prison is known to have one of the highest levels of paranormal activity in the United States and most people who have survived the dungeon of horrors believe that the prisoners still haunt the darkened hallways of the prison today.

Web: www.wvpentours.com

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October 2011– October Sky Festival, Coalwood, WV:
With the original Rocket Boys as special guest, this festival takes place in Coalwood, the hometown of Homer Hickam, celebrated author of “Rocket Boys”. Tours to the original rocket site view scale model rockets from NASA, vendors, book signings, music, food among other activities.

Web: www.coalwoodwestvirginia.com

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October 13 – 16, 2011 - West Virginia Black Walnut Festival, Spencer, WV:
The West Virginia Black Walnut Festival has a grand parade, flea market, fireman’s contest, quilt contest, live music, food vendors and a carnival.

Web: www.wvblackwalnutfestival.org

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October 6 – 10, 2011 – Hatfield-McCoy National Trailfest, Gilbert, WV:
Celebrating the 11th anniversary of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System and National Trailfest – the premier off-road event in the US

Web: www.trailsheaven.com

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October 13 – 16, 2011 – Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival, Martinsburg, WV:
The Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival celebrates the rich agricultural heritage of this part of West Virginia, highlighting the role of the apple in that tradition. www.msahf.com

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October 15, 2011 – New River Gorge Bridge Day, Fayetteville, WV: The only day it is legal to walk on the bridge, with BASE jumpers, arts, crafts, and food along with the palette of fall colours in the background

Web: wwww.officialbridgeday.com

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November – January 2012 – Oglebay Festival of Lights, Wheeling, WV:
The Winter Festival of Lights began in 1985, celebrating displays and landscapes lighting over 125 acres which covers a three-mile drive throughout the resort with over one million lights.

Web: www.oglebay-resort.com

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For more information, please contact Jane Wilson on 0208 948 2388 or wv@attachecommunications.co.uk or visit the West Virginia Tourism website: www.wvtourism.com

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