By DARLENE J. SWIGER
The Exponent Telegram
NUTTER FORT, W.Va. — The West Virginia Blackberry Festival opened Thursday and continues through Saturday at Clarksburg City Park in Nutter Fort with activities for the entire family.
(Photo by Darlene J. Swiger)
Linda Griffith, vice president of the festival, said festival organizers will sell about 400 pies and cobblers this weekend, in addition to other vendors offering tasty treats.
“The crowd is picking up nice for the first evening,” Griffith said. “It is great weather. We are getting packed for the evening live music by Cody Wickline and Rick K.”
“We have about 40 who pre-registered for the 8:30 a.m. race. People can register Saturday morning from 7-8 a.m. We expect about 200 to participate,” 5K Race Chair Erin Atkins said.
Griffith noted the festival has a wide array of vendors this year, featuring everything from primitives and crafts to fresh vegetables and homemade goodies.
Robin and Russ Scotchell of Shinnston attend the festival every year to buy a blackberry cobbler.
“They are made by Home Industry Bakery. These are the good ones,” Robin Scotchell said.
Russell Sandy was manning a booth for Christian Apostolic Church in North View.
“We have been here five or six years. We offer pepperoni rolls, zucchini bread and blackberry galettes. We also have wood crafts,” Sandy said. “The proceeds will be used to build a new church in Lost Creek. We already bought the property.
Sandy said it is a nice family festival with something for everyone and a lot of good food.
Julie Garvin of Dance Unlimited was selling slices of homemade blackberry cobbler and pie topped with ice cream.
Allesandra St. Clair of Clarksburg has been attending the festival for 10 years.
“My favorite food is Audia’s hoagies. The live music is great, and I just like seeing everybody,” St. Clair said as her one-year-old daughter, Avery, ate a piece of pie.
The Nutter Fort Lions Club, which was formed six years ago, has been participating in the festival for five years to raise funds for the club’s many community service projects.
“We sell brooms, mops and dishcloths, and the money is used to buy glasses, for eye exams, food banks, eye surgery and hearing aids,” Ken Shahan said. “We are the largest community service organization in the world with 1.45 million members.
Blackberry Festival entertainment on Friday will be the Ed Davisson Band at 7 p.m., followed by Shades of Blue at 9 p.m.
Saturday will feature music throughout the day, with Ryan Cain and the Ables and Motown Sound of Touch closing out the evening, followed by fireworks at 10:30 p.m.
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