Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Traditional events and new contests were part of the annual Durbin Days Heritage Festival last week. With the theme of “Country Roads, Take Me Home to Durbin, WV,” the festival attracted a great mix of locals and tourists who wanted to experience the classic fair atmosphere in a country setting.
On Main Street, budding artists could take part in free classes offered at the Durbin Arts Center, while at the former Kinder’s Market, artisans and crafters sold their wares – from handmade jewelry and home décor to savory and sweet dip mixes.
Kinder’s was also the site of the photography, art, quilting, needlework, gardening and ceramics exhibits and contests.
A variety of entries showed off the handiwork of those carrying on the traditions of crochet and quilting, as well as the art forms of photography, painting and drawing. Floral arrangements and vegetables were also included – the products of a special kind of art form – gardening.
Contest winners were as follows:
Photography
Best of Show, Carolyn Bosley, “Antique Car.”
People’s Choice, Christy Stout, “Durbin Rocket 2018.”
Landscape/Nature – first place, Christy Stout, “Durbin Rocket 2018;” second place and Queen’s Choice, Tara Warner, “Barn and Sky;” third place, Victoria Lawson, “Pink Flower.”
Animals – first place, Tessa Gum, “Kickin’ Up Dust;” second place, Tara Warner, “Cows and Snow;” and third place and Queen’s Choice, Tessa Gum, “Newborn Calf.”
Travel/Destination – first place and Queen’s Choice, Jessica Lawson, “Snowshoe Resort;” second place, Jessica Lawson, “Arizona’s Joshua Tree Forest;” and third place, Victoria Lawson, “Siesta Key’s Beach.”
People – swept by Tessa Gum, first place, “Little Old Man;” second place, “New Life;” third place, “Scubba Dubb Dubb;” and Queen’s Choice, “Flower Child.”
Transportation – first place, Carolyn Bosley, “Antique Car.”
Landscape/Nature, black and white – first place, Christy Stout, “Heavener Station Track.”
Art, adult
Best of Show, Maddie Ray, “Midsommar Temple.”
People’s Choice, Krissy Rexrode, “Mountains.”
Canvas painting – first place, Maddie Ray, “Midsommar Temple;” second place, Jessica Lawson, “Midnight Forest;” third place, Maddie Ray, “Man with Flowers;” and Queen’s Choice, Krissy Rexrode, “Mountains.”
Framed watercolor – first place, Maddie Ray, “Surreal Collage.”
Framed pen/pencil – swept by Maddie Ray, first place, “Axolotl;” second place and Queen’s Choice, “Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum;” and third place, “Priest.”
Framed painting – first place, Maddie Ray, “Apollo;” second place, Emilynn Hall, “Handsome Squidward;” third place and Queen’s Choice, Emilynn Hall, “Squidward in Space.”
Crochet – Best of Show, Queen’s Choice and People’s Choice, Carol Mullenax, full size afghan; first place, Carol Mullenax, blue and white afghan; second place, Carol Mullenax, multi-colored baby afghan; third place, Hilda Brock, multi-colored afghan.
Quilting
Best of Show and People’s Choice, Cheryl T. Dean, “Log Cabin.”
Queen’s Choice, Cheryl T. Dean, “Prairie Star.”
Baby quilt – first place, Christy Stout.
Full size quilt – first place, Cheryl T. Dean, “Log Cabin;” second place, Prairie Star;” and third place, Shirley Roach, no name.
Youth Art
Best of Show and People’s Choice, Nadiya Kerr, “Black Dog.”
Queen’s Choice, Briley Reed, “Peaceful.”
Canvas painting – first place, Briley Reed, “Peaceful;” and second place, Kambrie Bennett, “GBT.”
Framed watercolor – first place, Nadiya Kerr, “Black Dog.”
Kid’s decorated apple – first place, Bryce Taylor, “Apple Army Tank.”
Kid’s decorated potato – first place, Camryn Taylor; and second place and People’s Choice, Bryce Taylor.
Bryce Taylor also won first place in youth cucumber, squash and flowers.
Down in the East Fork Campground area, the carnival was joined by food vendors and other entertainment, including live music, a stuffed animal-making booth and a dunking booth.
Each evening had a special event – Wednesday kicked off the festival with the greased pig contest, which always attracts the youngsters who try their best to catch the slippery swine.
Thursday featured a pet show with proceeds going to the Pocahontas County Humane Society. Friday’s highlight was the firemen’s parade followed by fireworks and, of course, Saturday featured the grand parade.
Classic cars led the way through town, followed by the Pocahontas County Veterans Honor Corps. Serving as parade marshals this year were Frank and Susie Murphy, and among the floats were those honoring the memories of several individuals who left an indelible impact on the community – Robert “R.J.” Nelson, James DeHaven, Braelynn Peteete, Kaiden Stull and Mike Kane.
Winners of the Miss Durbin Days pageant rode through the parade in individual cars – Miss Durbin Days, Shayla Bennett; Teen Miss Durbin Days, Olivia Kimble; Junior Miss Durbin Days, Jenifer Taylor; and Little Miss Durbin Days, Elizabeth Sharp.
Tiny Miss Durbin Days, one-year-old Raelee Jane Gardner, rode through the parade in a motorized pink jeep and while it looked like she was driving it herself, it was really being controlled by her dad, Jake Gardner, with a remote control.
Marching through the parade were the Country Beauty Twirlers, of Junior, and Durbin’s very own Mountain Majorettes. The group of baton twirlers is four strong and did a great job considering they formed just a few months ago.
The parade also included several floats and vehicles from local businesses, many of which are part of the lumber industry that has been part of the area’s economy for more than a century.
The festival culminated with live music by Nite Phix, a cornhole tournament and more fireworks.
Be sure the country roads you travel bring you to Durbin Days Heritage Festival again next year.
It’s an experience like nothing else.