17th Virginia Encampment near courthouse
Visitors enjoy old car show
Bed races liven up the day
Wirt's Pioneer Day at Elizabeth has become one of the region's best attended community events.
The 7th annual Pioneer Day is sponsored by the Daughters of American Pioneers today in remembrance of Wirt County's heritage.
The day is designed around the rural life traditions of Wirt and regional ancestors to help keep their memories alive.
Activities will be available throughout the day for young and old.
"If you show up early, join the Daughters for sausage gravy and biscuits on the museum lawn. If your tummy yearns for pancakes the Hi-Y will be flipping some over the open fire at the back of the court house," says Carole Menefee.
Sandy Koncir will be on hand to demonstrate knitting. Other demonstrations will be basket weaving by Wanda Wayne, and goat milking by the Appalachian Goat Association.
Carl Life and Mike West will have their goats available for petting. Jack and Sue Simmons will be grinding some corn meal, and will be selling their homemade molasses to spread on fresh baked cornbread.
There is a good selection of items for lunch. The Woman's Club is serving baked potatoes at their booth. The Pisgah United Methodist Women will be selling hot dogs, apple butter and baked goods. The Eastern Star Chapter has tacos-in-a-bag, or for a sit-down meal, visit the Pioneers at the museum for a meal of beans and corn bread.
Several popular groups will offer Bluegrass Music from the stage and the Wirt County Bluegrass Association will be jamming on the corner and selling steak hoagies.
The Middle School Dancers will be demonstrating dance steps at 5:00 p.m. If you stay until 6:00 p.m., you can join Tom Poe and shake a leg at the street dance.
The two oldest historical buildings in Elizabeth, the Museum and the Little Kanawha Hotel, will open for tours at 10:00 a.m. Visit with Bill and Roger Whited to hear about and listen to the sounds of the "hit and miss" engines.
Gary Whited will be displaying his antique gasoline blow torches. Johnny Boston will also be on hand to show some antique tractors, and oil field equipment.
Visitors should take time to view the antique cars on the Wirt High School parking lot.
West Virginia played a major part in the Civil War. Michael Myers, Union Officer, will be displaying his Civil War artifacts. Dennis Carder and other local reenactors will be representing the South with the 19th VA and 17th VA Confederate Calvary.
Listen for the sound of gunfire, the Confederates will be encamped on the grassy lot beside Wirt High School and a skirmish might just erupt.
Clear the Elizabeth streets for the Bed Race at 3:00 p.m.
The Two Runs Baptist church will be having a Corn Hole Bag Tournament on the Museum Lawn, or you might want to participate in the Cannon Ball Throw.
The Coplin Memorial Clinic will have a Bounce House set up for the younger crowd.
The Wirt Volunteer Fire Department booth will be selling tickets for prizes that will be given away throughout the evening at the Spaghetti Dinner and Mini-Extravaganza from 5:00-8 p.m.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Music and Stage Area
11:00 - 11:15 A.M. Opening - Bob Stanley
12:00 - 12:30 P.M. New Picture
12:30 - 1:00 P.M. TBA
1:00 - 1:30 P.M. Old Time Gospel Four
1:30 - 2:00 P.M. Steve and The Boys
2:00 - 2:30 P.M. Â Â John and Guess WHO?
2:30 - 3:00 P.M. Calhoun County Cousins
3:00 - 3:30 P.M. Â The Mellow Tones
3:30 - 4:00 P.M. Country Mix
4:00 - 4:30 P.M. Union Valley
4:30 - 5:00 P.M. Music Friends
5:00 - 6:00 P.M. LuAnn McVey's Middle School Dancers
6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Street Dancing with Tom Poe
Special Events
9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Car Show - Wirt High School Parking Lot
10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Beauchamp-Newman Museum Tours
11:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Little Kanawha Hotel Tours
5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Spaghetti Dinner & Mini-Extravaganza
Other Activities
1:00 P.M. Two Runs Baptist Church - Corn Hole Bag Tournament -Â
Museum Lawn
2:00 P.M. Cannon Ball Throw - Museum
3:00 P.M. Bed Race - Mulberry Street
All day Coplin Memorial Clinic - Children's Bounce House
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