Treat your mother to dinner and some well-deserved fun during Mother’s Day Weekend at West Virginia State Parks. Many parks are preparing a variety of special events and delicious Sunday buffet options. Mom will appreciate some good food she didn’t have to cook herself and some entertainment as well.
“Mother’s Day buffets are popular with area residents and visitors,” said Rob Gilligan, Supt. at Blackwater Falls State Park. “It’s very pretty this time of the year here, and our motto is that this is the place where the dining rivals the view.” The park’s lodge is located in Tucker County within view of Blackwater canyon. Blackwater Falls also will host the 48th Annual Wildlflower Pilgrimage this weekend.
Other state parks with Mother’s Day buffets include North Bend, Chief Logan Lodge, PIpestem, Canaan Valley, North Bend, Hawks Nest, Stonewall, Tygart, and Cacapon state parks. “Many people are surprised to learn that we also have restaurant operations at Holly River and Watoga state parks,” said Ken Caplinger, State Parks Chief. “The Pretty Penny at Watoga and Holly River’s Restaurant both feature locally-grown produce and made-from- scratch entrees, breads and desserts.”
Information regarding Mother’s Day dining options, including menus for many of the restaurants, is available at www.wvstateparks.com and clicking on “Restaurants” or by viewing the individual park Web sites. Other May 9 weekend events and activities at WV state parks include:
May 8-9 – 15th Annual Bluegrass Festival at North Bend State Park (304) 643-2931
Two days, Friday and Saturday, of music featuring 11 bands and a variety of crafts exhibits and sales, on Saturday only, are planned at North Bend. Friday tickets are $15 and Saturday tickets are $20. The event is held at North Bend State Park amphitheater. It is a no-alcohol event. “The Hart Brothers” and “No One You Know” bands are substituting for The Vaughns and Laurel Creek bands that were scheduled. The bands performing are:
Friday, May 8
5 p.m. Rocky Mountain Bluegrass
6 p.m. Once Blue
7 p.m. East Run
8 p.m. The Hart Brothers Band
9 p.m. The Hillbilly Gypsies
Saturday, May 9
Noon Rocky Mountain Bluegrass
1 p.m. Sheppard Brothers
2 p.m. Buck and Company
3 p.m. East Run
4 p.m. Once Blue
5 p.m. Glenville State College
6 p.m. Idletymes
7 p.m. No One You Know
8 p.m. The Hart Brothers
9 p.m. The Hillbilly Gypsies
May 9 – Migration Celebration at Little Beaver State Park (304) 466-4683 or online www.tracwv.org
Three Rivers Avian Center and friends sponsor this kids and family day event featuring
exhibits and displays, crafts time and storytelling with Granny Sue, Birding Walk with birder Bev Delidow, Magic and Juggling with WV DNR Biologist Jim Fregonara, Nature Walk with New River Gorge National Park Ranger Jodi French-Burr, Bug Hunt with WV Dept. of Agriculture Entomologist Terry Carrington, Photography Skills Workshop with WV State Photographer Steve Rotsch, Outdoor Raptor Photo Shoot and featuring birds of prey with Three Rivers Avian. The day’s activities are free and run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Three Rivers Avian Center
May 9 – Traditional Music Day at Prickett’s Fort State Park (304) 363-3030 info@prickettsfort.org or online www.prickettsfortstatepark.com
The Pricketts Fort Foundation organizes a Traditional Music Day and features musicians scheduled to perform inside the Visitor Center from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as well as informal jamming in the park. There is no charge for the entertainment. Tours of the Fort and Job Prickett House require a ticket. Performers scheduled are: Happy Strings, Charlie Merritt & Chris Fox, Mountain William Strings, Almost a Song, Mark Crabtree, Tunes and Traditions, Les Caraher, Dulcimer Dames, Elmer Rich and Friends, Dan Cunningham, Wha-Ke-We-NN?, Froggy Holler String Band, Josh Wanstreet & Scott Phillips and more. A complete list and times are listed on the foundation Web site, www.prickettsfort.org.
May 9 – Spring Migration Bird Count at Pipestem Resort State Park
Contact: Naturalist Jim Phillips (304) 466-1800 x. 344 or online www.pipestemresort.com/special.html
A day devoted to bird watching and being outdoors is Naturalist Jim Phillips idea of a great weekend. Hikes and walks are planned throughout the weekend and anyone interested in joining in and helping to record the search for 100 species of birds in one day is welcome. There is no admission or entry fee and daily activities are open to the public.
May 9 – Bil Lepp – Dinner Theater, No Lie! At Tygart Lake State Park (304) 265-6144 or online www.tygartlake.com
A winner of the West Virginia Liars Contest, storyteller and author Bil Lepp tells tall tales written by himself and his brother. His outrageous stories about Buck-dog, fishing, politics, trains and many others will have the audience roaring with laughter. Lepp appears at the last Dinner Theater of Spring 2009 at Tygart Lake located near Grafton. Overnight packages that includes the dinner and tales and dinner and tales only are available. “That’s tales, not tails as in Buck Dog or fancy suits,” according to Brennon O’Sullivan, Assistant Superintendent at Tygart Lake. This special event is casual and meant to be a full-filled evening. Reservations are required.
**DNR**
Hoy Murphy
Public Information Office
(304) 558-2003 ext. 365
hoy.r.murphy@wv.gov
Contact:
Sissie Summers
Parks and Recreation Section
(304) 558-2764
sissiesummers@wvdnr.gov
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