By Debra Minor Wilson
FAIRMONT — Pricketts Fort State Park is bringing back two favorite activities and introducing a new one.
The 2007 Fall Festival will debut Saturday and Sunday, celebrating life at the reconstructed 18th century civilian refuge fort, originally built in 1774 by Captain Jacob Prickett on the frontier of western Virginia.
“It’s a new event. If people like it, we’ll do it again,” said Melissa May, Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation executive director.
Demonstrations will be given on historic gardening, and making apple butter, candle and soap ... “all traditional fall activities getting ready for winter,” May said.
A Native American interpreter will discuss special programming about traditions from the native community, such as ceremonies, dance and music.
In addition to the festival, apple butter will be sold and an antique sale will be held at the Visitor Center, offering items ranging from small household items to furniture. Refreshments will be available.
“We’ve had a lot of inquiries about the festival,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll get some nice weather for a good turnout. And even if the weather is poor, many activities are inside, so that won’t keep them from continuing.”
Hours for both events are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 12-4:30 p.m. Sunday.
There is no charge to visit the antique vendors in the Visitor Center, but a tour of the historic and festival attractions requires a ticket. Fees are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children between 6 and 12. Children under 6 and Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation Members are admitted free.
On Oct. 26-28, the 18th century fall rendezvous — a favorite activity of historic re-enactors and history lovers — returns.
“It’s a way to get them together and have an overnight experience that’s authentic,” May said. “Everybody is expected to have correct clothing and camp gear that’s authentic to the time period, which is the late 1700s.”
The rendezvous will take place on the grounds and within the reconstructed fort, and is open to anyone who portrays the 18th century with period appropriate camp, dress and wares.
Special activities for encampment participants include trick or treating on Saturday night, a haunted graveyard, pumpkin-carving contest, mask-making contest, and a pot-luck dinner and dance inside the fort. Cost to camp is $10 per person. Call 363-3030 for more information or to register.
Hours are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday. There is no charge to visit the encampment, but a tour of the fort and Job House requires a ticket.
Fees are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children between 6 and 12. Children under 6 and Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation Members are always free. Hours are from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12-4:30 p.m. Sunday. The last ticket is sold at 4 p.m.
Following the weekend event, historical attractions of the park close for the season and reopen for tours on April 16, 2008.
The park will be open the annual 18th Century Christmas Market Christmas, set for Nov. 23-25 and Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
Activities include live music during a special winter tour of the Fort and Job Prickett House. Buildings will be decorated for the season, interpreters will be on hand with information and demonstrations about 18th and 19th century holiday traditions, and the museum shop will feature traditional gift items in the visitor center. Tours of the fort require a ticket and visitor center is open without additional charge.
Traditional wassail and ginger cookies will be available, and the gift shop will remain open. Christmas Market hours will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12-5 p.m. Sunday.
“The primary attractions are the traditional artists who are selling their wares,” from jewelry and scrimshaw, to furniture and wine, May said.
“The fort will be decorated in the holiday tradition of the time period,” she said. “And a lot of people don’t understand that for the 18th century, that was pretty minimal.”
Interpretive talks will be given on fort holiday traditions, she said.
Soup and cornbread will be sold at the tavern inside the fort.
“Our goal is to convey the history of the time period (of the fort and the Job Prickett House), which is the 18th and 19th centuries,” May said.
“The fall festival and Christmas market are seasonal events, and are not part of the normal summer interpretation program. In the summer, we have artists doing things typical of those months.
“In the fall and winter, things change dramatically. You get to see how daily life changes based on weather and climate, and holiday and religious traditions.
“The Christmas market draws people from many states every year. It’s the first weekend after Thanksgiving and many families come as an alternative to mall shopping.”
Pricketts Fort State Park is located two miles off I-79 at exit 139. For more information, call 363-3030 or visit www.prickettsfort.org.
E-mail Debra Minor Wilson at dwilson@timeswv.com.
