BUCKHANNON – The 2022 Annual Green Bean Day Celebration will kick off Aug. 12 with the Green Bean Cook-off at Festival Fridays.

Dr. Joseph Reed said the Green Bean Day Celebration originated as a way to recognize volunteer groups in town, promote fun exercise and provide the Upshur County Parish House with green beans. This year, the cook-off portion of the celebration will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 at Festival Fridays. Participants will present their best green bean dish in a crock pot to two judges; the judging will begin at 6 p.m.

“The beans they have will be available for people to come by and have a sample, a small prize will be presented and then the recipe will be published,” Reed said.

Sign up for the cook-off at the at Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce on Main Street before 5 p.m. Thursday, or reach out to organizers on their Facebook page.

On Saturday, Aug. 13 at 9 a.m., the celebration continues at the Buckhannon River Walk. The story of Jack and the Beanstalk will be read, and a Green Bean Stroll will follow.

“People can donate a bag of beans or a donation of $5, and then there will be a one-mile stroll,” Reed said. “All you have to do is finish the mile. No hurry, you can finish however you need to — walk, run, bicycle, wheelchair, roller skate, skateboard.”

The Saturday event is pet-friendly, and face painting will be available.

All proceeds and green beans will go to the Upshur County Parish House.