Published: August 23, 2007 05:53 pm      

The fun begins at summer’s end

Labor Day Weekend celebrates football, festivals and food

FAIRMONT — The unofficial end to summer, Labor Day Weekend in North Central West Virginia is a time for grilling dogs and burgers, maybe putting the garden to bed, taking one last spin on the river.

But if you want more to do, you’ve come to the right place. Labor Day Weekend in North Central West Virginia ... and the week after ... offers a wide variety of activities sure to please everyone.



• The 29th annual West Virginian Italian Heritage Festival, Aug. 31- Sept. 2.

On Labor Day Weekend for 29 years, the annual West Virginian Italian Heritage Festival has been celebrating the culture and legacy of the Italian population in North Central West Virginia.

“The festival brings families together,” said Rachel L. Torchia, executive director.

“It’s a tradition for a lot of families. They plan their vacations around the festival, not only from Clarksburg but also from other places.”

The festival has been rated “One of the top 100 events in North America” by the ABA and consistently draws crowds of 100,000 visitors each year.

Several prefestival events have already taken place. The ninth annual 5K Run in Uptown Clarksburg was held July 28. The 19th annual pasta cook-off, sponsored by Demus Italian Specialty Foods, was held Aug. 25.

The WVIFH Golf Tournament will be held Wednesday at the Bridgeport Country Club, presented by Harry Green 7 Acres.

The honorees dinner will be held Thursday night and the festival properly begins at noon Friday with the coronation of Regina Maria XXIX, Sarah Grisso of Morgantown. The grand parade will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday and the festival concludes at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Each day headline entertainers will perform at the Chase Bank main stage in downtown Clarksburg: These Three Tenors at 8:45 p.m. Friday; Joey Dee and the Starliters at 8:30 p.m. Saturday; and Fred Travalena at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Previous entertainers have included Tony Danza, Kathy Mattea, Jo Dee Messina, Dion and Fabian.

All entertainment is free of charge.

“We keep it that way because we want everyone to feel welcome at the festival,” she said.

For a complete schedule of events, call 622-7314; e-mail benvenuto79@wvihf.com; or visit www.wvihf.com.



• Stonewall Jackson Heritage Arts & Crafts Jubilee. Aug. 31-Sept. 3, Jackson’s Mill, Weston.

“Heritage” is a key word at another Labor Day Weekend ... the Stonewall Jackson Heritage Arts and Crafts Jubilee.

Here you will be treated to four days of heritage crafts, food, music and more, at the picturesque Jackson’s Mill near Weston, boyhood home of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson.

The first Jubilee took place in 1974 as a small get-together of musicians and crafters. The event is now a four-day celebration of the best of West Virginia’s arts and crafts.

The core of the Jubilee is the craft show and old-time music concerts housed in the barn area of the mill. More than 200 craftspeople bring their wares and an equal number of invited musicians take the stage for the four day event.

Historical re-enactments and an encampment provided by the Appalachian Rangers Muzzleloading Club allow Jubilee visitors to catch a glimpse of central West Virginia life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

You can also tour the 200-year-old McWhorter Cabin and Blaker’s Mill. The mill has been restored to working order and visitors can buy the cornmeal and wheat flour ground here.

A local glass manufacturer provides glassblowing demonstrations by its employees during the four-day event.

The West Virginia University Woodchopping Team will show just how much wood a woodchuck can chuck during their woodchopping demonstrations.

Antique buffs will enjoy the unique Antique Engine Show. For the youngsters, there is a marble shooting tournament.

West Virginians’ contemporary heritage is celebrated through both the Fine Arts Exhibition and Photo Show. Central West Virginia’s finest artists and photographers exhibit their works for Jubilee visitors. More traditional shows include the popular quilt and needlearts shows.

The Jubilee hosts the West Virginia Pie Baking Contest, heritage dancing, and more. Top off all of this fun with culinary delights which include blackberry cobbler, pork and chicken barbecue, homemade french fries or pancakes and sausages.

The festival attracts close to 45,000 people every year.

For more information, call 1-800-296-1863 or visit www.jubileewv.com.



• WVU Mountaineer football, Sept. 2, Mylan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown.

If it’s been too long since you’ve shouted, “Let’s gooooooooo, Mountaineers,” start practicing now and get that tailgating basket ready, because West Virginia University kicks off its 2007-08 football season against Western Michigan at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Mylan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown.

Additional home games are against East Carolina (Sept. 22), Mississippi State (Oct. 20), Louisville (Nov. 8), Connecticut (Nov. 24) and Pittsburgh (Dec. 1).

The Mountaineers hope to repeat their winning season from last year, when they defeated Georgia Tech 38-35 in January to win the Gator Bowl.

For the second straight year, and third out of the last four, WVU will start the season in the AP Top 10 ... ranked third this year, the highest preseason ranking for the Mountaineers.

And if you’re not that fond of football, come to the home games to root on The Pride of West Virginia — the WVU Marching Band — as it performs its popular pregame and half-time shows.

For more information, call 1-800-WVUGAME.



• CMA of West Virginia Fall Festival to be Sept. 7-8

Countless people know who Dolly Parton is. And those in the know, know about one of her little sisters, Stella Parton.

Singer, songwriter, actress, chef and author all rolled up into one person, Stella Parton is the headlining act of CMA of West Virginia Fall Festival to be held Sept. 7-8 at Sagebrush Round-Up in conjunction with the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Bunner Ridge.

She will perform with her band, Estrogen Express, at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Music will be performed by various acts all throughout that day from 1-11 p.m.

On Friday, Sept. 7, catch bluegrass bands Hardly Ever Bluegrass, Whittaker Station, Vearle Ray & The Groovin’ Brothers, Everready Bluegrass Band.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 in advance, and one ticket is good for both shows. They may be purchased in advance at the following Marion County locations: Middletown Mall Service Desk (363-6493), Cotton Patch in Farmington (825-6226) and Rider Pharmacy (366-2710).

Food is available on premises; no alcohol is allowed. For more information, call 363-4864; 986-2158.

E-mail Debra Minor Wilson at dwilson@timeswv.com.