The blend of the best of new and old will continue Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24 downtown. Admission is free.
“Our goal was always to bring it up to date with music the first time last year and still keep that small-town feel,” said Murray, festival organizer.
The festival’s unofficial kick-off will be Friday evening following Southeastern High’s football game with a fireworks show.
Saturday’s activities begin with at 9 a.m. followed by non-stop music in a variety of genres.
Country singer/songwriter Wyatt McCubbin, a Southeastern High graduate, will return as music headliner for the second straight year at 7 p.m. Saturday.
“We’re excited to have Wyatt back. He represents the area well,” Murray said.
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Saturday will conclude with a showing of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” on a giant inflatable screen. This event is presented as part of the National Trail Parks and Recreation’s Movie Nights series and admission is free.
Sunday will start with a community church service at 10 a.m., followed by more music and other activities.
Kids activities include a train ride, horse rides and a pumpkin hayride. There will be numerous food choices and vendors with goods for browsing.
As far as the old-fashioned side, Heritage Days was previously the Gingerbread Festival, and that signature treat will still be available as well as the bean soup cooked in a cast-iron kettle.
It’s these touches Murray wants to maintain as a tribute to George Berkhofer, who founded the original Pumpkin and Petunia Festivals that preceded Heritage Days.
A special raffle for tickets to the upcoming Ohio State-Penn State football game will be part of the event.
Profits from Heritage Days will go to the South Charleston Heritage Commission, which uses the funds to provide canvas prints of historic buildings and preserve landmarks including the opera house and train depot.
“We’re proud of what we have here and hope to share it with many others,” Murray said.
For a list of events and times, visit the South Charleston Heritage Days Festival on Facebook.
WANT TO GO?
What: South Charleston Heritage Days Festival
Where: Downtown South Charleston
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 9 a.m. and Sunday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m.
Admission: Free
More info: Visit the South Charleston Heritage Days Festival Facebook page
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