VOLCANO - If you go by the number of bumper stickers and brochures handed out, Volcano Days was a hug success on Saturday.
Lorrie Arthur, park attendant, said thousands came to the first full day of the antique engine show and festival at Mountwood Park, just off U.S. 50 east of Parkersburg.
Saturday's weather was great for the festival, a mostly clear day that was not too hot or too cold, she said. The festival concludes today.
Article Photos
Photo by Jeffrey Saulton
Abbie Young uses a blowtorch on a recent chainsaw carving during the 24th annual Volcano Days Antique Engine Show and Festival.
"We've given out 5,000 bumper stickers today and that tells you how many vehicles have been through the gate today," Arthur said. "We've also given out 3,000 of our 'Volcano Days' books."
Volcano Days commemorates Volcano, the oil boomtown that burned down in 1879 but at one time filled the valley with houses, shops and other businesses.
Arthur said this year's edition of the festival had more vendors than before.
"We sold out of spaces this year," she said. "I had to put people in places we didn't have marked for booths."
Arthur said the festival had the usual mix of vendors at their first Volcano Days, and returnees.
"We have a lot of new vendors along with our returnees. We have a lot from out of town, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, many places," she said. "We have almost anything you'd want - crafts, tools and more."
Arthur said every trip to the Stiles Mansions on Saturday sold out. One new item for this year is the Volcano Museum, located in the visitors center.
Eddie Philips, owner of Ma's Country Fixins trailer from Washington, Pa., said he was participating in the Mountwood Park event for the 11th year.
"We come to many festivals in West Virginia," he said. "We've been here, we've been to the Parkersburg Homecoming and festivals in Wheeling and others."
Linda McCumbers, of Waverly, was a returning vendor at the festival. She has been coming to Volcano Days 10 years.
"I love to come here, it's one of the best," she said. "You have a variety, a little of everything, crafts, antiques and you meet a lot of new people."
Second-year vendor Peggy Williams, of Marietta, agreed the festival is a good one for her business, Grandma's Attic.
"A friend told me about it," she said. "It's a great festival."
Arthur said the annual Volcano Days reunion picnic started by former residents of Volcano, their relatives, descendants and others more than 100 years ago will return today.
The 120th Volcano Reunion Picnic will begin with a covered dish dinner at 5 p.m. today in the administration building basement. The dinner is free to the public and everyone is welcome. In its history the reunion picnic has missed only one year, 2005. It was started by a group of ladies who lived in Volcano and was always held on Aug. 16, before becoming part of the Volcano Days Festival.
