FRANKFORD (WVDN) – Plans for the Frankford Autumnfest are wrapping up.
The festival will be held on Saturday, Oct 1. Organizers are finalizing details but are excited to be back this year after the two-year COVID hiatus with this family friendly, community event.
Saturday will start off with the annual pancake breakfast at the Frankford Presbyterian Church from 7 a.m. until the parade starts at 11 a.m.
The Grand Parade is always a big hit and averages 50-60 entrants each year, including floats, horses, bands, civic groups, antique cars and much more.
Line up and registration begins at 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. Categories that will be judged are bands, EMS/fire departments (judged separately), royalty (any queens or kings from the area, only those escorted via classic car/ATV, etc. will be eligible for judging), classic cars, ATVs/off road vehicles, walkers, tractors, floats and parade favorites, and equine.
Judging will be at 10 a.m., and the parade will begin promptly at 11 a.m.
The art tent will be open with various art activities for all ages, such as spin art, body art and more.
A returning favorite is the youth marketplace. This is an opportunity for children under the age of 18 who have art, crafts, jewelry, produce, etc. to display their goods and offer them for sale. There will also be face painting and inflatables – plenty to keep everyone of all ages engaged for the afternoon.
The fifth-grade students are working on heritage projects about the local area. Hours of hard work and creativity go into these projects. You will want to take time to check these out as they will be on display for the festival.
Of course, no festival is complete without food, and there will be food galore. Some of the goodies planned so far are walking tacos, loaded baked potatoes, barbecue chicken, pulled pork tacos, brisket and lots of baked goodies. For the early birds, there will also be breakfast biscuits available.
Several craft vendors are scheduled as well.
K-9 demonstrations for search and rescue, as well as the traditional squirrel hunting, and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources will be joining the festival.
Additionally, organizers are pleased to announce the return of the health fair. Many vendors and providers have reserved slots for the health fair that will be held in the cafeteria. The health fair will run from 12-3 p.m.
Also returning this year are basketball competitions. A grade appropriate foul shot competition and a 3-point shootout will begin in the gym at 1 p.m. There will be “open gym” following the competitions until 3 p.m.
Healthnet Aeromedical, which now has a base at the Greenbrier Valley Airport, will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and to allow them to become familiar with their newly acquired community. Weather permitting, they will also have their aircraft on site for viewing.
This year’s new addition is a car show.
Autumnfest organizers are very excited about this and hope this can continue each year. They want you to show off your pride and joy in the parade and are extending an invitation to participate in the car show which will being promptly following the parade. The event will take place on the school grounds, “in the circle.”
There will be drawings for prizes and goodie bags given to the first 25 registrants. There is a $15 registration fee. For more information, contact Crystal at 304-667-8173.
In addition to the car show, organizers are hopeful that a few of the antique tractors from the parade will be on display on the grounds afterwards.
The day’s live musical entertainment will kick off at 12 p.m. with Ben Hersman and The Sons of the Mountains. Following them at 1 p.m. will be Acoustic Fusion, a jazzy, blues, old rock and roll, band. They first joined Autumnfest in 2018, then known as Lady Blue.
Autumfest veterans Mud Hole Control will wrap up the live music at 2:30 p.m.
No Frankford Autumnfest would be complete without the decorated pumpkin contest, pasta art and the largest sunflower contests. Entries are due by 1 p.m. by Shelby’s Pond and judging will take place at 1:30 p.m.
You will want to make sure you take time to look at these fantastic creations. A child’s imagination is a cherished thing and they put them to the test making their pasta and pumpkin creations. Lots of hard work and imagination are put into these displays.
Speaking of Shelby’s Pond, you must take a moment to visit the Garden of Remembrance. This is a new addition to the school grounds, beside Shelby’s Pond. There have been memorial markers placed for the three students from Frankford Elementary School who tragically passed last year. There will also be a memorial table displayed for the recent loss of what was for sure, the most well-known Frankford icon of all time, Kyle Loudermilk, who operated Kyle’s Wrecker Service out of Frankford for 25 years.
The annual Frankford Ruritan Club Dinner will be in the school cafeteria from 4-7 p.m. The menu this year is spaghetti and is being offered by donation. The proceeds from this event help to fund scholarships for high school seniors from the Frankford area.
The northern division of White Sulphur Springs EMS will be on hand throughout the day for any medical attention you may need, and the Frankford Volunteer Fire Department will be on hand for questions and hand-outs available on fire safety.
The committee is still accepting registrations for food vendors, arts and crafts, parade and demonstrations, so there are likely to be other things added that are not mentioned here that you will not want to miss.
Feel free to contact Kim at 304-646-2874 for general festival information and Justin at 304-667-0917 for food concessions. If you are interested in attending as a vendor, please contact Kim or Justin accordingly and arrive at the school no later than 10 a.m. to avoid possible injury with parade spectators.
All vendors setting up for the festival should be set up and their vehicles parked by 10:30 a.m. to alleviate traffic issues with the parade and possible injury to parade spectators. Reservations and bookings for the 2023 Autumnfest are also taking place now.
Organizers would like to thank Radio Greenbrier for providing advertising sponsorship and assistance.
The committee would like to remind motorists of the following safety concerns. US Route 219 from the old car wash just north of Frankford to the US Route 219 and Anthony Creek Road intersection will be affected by the parade. The parade will take place at 11 a.m. Detours will be set up as usual. Please, be aware of persons walking near or across the roadways throughout the day.
Some seating is provided, however feel free to bring your own chair, and surely with all of these events, you will have no problem being occupied for the day.
Autumnfest organizers ask that the public refrains from calling the school as they are busy with everyday operations.
All events are subject to change without prior notice.
