The Scoop on October Events in Southern West Virginia

October is a fun-filled month in southern West Virginia. Our mountains are covered in beautiful hues of red, orange, and yellow. Rafting season still has a few days left, and fall festivals and events are so plentiful you’ll have trouble choosing which ones to attend.

Here’s what’s happening around southern West Virginia through the rest of October.

Big Events

•                Bridge Day – Saturday October 20. This annual event on the New River Gorge Bridge is the state’s largest single-day festival, with close to 70,000 folks making the trip to Fayetteville. This year’s event boasts a catapult, a BASE jump wedding, and plenty of other activities to fill out the day.

•                 New River Train Excursion – October 20-21 and 27-28. This is a 300 mile round trip ride on the rails from Huntington to Hinton, right through the heart of the New River Gorge during peak fall colors. The train arrives in Hinton just after noon, allowing you to enjoy the Hinton Railroad Days festival for a few hours before heading back to Huntington. This is an extremely popular trip and there are only a few coach seats left for the train on the 28th. Book now!

•                Hinton Railroad Days – October 20-21 and 27-28. This festival celebrates the contribution the railroad made to the area. Plenty of games, crafts, vendors, and food make this a great way to spend a day.

•                11th Annual Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce Women’s Expo – October 26-27 at the Brushfork Armory. Two days of entertainment, including a fashion show, music, and over 100 vendors, make this a fun filled woman’s weekend.

•                ACE’s New River Gorge-ous Trail Run – October 27 at ACE Adventure Resort. For both  serious athletes and casual competitors alike, this trail run is a wonderful way to enjoy the Gorge. Runs of 13.5 and 7.5 miles and a 4.5 mile walk are scheduled.

Special Performances

October also offers some great live performances here in southern West Virginia.

•                Ralph Stanley and Seldom Scene – October 20 at the Chuck Mathena Center in Princeton. This is Bluegrass music at its finest.

•                The Crucible – October 19-20 at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg. This Tony Award winning play is Arthur Miller’s classic retelling of the Salem Witch Trials. Very fitting for the season.

•                “Hello Dolly”- October 26-27 at the Clay Center in Charleston. This classic Broadway romantic comedy is a must-see.

We’re well into October, but there are still plenty of things to do and see. And we didn’t even mention the “spooktacular” happenings coming up soon. Check out our blog early next week for details on area Halloween events.