Save the Date for 87th Forest Festival
September 27 – October 5, 2025
About Forest Festival
The Mountain State Forest Festival is one of the largest and oldest festivals in West Virginia, continuing to promote the beauty and splendor of our mountains and valleys in all their autumn glory and promoting prudent development, conservation and culture of our abundant natural resources for the future.
The festival affords us the opportunity to share with our community and state the important role West Virginia’s natural resources play in our economic development. Rich in tradition, the Festival also plays a major role in our local and state economy and offers something for everyone to enjoy, such as, headline concerts and music shows, lumberjack competition, forestry & wood exhibits, juried art show, photography exhibit, quilt show, arts and crafts, amusement rides, and parades.
Randolph County and the City of Elkins open their streets to accommodate 75,000+ visitors each year, with an opportunity for exploring our surrounding counties.
Meet Maid Silvia LXXXVII
Moorefield resident Miss Sterling Anne Kump has been selected as Maid Silvia for the 87th Mountain State Forest Festival by Director General Lisa Shaffer.
“From the moment I met Sterling, I knew that she was the young lady that I wanted to fulfill the role of Maid Silvia LXXXVII,” Shaffer said. “I saw in her the heart, poise, and spirit of a Maid Silvia. She carries herself with a quiet confidence and a sincere love for the Festival and community—qualities that instantly stood out and captured everything I was hoping to find. I have no doubt that she will represent the Mountain State Forest Festival with grace, gratitude, and genuine pride in this long-standing tradition.”
Videos from the Mountain State Forest Festival
Volunteers
Announcing Princess Taylor Renee Spratt! 🍁
Princess Taylor Renee Spratt was appointed by West Virginia Senator Bill Hamilton. She is the daughter of Jedidiah and Denise Spratt of Buckhannon. She is the granddaughter of Greg and Lisa Moody of Elkins and Ruth and Timothy Spratt of Van, WV. Princess Taylor has one brother, Jaxon. Taylor is a 2025 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Buckhannon-Upshur High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and an honor roll student. She also participated in golf, softball, and Leo Club. In the fall, Princess Taylor will be a freshman at Marshall University, where she plans to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Nursing.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #ElkinsWV #embracenaturescharm #MSFF2025
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Announcing Princess Ravyn Morganne Weirich! 🍁
Princess Ravyn Morganne Weirich was appointed by State Forester and Director of Forestry Jeremy Jones. She is the daughter of Mandy and Ryan Weirich of Elkins. She is the granddaughter of Linda Young of Elkins and Norma and Charlie Hards of Tecumseh, MI. Princess Ravyn has one brother, Koragon. Ravyn is a 2022 graduate of Elkins High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and played three years of varsity softball. She is an Old Brick Playhouse Alum.
In the fall, Ravyn will be a senior at Shepherd University, where she is dual majoring in Appalachian Studies and Communications and New Media. She is the recipient of the Dean’s and Promise Scholarships and is a member of the Phi Beta Delta Honors Society for International Studies.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #elkinswv #embracenaturescharm #msff2025
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Announcing Princess Hailey Michaela Bonnett! 🍁
Princess Hailey Michaela Bonnett was appointed by West Virginia Senator Robbie Morris. She is the daughter of Michael and Heather Bonnett of Elkins. She is the granddaughter of Ronnie and Billie Bonnett of Elkins, Beverly Hinchman, and Robert Sturdivant and the late Wilfred Hinchman of Belington. She has two brothers, Zachary Berg and Bentley Bonnett, and one sister, Hannah Bonnett.
Princess Hailey is a 2023 graduate of Elkins High School, where she was an honor roll student. Hailey attended Fred W. Eberle Technical Center to study cosmetology. She served as post-secondary president of SkillsUSA WV and won 3rd place overall in the SkillsUSA WV cosmo school competition where she represented at the Leadership Academy in Charleston. Upon graduating in 2025, she started her career as a hairdresser at Hair Graphics, LLC in Elkins. Hailey also has a deep passion for community service and giving back to her community. She is an active member of Mission Teams that travels across West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky working in soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and campsites.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #ElkinsWV #embracenaturescharm #MSFF2025
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