Will this be the last Treasure Mountain Festival? Earlier this year, members of the festival association expressed concerns about the continuation of the Treasure Mountain Festival due to a lack of volunteers to help make the festival happen.
“We are thankful that new volunteers have stepped up to the plate to help this year. A safety committee was formed to advise on installing fire extinguishers and using walkie talkies to call for help in emergencies. A parade committee formed to help make this year’s parade one of the best ever,” said Carolyn Simmons, association president. “Other committees were formed with the committee chair being responsible to report at meetings what is happening. We will be electing officers for next year at the end of this year. When new officers take over in January, it is my hope that even more volunteers will help make next year even better.”
The 55th annual Treasure Mountain festival officially kicks off at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 with the coronation of the festival queen. Festival royalty was chosen in contests held Aug. 26 and 27 at Pendleton County Middle/High School.
Festival attendees will notice some changes in events this year.
One of the big differences in activities this year is the parade route. Line-up will be at Pendleton Middle/High School with the parade starting at 3 p.m. on Sept. 16. The parade will pass by Pendleton Manor, allowing residents to watch the parade. At the stoplight, the parade will proceed down Main Street to the courthouse and then go down the hill to where festival activities will be taking place.
Due to renovations at the courthouse, the beard and mustache contest will be held at the McCoy House, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 15.
The Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce is again sponsoring the treasure hunt on Sept. 16. Clues will be posted at the TMF craft building and the TMF headquarters located in the town parking lot. Keys must be brought at 5:15 p.m. to the main stage to claim prizes. No keys will be allowed to be claimed after the ceremony.
Following the children’s games on Sept. 16, younger children, ages 4 – 10, can go to the Pendleton Community Building to make crafts. The activity will be held in the room to the left as one enters the building.
Attendees may have a scone and one’s favorite tea in an Old English setting from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 15, 16 and 17 at the tea room located inside the craft building.
One schedule change has occurred. Triad, instead of the Fly Birds, will be providing musical entertainment from noon until 2:30 p.m. and from 4:14 to 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 16 at the main stage.
Church services will be held at 11:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at the town parking lot and main stage.
This year, there will be new food vendors with more being located at the town parking lot and at Pendleton Community Bank’s parking lot on South Branch Street.
The Reenactment of the Fort Burning in Fort Seybert, a big festival attraction, will begin at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16. The event is sponsored by the Killbuck Riflemen Club and is held 10 miles east of Franklin on the Sweedlin Valley Road. A pickin’ and grinnin’ session will follow the reenactment.
The festival association will be holding a meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 21 at the craft building. “We will be addressing things that went right as well as those things that need work,” Simmons commented. “If you would like to offer your help to correct situations or praise for what has been done, all are welcome to attend and voice their opinions.”
