Trending
CAIRO -- Nature and food enthusiasts alike will have the opportunity to participate in North Bend State Park's 52nd Nature Wonder Weekend starting Friday with events wrapping up Sunday morning.
According to the West Virginia State Parks website, this event is "North America's premier and longest-running wild foods event," and is open for ages 4 and up.
This year's theme is "In My Backyard," and will focus on foraging education and knowledge, said Wendy Greene from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The event will include guest speakers, nature walks and presentations along with hikes and workshops.
Attendees will be able to show off their cooking skills at the wild food social on Saturday where they can share their dishes made from wild foods. A few competitions will take place for the event.
On Friday evening, contests for entrees and cake will take place. For the entree contest, the prize is a $50 state park gift card in commemoration of Hazel Wood. The winner of the cake contest will win $50 provided by Bill Faust.
Saturday evening will feature the wild drink contest where the winner will take home the honorary Maxine Scarbro Friendship Cup.
Guest speakers will include Vicki Shufer, an herbalist, naturalist and forager from Virginia Beach who will speak on Saturday. David Hawkins, owner of Mother Earth Foods in Parkersburg, will speak Friday evening. Hawkins will provide information on identifying medicinal herbs and offer a question and answer session.
Greene hopes that this year's event will grow in numbers. "We always want to see the group growing and educating them," Greene said.
She said the event will give an opportunity for people with similar interests to learn from each other.
Appalachian-style buffet meals featuring home style cooking will be available at the North Bend Lodge Restaurant over the weekend. Registration for the event is $35 and multiple packages are available for food and lodgings.
Registration includes all activities and wild food tastings and is available on site beginning at 2 p.m. Friday. It is recommended to call ahead of time to lodging. For more information, contact Wendy Greene at 304-558-2754.
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.