Cindy Sandeno
Contributing Writer
Enjoy live music. Create unique art. Learn about woodturning and make a vase. Meet West Virginia snakes. Enter our Hop ‘N’ Go Horse Races. Get Fairy Hair Extensions. Enjoy the Farmers Market. Have a snow cone and support Pocahontas County High School athletes. Score specials at downtown businesses. Do it all Friday, September 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Discovery Junction and downtown Marlinton.
This will be the last First Friday event of 2022, and we are going out with a bang!
Steel Away will take to the Discovery Junction Stage at 5:30 p.m., and they will blow you away. Steel Away is the main full band performance group from CB Studios in Morgantown. This all-female steel drum band was formed in 2007 and includes three leads, two double seconds, two guitar/cello, one tenor bass and two bass. They perform various musical styles including traditional Island, classic and pop rock, Latin, jazz and classical. You do not want to miss these ladies!
Describing the sound of a steel drum band is difficult. Steel drums have a very distinct timbre that conjures the warmth often associated with the tropics, while its silvery melody prickles the skin like a cool breeze coming in from the ocean. You’ll imagine tall, swaying palms, scattered ripe coconuts on white sand, and a sun so bright you don’t squint — you just close your eyes and let its rays overcome you.
There will also be several opportunities to make art at the First Friday event. Woodworker Stan Cook will dem-onstrate how he uses a lathe and hand tools to create beautiful wood pieces that are artistic and useful. He will also guide you as you make your own small wooden vase. Sharp tools are involved, so a minimum age of 12 is required for this activity and anyone under 18 will require guardian permission and supervision. Stan is a member of the Pocahontas County Artisans Co-op, and he believes that art can invigorate the soul.
You can also work with Artist Margaret Baker to make your very own hojalata (tin art) sun. You’ll learn a bit about the importance of Sun imagery in Mexican folk art, and then have a chance to make your own. Tin foil and permanent markers give the projects a bright and colorful reflective glow. A lesson in embossing completes the fun for a punched tin look. Baker is a Mixed Media Artist who designs her own paper using a Gell plate or uses maps, wrapping paper, tickets, post cards, old stamps or anything interesting. She once even used a wasp nest! She is always surprised when someone refers to her as an artist, because she considers herself to be just a girl who likes to get materials together, make a mess and have fun.
Another special offering at the First Friday event is a chance to get fairy hair extensions. Fairy hair is thin, colorful, iridescent strands that attach to a single strand (or a few strands) of your actual hair. Once applied, the strands can last for days, weeks, or even months. They usually fall out when your actual hair does. We felt like we needed a little sparkle at this event.
People of all ages can stop by the Marlinton United Methodist Church’s activity booth to make a fun and free craft. You can make a 3D emoji or sand art. Every month, these ladies have brought creative crafts and this month will be no exception.
You’ll also want to make time to visit the Pocahontas County Library booth as they are teaming up with Green Bank Observatory to bring you a Mission 2 Mars activity that is going to be out of this world. You’ll have a chance to explore Mars and engage in scientific exploration during this fun activity. There will also be a scavenger hunt that if you complete it, you can win a small prize.
After you finish these fun activities, you can make your way over to Roy Moose to meet live snakes. Roy is a fantastic presenter, and he will offer a chance to gently touch or even hold some of our West Virginia snakes. For those who fear snakes, this is a great way to safely learn more about these important (and often misunderstood) animals. And, for those who love snakes, this is a great chance to see some of our native snakes up close. Whichever camp you fall in, you’ll enjoy Roy’s interactive style.
There will be a lot happening in the “Kid’s Zone,” an area with hands on games for the young of heart. This month will feature inflatable Hop ‘N’ Go Horse Races. Saddle up your buckaroos. This is going to be a lot of hopping and bopping fun.
We also have a few door prizes to give out including a $25 gift certificate that was donated by The Glitzy Cactus Boutique. Stop by the Discovery Junction booth to answer five short questions, and you will be entered to win. A special thanks to this amazing small business for supporting our First Fridays.
The splashpad will be open and the Pocahontas County Farmers Market will be set up from 3 to 6 p.m.
Did we mention that Katie Workman will be working on her mural – located on the side of the Down Range building? Or, that the Little Rainbow Treat Company will be giving out free bags of candy? There are a ton of awesome experiences waiting for you at the September First Friday event.
So, please, come on downtown and join us. Each event is different, but they are all fabulous.
Stroll, shop and shake the night away.