By Ammie Ruddle
The 54th annual Treasure Mountain Festival is scheduled to take place Sept. 15-18. This year’s theme is “Striking Gold in the Mountains.”
Some may think the theme plays into the origin of the festival which dates back to 1758 when the Shawnee Indians attacked settlers at Fort Seybert. During this time, two settlers were entrusted with all the settlers’ valued possessions and treasures. While on their journey they feared capture and hid these items somewhere on South Fork Mountain. To this day no one has found the treasure.
However, according to Audre Hoffman, TMF Association secretary, the idea for the 2022 TMF theme “comes from the fall beauty which many have travel through the area to see.”
Hoffman explained “striking” is not in reference to finding the “treasure,” but the beauty of the “fall foliage,” and “gold” is not reference to the “treasure” either, but the “color” of the fall foliage seen when looking at the mountains.
The theme is chosen every year by TMF volunteers who make suggestions about what the theme should be. This year’s suggestion came from Katlyn Ruddle.
Festival goers can expect a few new attractions this year.
“We have added axe throwing this year,” Elise White, the association’s treasurer, said, “and a coronation of the queen as well.”
Hoffman added, “We also have a special kids crafting event. Parents can buy tickets and kids can take home their crafts.”
Hoffman said this year TMF will have a lot going on. The board of directors and officers have been working hard to make sure there are “no gaps in between events so that people will want to stay and enjoy the festival.”
Carolyn Simmons, TMF Association’s president, said, “We love to get suggestions on what we can do to expand or make Treasure Mountain Festival better, but we need the volunteers to make those suggestions happen.” She added, “If anyone wants to volunteer, now is the time.”
