BUCKHANNON — The annual Green Bean Celebration, spearheaded by founder Dr. Joseph Reed, will return this weekend to remind residents that growing green beans is a simple, productive and nutritious way to combat hunger in Upshur County.

Green Bean Weekend begins Friday, Aug. 11, at Jawbone Park during Festival Fridays. Reed is asking all chefs and cooks to join Create Buckhannon in the Great Green Bean Cook-off by preparing a dish with green beans for sharing and judging.

Dishes will be judged on the following factors: taste, nutritional value, presentation and budget. To sign up, send an email to GreenBeanCelebration@aol.com or stop by the Upshur Visitors Center at 14 E. Main Street.

All contenders should arrive with their crockpot of beans at 5:30 p.m. on the Madison Street side of Jawbone Park, and judging will begin at 6 p.m. Tables, and access to electricity will be provided, and cooks are encouraged to offer samples to the public after the judging is complete. Please bring a copy of your recipe to share that details the nutritional value.

A cash prize of $75 will be awarded to the first-place winner, while a $25 cash prize will be awarded to the runner-up.

Community members are also invited to the annual Green Bean Stroll at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Elizabeth J. ‘Binky’ Poundstone Memorial Riverwalk Trail. Participants may walk, run, ride in a wheelbarrow, ride in a stroller or an electric scooter (if handicapped) or utilize any other non-motorized form on transportation to celebrate physical activity.

Come out and hear about Teenie Weenie Green Beanie, the Good Giant.

For additional information about the Green Bean Stroll or Great Green Bean Cook-off, email GreenBeanCelebration@aol.com, or visit the Annual Green Bean Weekend Celebration Facebook page.