The Festival Begins!

The WV State Folk Festival begins with a bell ringing and welcoming. Fran Schmetzer (above) is always there leading the bell ringing. Sadie Kelble, President of the Folk Festival, welcomes the Festival goers. She is an amazing woman! She is holding the WV State Folk Festival newspaper for this year. It is on-line at the Festival website www.wvfolkfestival.org.



My good wife introduced the 2008 Gilmer County Belle. These are special ladies who are honored at the Festival. There are representatives throughout WV. Each county may send one lady and she has to be at least 70 years young. Our Gilmer County Belle this year is Doris Norman.


The Folk Festival also gives special recognition awards. This year we had two volunteers honored. First Helen James has worked hard with the Belle program and is a great supporter of the Festival.

The second was Tommy Luzader. Tommy for years helped construct the dance platform and called the square dances.


When the ceremony is completed with the singing of the WV Hills, then officially the Fetival begins and the Country Store is open for business.


We leave you on Thursday night with the first of three evenings of square dancing. Our Gilmer County Belle, Doris, is in the white shirt.