Laura Quinn Hacker, age 3, gets her steps down at the
square-dancing platform Saturday night. She is the
daughter of Josh and Sarah Hacker of Jane Lew; and the
granddaughter of Bob and Becky Minigh of Cedar Creek.
(Photos by Drew Moody)
The 61st Annual West Virginia State Folk Festival
is now a part of history.
The heat and humidity was stifling, perhaps contributing
to what appeared to be reduced attendance this year.
Despite the weather, nothing dimmed the enthusiasm
of the evening square-dancers downtown.
Glenville State College hosted the annual under and
over 50 banjo and fiddle contests.
In the over-50 division, Ivydale's John Morris walked
away with two First-Place ribbons in the fiddle and banjo
contests. Betty Vornbrock of Hillsville, VA, took second in
fiddle, and Carl Baron of Gwynned, PA, captured third.
John Morris' fiddle and banjo prowess earned
him first place honors with both instruments.
Rounding out the over-50 banjo winners were Bob Smakula of Elkins taking second. Carl Baron took the third place award.
Erynn Marshall, of Galax, VA, captured second in
the under-50 fiddle contest with her spirited tunes.
Perennial favorite in the under-50 division, Andy Fitzgibbon of Elkins also took home two first place ribbons for his fiddle and banjo prowess. Erynn Marshall of Galax, VA, took second place
fiddle honors. Scott Prouty of Maryland took home the third prize.
In the under-50 banjo contest, in addition to Fitzgibbon's first place honors, Chad Ashworth of Nitro, WV, captured second. Anna Roberts Gevalt of Virginia took third.
Anna Roberts Gavalt of Virginia took home
third-place honors for her banjo performance.
The Fine Arts Center evening music programs Friday and Saturday included performances by Mack Samples and the Samples Brothers, George Daugherty "the Earl of Elkview," and Daniel Rothwell.
Elkview attorney, George Daugherty, is perhaps best
known to fans as "The Earl of Elkview." He's traveled
throughout the U.S. and Europe playing music and
storytelling. Here he plays the song "Danny Boy"
using only a fiddle bow and a cross-cut saw blade.
Daniel Rothwell played selections from his newly
released CD he made with Jesse McReynolds.
Rothwell and his grandfather, Thomas Maupin, are the subjects of a documentary film that premiered Sunday night on the Documentary Channel. Maupin is a nationally known flat-foot style buckdancer. "Let Your Feet Do the Talkin'" will air again Monday, June 28 at 9:30 p.m. on the Documentary Channel.
Street music jams are a common sight
everywhere during Folk Festival weekend. | 
