KINGWOOD — Saturday was a day of music and fun for Preston County residents who traveled to Kingwood to attend the city’s first Summerfest.
“This is the largest street festival we have had,” said Rhonda Ridenour, a member of the Kingwood Blueprint Community “We have 36 vendors as well as food trucks and live music. All of the vendors and musicians are from Preston County.”
Ridenour said live music included Storm Creek Rising, Paul Berger and Brandon Tucker and Chris Bolyard.
She said not all of the events were for adults — there were inflatables and Touch the Truck. She said some of the vehicles included in the event came from the armory, as well as tractors and a city police car. Ridenour said for the adults, there was a car show and the farmer’s market.
Drawings were held throughout the day for $2,200 worth of gift cards from local merchants. Rindenout said the gift cards will get people into the local shops so they can see what the merchants have to offer.
“The Blueprint Community tries to do three events a year,” she said, “Business Trick or Treat in October, a Christmas party and parade, and Summerfest.”
Ridenour said although The Kingwood Blueprint Community has only Kingwood in its name, members are from all over Preston County.
Among the vendors were Stephanie Owens and her daughter Isabella selling handmade suckers, hot and cold drink mugs, and crocheted items.
The Kingwood Women’s Club offered shoppers the opportunity sign up to win a quilt. The quilt was sewn by club president, Linda Westbrook, and quilted by Patty Kenyon. Westbrook said money from the drawing would go to the club’s scholarship fund and other community projects.
Katheryn Carter, from visitmountaineercountry.com, said she went to the event to promote the Preston County page on Facebook.
Ariel Buric and Kim Liston, representing Preston Memorial Hospital, said they were there to provide information about the hospital’s new one-day joint replacement program. They were also handing out pens, cooling towels, ice packs and information about ticks and snake bites.
Alix Evans and Debbie Braham, from Raymond Wolfe Catholic Community Charities, were holding a drawing for WVU football tickets, Hovatter’s Zoo child season passes, men’s and women’s haircuts, and a pool pass for the Kingwood City pool.
Aaron Johnson and Rhonda Taylor, representing the Kingwood Public Library, were showcasing some of the summer programs. Johnson said 135 children had already signed up for the summer reading program, which is open to everyone from Pre-K to adult. The library also offers game night and adult paint night. Information about the programs can be found at kingwoodpubliclibrary.com.
Polly Williams, Lisa McDonald and Josh Layton, from Misfit Creations, a local family business, had a display of wooden items, sublimation items, homemade candy and cookies. Sublimation is a method of transferring a design into a material or fabric using ink and heat.
“We’re a family business,” Williams said. “My husband isn’t here today but he helps with the business too.”
Jennifer Shaffer, volunteer supervisor from Mon County CASA for Kids, and Leah Turner, volunteer supervisor for Preston County CASA for Kids, provided information about the organization.
“We try to go to all of the events we can to spread awareness,” Shaffer said. “We are also looking for volunteers, especially for Preston County.
Information about Mon and Preston CASA for kids can be found at casaforkidsmpc.org/.
