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The 23rd Annual African American Heritage and Culture Festival took place in Jefferson County over the weekend. From a parade to live music, and a memorial walk to the original site of John Brown’s Fort – the festival offered a variety of events for visitors.
It was organized by the NAACP of Jefferson County, and they say the weekend is meant to bring people together and remember the history that helped shape our country into what it is today.
The 23rd Annual Jefferson County African American Heritage Festival begins Friday, August 14 in Charles Town.
This weekend, the African American Heritage Festival takes over Charles Town, Ranson, and Harpers Ferry and runs until Sunday, August 16.
There will be a Basketball Tournament, Job Fair, and a Youth Block Party on Friday.
Saturday will feature a parade, kid’s activities, historical landmark dedications and live bands.
In Harpers Ferry Sunday, there will be a Memorial Walk to the site of John Brown’s Fort, and the festival comes to a close with a church service at the historical Curtis Freewill Baptist Church built in 1894.
The annual “Christmas in Shepherdstown” festival continues tomorrow evening. A Civil War Christmas comes to Shepherdstown this weekend, with music, dance, carriage rides, and lectures all about the town at Christmastime during the Civil War.
Saturday morning will feature the annual Shepherdstown Christmas parade. During the festival, many landmarks throughout the town will host special events.
The festival began last weekend after Thanksgiving celebrating a 21st Century celebration in Shepherdstown, the second weekend looks at the Civil War, the third looks at James Rumsey and the late 18th Century in Shepherd’s Town, and the fourth features Christmas in Mecklenburg, the original name of the town, where re-enactors will be found strolling the streets.
Other Christmas themed events will be hosted throughout the eastern panhandle during December, including Olde Tyme Christmas in Harpers Ferry, events in Berkeley Springs, and parades in Charles Town and Martinsburg.
Just in time for Halloween, the second annual Boo!Fest in Shepherdstown kicks off tomorrow night starting with a Vampire Ball.
Historic Shepherdstown is hosting a week-long festival dedicated to Halloween. Now entering its second year, Boo!Fest in Shepherdstown will feature a variety of spooky festivities all leading up to a big trick-or-treat event and Halloween concert on October 31st.
Throughout the week, Boo!Fest will have activities ranging from parades, face painting, haunted tours, ghost stories, and films. Classics like, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Miyazaki’s, Spirited Away, will be shown at the Opera House.
Shepherdstown’s assortment of shops have already been “spookified” for the festival, and many of the local restaurants will have Halloween-themed menus.
Boo!Fest events are open to all ages, with special emphasis to children and families.