KINGWOOD — Preston County will celebrate its 200th birthday Saturday with a variety of events at several locations.
Special bicentennial commemorative coins and flags will be sold in the McGrew House gift shop. Garden sized flags will be available.
In Kingwood:
- All day — Geocaching
- 9-11 a.m. — Farmer’s market at McGrew House.
- 9 a.m.-5 p.m. — Courthouse restrooms open.
- 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. — Re-enactment of the Elihu Gregg trial at the Preston Academy, on High Street. Gregg burnt the courthouse in 1869. Because of that, the original trial was also held at the Preston Academy. Senior Status Judge Lawrance Miller Jr. will preside over the re-enactment, which is based on original court transcripts.
- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — McGrew House activities. These include music by Karen Bright & Friends 10 a.m.-noon; historical exhibits, tours of the house and grounds, and a historical walking tour, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; a cole slaw and hot dog lunch with free birthday cupcakes, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- 10 a.m.-2 p.m.— Quilt display at Wesley United Methodist Church, High Street.
- 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Street fair and Taste of Preston, South Price and Court streets.
- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Photo display at the Kingwood Public Library.
- 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. — Preston Community Arts Center activities. These will include Mabel Stiles’ bicentennial quilt display, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Nancy Abrams’ book reading and signing, 10:30-11:15 a.m.; Ervin Fink’s presentation, “Where did Preston County come from?” 11:15-11:30 a.m.; Joe Stiles’ collection of historic photos, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; and a showing of, “A Mother’s Love Divided: A West Virginia Civil War Story,” by JoAnn and Tom Peterson at 4 p.m. Donations will be accepted as the fee for the latter event.
- Noon — Parade, followed by dedication of the monument with the 1870 courthouse bell, Main Street.
- 3 p.m. — Lawnmower drag races on Court Street.
- 9:15 p.m. — Fireworks.
- 9:30 p.m. — Movies on the Lawn at The Preston County Inn, Main Street.
Guides to a walking tour of Kingwood can be picked up at McGrew House 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Download the Clio Foundation app for an interactive tour of Kingwood.
Arthurdale event
7:30 a.m., registration begins for the 5k Goat Gallop, which will begin at 9 a.m. Tours can also be taken of the New Deal community.
Alpine Lake event
The annual Alpine Lake Music Festival will take place noon- 9 p.m. in at 1508 Alpine Drive, Terra Alta. Admission will be $10 at the gate or $5 in advance.
Follow The Dominion Post on Twitter @DominionPostWV. Email Kathy Plum: kplum@dominionpost.com.
