GLENVILLE, W.Va. — The sounds of Appalachian music reverberated through the hills of Glenville this weekend for the 66th State Folk Festival, serving as a beacon for those wanting to take a step back in time.
“The premise of the folk festival is to preserve and educate if possible the Appalachian culture of music, crafts, artisans and things along that line,” Joe Yurkiewicz, one of the volunteers who helps plan the festival said. “If it’s not the oldest of it’s kind in the North American continent, it’s at least the second oldest.”
The festival highlights the music that came to West Virginia from the Welsh, Scottish and English when they originally came to the country and the versions that developed from that origin over the years, which most notably includes bluegrass.
The ability of the festival to preserve the history of the music over the years has drawn the attention of those from the point of origin, according to Yurkiewicz.
“There’s been a resurgence in England and we’ve had some English folks come over because they had to come over here to be able to find the tunes and the words to the music that originated from them.”
The main musical draw, if you ask Yurkiewicz, would be the square dancing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxfbZaesJFQ
Hundreds of all ages participate on the elevated dance floor right on Court Street each night as callers orchestrate the moves as the house band plays away.
Due to its popularity, builders have had to extend the dance floor year after year.
“It’s grown by 14 to 16 feet over the last couple years because of the number of people that come to attend the square dance,” Yurkiewicz said. “It seems to be the biggest draw around because it is a nice, floating platform so it doesn’t impact on the dancers’ feet.”
For those that may not be interested in the music or dancing, other activities throughout the festival take a look at life in the earlier years of the Mountain State. Whether it be a craft or other demonstration, visitors can get a hands-on experience.
Keeping with the theme of tradition, the vendors at the festival are typically selected on the grounds that they make what they sell.
However, not all are selling traditional wares, as one element does not seem to go over well.
“It’s hard to sell traditional cooking to the people because it’s normally bland and it’s not what they’re used to,” Yurkiewicz said. “They don’t go for it.”
The festival concluded Sunday morning after a church service and singing, but preparations for the 2016 festival will begin shortly after as volunteers said it’s a year-round process.