West Virginia Events
Match up your vacation dates to one of these West Virginia Special Events and really double your fun and adventure.
Dates: April 14, 2012 The Babcock Gristmill Grinder is a half marathon trail race on a truly soectacular trail course through the rugged terrain of Babacock State Park. This event will challenge you with single track trails, double track, and occasional short road sections. This course will also reward you with spectacular overlooks, and occasional green moss ferns, rhododendron tunnels, waterfalls and more. The last few miles will take you along the old Sewell dirt road besides the beautiful Glade Creek, and up to and past the famous Gristmill. The Fun Walk is on the road and you can expect beautiful scenery and little to no traffic. Starting at the same start/finish area as the run, we are walking to the Gristmill and back. If you are here with someone doing the run, this is a great alternative. So come out and enjoy the day with a great walk in the park. Dates: April 14, 2012 Hawks' Nest State Park is putting their own twist on Dinner Theatre with Lunch Theatre. Karen Vuranch stars in "Louella Parsons, First Lady of Gossip." Parsons was the first columnist that mingled among the brightest stars of Hollywood like Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. 304.658.5212 Dates: April 14, 2012 A celebration of all things chocolate takes Lewisburg by storm. Chocolate tastings, chocolate bake off, pastry demonstrations, mousse eating contest, theatrical perfomances and live music will fill the day's festivities. 304.647.5667 Dates: April 21-22, 2012 What would you do for a FREE two-night stay in an NARR Cozy Cabin? OK, free might be a stretch. We need your help and are offering a handsome reward. Simply donate some of your precious time and maybe break a sweat to help the NARR crew maintain its biking and hiking trails, and we supply a cabin complete with satellite TV, full kitchen and private hot tub. Mother Nature is not always kind to the West Virginia hills so we like to rally the troops to clean things up before the season starts. As a weekend crew member, work starts on Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, the crew works from 9 a.m. - noon. At the end of each day, we'll take a mountain bike ride to give you a preview cruise of your efforts. This is a great way to kick-start the season. Call 800-950-2585 to make your reservation. A $25 deposit is required to hold your cabin for the weekend. It is refundable upon completion of your trail work. If you find you are unable to attend, this deposit is refundable by contacting us at least two weeks prior to your arrival date. Per the security agreement deluxe cabins require a credit card on file. Dates: April 30 - May 5, 2012 The New River Birding Festival and Nature Festival takes place in and around the New River Gorge National River. This bird watching festival highlights more than 100 species of birds on various birding tours. This weeklong event features guided birding excursions, classes, seminars, and world-class speakers. Dates: May 25 - 27, 2012 This 3-day music festival showcase raises money for the United Way of Southern W.V. It includes a Saturday evening street festival, cornhole tournament, poker run and Beckley's Best Hot Dog Competition. June 16, 2012 304.252.9750 July 4, 2012 (Wednesday) Gather at the NARR Play Park on July 4th, 2012 for the 4th Annual Big Air Blob Competition. Fireworks won't be the only thing rocketing skyward on Independence Day. Teams of two will compete for the most outrageous blob of the day. Judges will score up to 10 points per blob based on form, height or just sheer craziness. Prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners! When you check-in, be sure to ask for details at the NARR Welcome Center. It's FREE to those staying and playing with NARR during the holiday. Rules: Where & When: August 1-5, 2012 304.438.3005 August 4, 2012 www.NewRiverGorgeChallenge.com Hummingbirds, Butterflies and Native Plants August 12, 2012 (Sunday) ACE Adventure Resort will host our annual summer festival with master bander and hummingbird expert Bill Hilton Jr,; accomplished naturalist, writer and photographer Connie Toops, and local gardening expert Terri Johnson. Topics include feeding, nesting, migration, behavior; designing a hummingbird habitat in your backyard, schoolyard or nature center. Birding-WV.com 1.304.574.4258 August 22 - September 2, 2012 304.640.8804 or 304.573.5243 October 5 & 6, 2012 On Columbus Day weekend (October 5 and 6), teams comprised of people from all branches of the U.S. military will test their mettle on the proving grounds of southern West Virginia. Two days, 50-miles, of mud-slinging, trail-hiking, mountain bike-riding, raft-paddling competition determine which team has the will to finish strong and top the field. An 8k run and rafting on the Gauley River highlight the first day of competition. Mountain biking, inflatable kayaking and a mountain hike rounds out the second and final day. Hang out and watch or represent your branch in this year's Wilderness Challenge. Lodging and adventure specials available for participants. October 27, 2012 Join North American River Runners for the 11th Annual New River Gorge-ous Trail Run. There are three race options, a 13.2 or 7.5 mile run, or a 4.5 mile walk. All of the course wander through deep hardwood forests and offer spectacular views of the New River and the historic town of Thurmond. And yes, prizes are awarded. Bring along the family and enjoy some of NARR's great activities like whitewater rafting or our Zip Line Tour. NARR provides free camping to racers so make a weekend of it. We also have a full menu of deluxe lodging options with outdoor hot tubs that are perfect for soaking those sore muscles after the race. The 2012 Gorge-ous Trail Run & Walk will feature over $2,500 in cash and gear prizes! Cash prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for men and women in both the long and short courses. Registration Fee: Long Course: $30 Short Course: $20 Walk: $15 (registration on race day add $5) November 18, 2012 Lewisburg's annual holiday event includes live music, performances, carriage ride, delicious food, holiday decorations and milk and cookies with Santa. 304.647.5667
Gristmill Grinder Half Marathon and 5K Fun Walk
Lunch Theatre at Hawks Nest - First Lady of Gossip
www.HawksNestSP.com
Lewisburg Chocolate Festival
www.LewisburgChocolateFestival.comTrail Maintenance Weekend
New River Birding Festival
Parrot Palooza
Daniel Vineyards Annual Spring Wine Festival
$10 gate fee includes all wine tastings, entertainment and a commemorative wine glass.
www.DanielVineyards.com4th Annual Big Air Blob Competition
Appalachian String Band Festival
A five-day mountaintop gathering of musicians and friends with contests, concerts, workshops, square dances, camping and hymn-sing. West Virginia masters are presented to an audience of more than 3,000 musicians and string band music lovers from around the world. Over the history of this festival, more than 20 foreign countries and 48 of the 50 states have been represented, with many returning year after year to this much-loved festival.
www.wvculture.org/stringband/index.html
New River Gorge Challenge
The New River Gorge Challenge Triathlon consists of 28.5 miles of th emost extreme whitewater, mountain biking and running in the state and the East Coast. The triathlon can be done as a relay team, solo, or raft team. If you are looking for teammates, contact us and we'll help you get a team together.
3rd Annual New River Hummingbird Festival
Oak Leaf Festival
Enjoy the annual celebration of Fall with vendors, music, crafts, quilts, fireworks and more.
www.OakLeafFestival.orgWilderness Challenge
11 th Annual New River Gorge-ous Trail Run and Walk
Holiday Open House
www.DowntownLewisburg.comGoming Soon!
