The 88th annual Mountain State Forest Festival fills Elkins from Saturday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Oct. 4, with concerts, craft fairs, parades, competitions and more. Printed schedules and parade route maps are available at the Elkins Depot Welcome Center, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Highlights from the first week’s schedule
Saturday, Sept. 26: Bass Fishing Classic at the Scott Ford boat ramp (6 a.m.–3 p.m.); martial arts tournament at Elkins High School (8 a.m.); Highland Dance Competition at the Citizens Bank of WV Amphitheater at Davis & Elkins (9 a.m. and 1 p.m.); Jack & Jill cross country relays at Camp Pioneer (9–10:30 a.m.); official opening ceremony at the Jennings Randolph Federal Building Plaza (11 a.m.); Irish road bowling on the Georgetown Road course (1 p.m., registration and shuttle from Big Timber Brewing at noon); Mountain State Street Machines on Davis Avenue (1 p.m.); a cornhole tournament at Huntington Bank (2 p.m.); and the Forest Festival Kickoff Party & Chili Cook-off on Davis Avenue (4–8 p.m.).
Sunday, Sept. 27: Pump N Run at Anytime Fitness (7 a.m.); 10K run, 5K walk and kids fun run (registration at the Elkins YMCA at 10:30 a.m.; runners and walkers step off at 12:30 p.m., kids at 12:45 p.m.); the Parade of Children, “Paws, Wings, and Autumn Things,” at 12th Street and Davis Avenue (2:30 p.m.); the Children’s Festival on Davis Avenue between 3rd and 4th streets (3:30–5 p.m.); and Elkins’ Got Talent on the Citizens Bank Festival Stage at the Elkins Town Square (7 p.m.; Elkins High School if the weather is bad).
Monday, Sept. 28: Randolph County Senior Bazaar at the senior center on 5th Street (9 a.m.–3 p.m., also Sept. 29–Oct. 1); Parade of Pets & Pet Show at Davis Avenue and 3rd Street (7 p.m.); and The Railside Revue concert on the Citizens Bank Festival Stage (7 p.m.).
Tuesday, Sept. 29: Public tours of the historic Governor Kump House, 401 Randolph Ave. (4–5:30 p.m.), and A Night of Dance concert at Harper McNeely Auditorium, Davis & Elkins College (6:30 p.m.).
Wednesday, Sept. 30: Primitive campers exhibit on the Davis & Elkins College front lawn (9 a.m.–8 p.m.); the Art Center’s annual fall juried art exhibit at 2 Park Street (5–7 p.m.); and Jersey Nights: A Tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons on the Citizens Bank Festival Stage (7 p.m.).
Thursday, Oct. 1: Kids Day in the Park and events at Elkins City Park, the Log Cabin Quilters’ Guild quilt show and Mountain Weavers Guild at the Elkins YMCA, and the photography exhibit and MSFF Crafts & More at the Railyard.
The festival information booth at Davis Avenue and 3rd Street is open noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 27 and 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 28–30. The festival continues through Oct. 4.