Opening Ceremony of 2009

Folk Festival

The bell ringing is the official start of the West Virginia State Folk Festival. Thanks to Deb Martzal and Bruce Farmer, this bell was purchased by the Festival and now is an integral part of the opening of the opening ceremony.

At 4:00 P.M. our official Folk Festival bell starts the celebration. The GSC bells ring, the Baptist and Methodist church join in, and all the folks bringing bells chime in for 2 minutes.


Sadie Kelble opens the ceremony. She welcomes the folks and introduces a few special folks that make the opening a special event.

Carolyn Kusick presents the story of the Country Store Museum and especially those volunteers that manned and upgraded the store over the years. This information can be accessed on-line when you go to www.folkfestival.org and click on link to the 2009 Folk Festival newspaper. The article was written by Brenda McCartney and can be found on page 38 of the paper.

Maxine Smith is the sister of Carolyn and reads a Folk Festival poem by Paula Mazzagotte, Maxine's daughter. (Page 3 of the Folk Festival newspaper)

Rosabelle Cummingham tells of Gilmer County's past as seen through the eyes of her mother. Her mother lived an amazing long life. She was 105 years old when she died. She was in good health and mentally alert until her passing. What stories she could tell! From the first time she saw a car and the ride on an airplane before her passing.


Judy had a special presentation.


Don and Sadie Kelble were presented the Volunteer of the Year award.

The singing of The West Virginia Hills always closes the ceremony along with Buddy Griffin and some special guests.



Bruce is using his head. The bell is returned to the Country Store Museum and gets to rest until next year.