BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Downtown Inez will come alive Sept. 18 and 19 as the Harvest Fest marks its 30th anniversary with carnival rides, live music, contests, food, games, a parade, wrestling, bluegrass and a free concert by “The Voice” winner Jake Hoot.
And the celebration will begin well before festival weekend.
The Martin County Kiwanis Club reviewed plans Thursday during its lunch meeting in Inez as organizers prepare for one of the festival’s biggest milestones.
“We have lots to go over,” Kiwanis president Melissa Phelps said.
This year’s festival will feature six carnival attractions plus a free bounce house.
For $15, children can purchase a one-day wristband providing unlimited access to the Carousel, Zorb Track, Mechanical Bull, Tubs of Fun, Reckless and Swings. The bounce house will be free throughout the festival.
Those who want to ride only the Carousel may purchase single tickets for $3. One ticket provides one Carousel ride. Parents accompanying children age 5 and younger will not have to purchase an additional ticket.
“The Harvest Fest has never been about making money,” Phelps said as she recommended keeping wristbands at the same price as last year. “It’s for the community. Of course, we like to make a little money for next year.”
Vendor market
Phelps told Kiwanians the vendor market is filling up, with an Aug. 28 deadline to reserve booth space.
“The on-site food vendor lineup is looking complete,” she said.
Spots remain for craft and retail vendors at $50 and information-only booths at $25.
Vendor applications are available for download on the Harvest Fest Facebook page. Vendors may also contact Bobby Hale or Lana Young at 606-298-2807 or email [email protected].
Phelps said organizers are working to place vendors together in one area this year while moving games into their own special section.
Among the games and attractions she mentioned were the Turkey Creek Church of the Nazarene hot shot, Beta Club games, a fortune teller, putt-putt golf and others.
Treasure Hunt starts Sept. 2
The 30th anniversary celebration will begin taking shape more than two weeks before festival weekend when the Harvest Fest Treasure Hunt kicks off Sept. 2.
The hunt will run for three weeks, with clues published weekly in the Mountain Citizen and cash prizes up for grabs.
The Sept. 2 and Sept. 9 hunts will each carry a $100 prize. The third and final hunt Sept. 16 will offer $200.
Scarecrow Stroll
Harvest Fest is also inviting residents and businesses to get creative for the annual Scarecrow Stroll.
Participants may create and display scarecrows, then submit photographs to the Harvest Fest Facebook page by Friday, Sept. 11.
Facebook voting will run from 8 a.m. Sept. 14 through 8 p.m. Sept. 17. The entry receiving the most votes will win.
Friday, Sept. 18
Festival Friday will begin with the annual speech contest at 11 a.m. on the Court Street stage, hosted this year by Martin County High School JAGKY.
The Health Care Pavilion will return to the front parking lot of the Martin County Business Center from noon to 5 p.m.
The 4-H Pet Show returns at 1:30 p.m.
At 3 p.m., Kyle Cornette will be back by popular demand with his Elvis tribute.
Braxton Ramey follows at 3:30 p.m.
“He sings,” Phelps said. “He sent me videos. He’s really good. I was surprised, and I thought, ‘Yes, we would love to have him.’”
Jack Ward & the Postmen take the stage at 4 p.m., followed by Martin County Pick and Bow at 5 p.m.
“These are all the students working with James Webb, learning,” Phelps said. “They’re going to perform and showcase their talents.”
Addi and Quinn and the 606 Revival take over at 6 p.m.
“These are some kids, a couple of them from Floyd County,” Phelps said. “They have a band and have been going around performing everywhere … It will bring people from other counties to see these kids.”
Devin Moore and the Roseary Sons perform at 7 p.m.
“They sing country and southern rock,” Phelps said.
At 7:30 p.m., attention will also turn to Cardinal Stadium, where Martin County will take on Shelby Valley in football.
For those staying downtown, Harvest Fest will bring a bluegrass powerhouse to the Court Street stage at 8:30 p.m. as Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys come to town.
Staats, a Grand Ole Opry performer and longtime favorite on the West Virginia-Kentucky bluegrass circuit, was inducted into the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame in April.
“There are people who really like that, and we haven’t had it in a few years,” Phelps said. “It’s a good Friday night event for people who do not want to go to the football game.”
Saturday, Sept. 19
Saturday brings another full day of activity, beginning at 10 a.m. with the return of Turkey Creek Church of the Nazarene’s Amazing Race.
The event will pit teams of two against one another in a fast-paced scavenger hunt featuring challenges throughout downtown Inez. Racers will run or walk their way through the course while competing for first-, second- and third-place prizes.
Registration details will be announced.
The Health Care Pavilion will return to the Business Center parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Harvest Fest Car Show will also take place Saturday morning, with additional details to be announced.
Then, at 2 p.m., one of the festival’s biggest traditions takes over Main Street: the Harvest Fest Parade.
Parade lineup begins at 1 p.m. at the Martin County Pool.
Jackie’s Gymnastics will take the spotlight at 3 p.m.
Jordon Vanhoose performs on the main stage at 3:45 p.m., followed by GiGi the Rock N Roll Princess at 4:30 p.m.
Wrestling begins at 5 p.m. behind the Martin County Business Center.
Wesley Young and Friends take the stage at 5:30 p.m., followed by The Lafferty Band at 6 p.m.
Then comes the anniversary weekend’s headliner.
Jake Hoot, winner of NBC’s “The Voice,” will take the stage at 8 p.m. for a free concert.
Hoot won Season 17 of “The Voice” in 2019 and returned to win “The Voice” All-Star Showdown earlier this year.
Admission to Hoot’s concert will be free. America’s Quick Mart, owned by Jack and Ashwin Patel, is sponsoring the show, Phelps said.
30 years in pictures
Kiwanis also wants the community to help tell the story of three decades of Harvest Fest through a special anniversary photo exhibit.
“If anyone has any pictures of Harvest Fest from the last 30 years, send them in or bring them to me,” Phelps said. “We’re going to try to make a nice display so people can reminisce.”
The photographs will be displayed during the festival and online.
Photos have already begun arriving, but Phelps said organizers are especially interested in images from the festival’s earliest years.
“People are excited,” she said. “We’ve had a lot more recent photos, so if you have older photos, we would love to have those. Thirty years is a long time for a festival and people like to look back on pictures and remember.”
Email photos to [email protected] or send through Facebook Messenger to the Martin County Harvest Fest Facebook page.
Those with print photographs may take them to the Martin County Attorney’s Office, where staff will scan the photographs and return the originals to their owners.
