West Virginia's First Chestnut Festival

The Great American Chestnut Tree : Exploring Our Roots

Sunday, October 12, 2008

I. Rowlesburg Park Chestnut Festivities Noon ­ 4 :00 pm

II. Inaugural Planting of Chestnut Tree -
American Hybrid. Rowlesburg Park

III. Sit-down Dinner featuring Chestnut dishes and keynote speakers.

IV. Karaoke and Street Dance In-the-Park
____________________________________________________________________

Rowlesburg Park Festivities

Displays: (TACF) American Chestnut Foundation (not yet confirmed)
Displays & Sign-ups for newly formed West Virginia Chapter of TACF
Display/Presentation by Robert Strasser, Research Associate, Hood College
Demonstration - Planting Chestnut tree saplings
Chestnut Tree Saplings available for purchase
Chestnut Furniture Display - some items for sale
Roasted Chestnuts available ­ Sampling a delicacy
Chestnuts available for purchase
Chestnuts in Honey (in jars) for sale: The Bee Box, Aurora, WV
Roasted Chestnuts - Sampling a delicacy
Rowlesburg Middle School: Composition/Drawing Contest: "Era of the American Chestnut Tree." James Davis, Jennifer Loughry, Supervisors
Throwing (Chestnuts) ­in ­the -Well Contest ­ Prizes for children
Music in the Park (not yet finalized)

Inaugural Planting of Chestnut Tree -
American Hybrid. Rowlesburg Park

Assemble at 4:00 p.m.
Song: O Chestnut Tree-tune of "O Tannenbaum"- Words by John Neuman
Introduction of Distinguished Guests
Main Speakers - State representative, TACF, and others
Planting of American ­Hybrid Chestnut Tree
__________________________________________________________________________

Sit-Down Dinner and Events 5 ­ 7 p.m.
VFW building on corner of Main/Church Street

Invocation
Dinner Menu ­ Featuring Chestnut venues
Head Table Introduction of Distinguished Guests
Awards Presentation ­ Including selection of "Mr. Chestnut"
Keynote Speaker ­ Dr. William Mac Donald, Professor, Plant Pathology, West Virginia University: "The Great American Chestnut Tree ­ Combating the American Chestnut Blight with Hypovirulence"(tentative)
Speaker ­ Robert Strasser, Chestnut Restoration Biologist, Hood College: "Natural/Cultural History and Backcross Breeding Program."
American Chestnut Pastorale: Video Documentary Premiere by Thomas Harttung Nassif, including interviews, narration, pollination. Sponsored by Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF)
______________________________________________________________________________

Karaoke & Street Dance in-the-Park 7:30 ­ 9:00 p.m.

 

Celebrating Rowlesburg, West Virginia's Sesquicentennial