Frankford Autumnfest activities on Saturday, Sept. 28 begin with a pancake breakfast at the Frankford Presbyterian Church from 7-10 a.m. The parade gets started with registration from 8-9:30 a.m. on Bailey’s field, across from the old car wash on Rt 219. Judging and awards will be presented at 9:15 and the parade will begin at 10 a.m. Parade route is US 219 at Fuller Lane to the Frankford Presbyterian Church. The parade averages 50 to 60 entrants each year, including floats, horses, bands, civic groups, antique cars and much more. Detour signs will be posted for traffic during parade times. All vendors setting up for the festival should be set up and their vehicles parked by 9:45 a.m. to alleviate traffic issues with the parade. There will be various food concessions, arts and crafts, and live demonstrations, as well as numerous games and activities for guests of all ages, including a variety of field games such as a 3 legged race, sack races, Limbo and Tug of War. Some new games this year include a Hay Bale Toss, our First Annual Diaper Derby and a Live Chicken Race! Contestants need to bring their own chickens! The Diaper Derby is sponsored by Greenbrier Valley Medical Center. Divisions for the derby are Crawlers, Walkers and “In Betweeners.” Autumnfest classic contests of the Largest Sunflower, Pasta Art and Decorated Pumpkins will be judged at 10 a.m. at Shelby’s Pond. An all-time Autumnfest favorite is the live entertainment. This year’s agenda includes Richard Hefner & the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys at 12 noon, LeeAnn Boggs and Seldom Heard at 1 p.m., the Eades Mountain Boys at 2 p.m. followed by Mud Hole Control at 3 p.m. And to wrap up the festival’s entertainment activities, the Frankford Volunteer Fire Department will sponsor a dance with The Fallen Rock Band, beginning at 8 p.m. at the fire station on Water Street. And no festival would be complete without the ol’ homemade goodies. Food concessions of all kinds will be available from BBQ chicken to cinnamon rolls and much more! Kids of all ages can find something to keep them occupied with the various field games mentioned above as well as several other games sponsored by Northern Greenbrier Ambulance Service. The art tent will be open with art activities for all ages. A returning favorite from last year is the Youth Marketplace. This is an opportunity for children under the age of 18 who have art, crafts, jewelry, produce, etc. to display their goods and offer them for sale. There will also be a cornhole tournament held at 12:30 with an Under 12 tournament followed by an Over 12 tournament. The health fair will be back this year from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A highlight of the health fair is CVS Pharmacy on site offering Flu Shots for $31.99. Insurances may be billed on site for those with medical insurance that covers Flu Shots. The Greenbrier County Health Department will be hand to offer information regarding their “WV Ready” program. The Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department will offer their “Kid Print” program. This program is designed to quickly and efficiently have necessary information available should your child become missing. Fingerprints are obtained and stored on data cards. The parent or guardian keeps the card and in the event of the child becoming missing, the information is quickly loaded into the national database for missing children. Also on hand will be the Greenbrier County Homeland Security and Emergency Management staff with fire extinguisher information and practice extinguishers for participants to use, as well as other emergency information. The Greenbrier County Humane Society will be on the grounds with adoption information and an Adoption Clinic. The WV DHHR will be represented and offering free Home Radon Test kits and information about this gas and how it affects your home. The Messages for Hope group will be present to offer information and support for suicide prevention and survivors. Another important group, MADD will be present as well. One added bonus this year, is the 25th Year Class Reunion of Greenbrier East High School Class of ‘88. Stop by and see some of your old classmates and reminisce about your high school days. A little different twist on things this year - feeling stressed? Muscles tense? Healing Hands Massage Therapy will be on site offering information and you just may be able to talk her into a “sample massage.” The Frankford Ruritan Club will be holding their annual Steak Dinner in the cafeteria from 4-7 p.m. Please support this volunteer civic group who support and participate in many community activities throughout the year as well as offer high school seniors from the area scholarships. Northern Greenbrier Ambulance Service will be on hand throughout the day for any medical attention you may need. Some seating is provided or feel free to bring your own chair and surely with all of these events, you will have no problem being occupied for the day! We hope to see everyone there!
