Save the Date for the 88th Forest Festival
"Autumn in Color"
September 26 – October 4, 2026
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. While visiting Elkins, enjoy the 10K/5K Race, Highland Dance Competition, Irish Road Bowling, Parade of Children, Pet Show, Photography Contest, Juried Art Exhibit, Quilt Show, Forestry & Wood Products, Arts & Crafts, Distinguished Guest Dinner, Royal Coronation, Fireman’s Parade, Queen’s Ball Dance, Lumberjack Contest, Grand Feature Parade, and much more!
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 LXXXVIII
Emma Grace Snyder
Hambleton, WV
“Selecting Maid Silvia is one of the most important responsibilities of the Director General, and Emma stood out from the very beginning,” Bonnell said. “She is accomplished, thoughtful, and has a genuine appreciation for the traditions and values the Mountain State Forest Festival represents. As we celebrate the 88th Festival with the theme ‘Autumn in Color,’ Emma reflects the spirit of the season – bringing energy, tradition, and the next chapter of Festival history into full color. I am confident she will represent the Festival with grace and serve as an outstanding ambassador throughout her reign.”
Natalie Jean Tyre Barb, 1932 Flower Girl
🍁
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Announcing Woodly the Elf Pierslyn Laeic Farley! 🍁
Pierslyn is the daughter of Cameron and Farrah Farley of Elkins. She is the granddaughter of Loren and Charlene Bonnell of Kerens and David and Kim Farley and Betty Smith of Beckley. She has one brother, Breckston.
In the fall, Pierslyn will be a fifth-grade student at Elkins Middle School. She has been a dancer at Dance by Farrah for eight years, where she is a member of the competition team. She attended Third Ward Elementary, where she was an honor roll student and a member of the choir and the kindness club. Pierslyn attends Arbor Church in Beverly. In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts, dancing, tumbling, and working on her aerial silk skills. In the future, she wants to be a dance teacher as well as a schoolteacher. She was a runner-up for Woodly the Elf in 2025 and 2024.
Each year, a Randolph County student, from public, private or homeschooled students, is chosen to serve as Woodly the Elf through a poster contest. Woodly the Elf is sponsored by Citizens Bank of West Virginia.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #ElkinsWV #AutumnInColor #msff2026
23 CommentsComment on Facebook
Congratulations to Pierson! 🍁🍂
Congratulations
So proud of you Pierslyn. You will be a terrific Woodly! 🍁🍂
Announcing Royal Court Jester Raegan Catherine Kerns! 🍁
Raegan Catherine Kerns is the daughter of Danny “Cruz” and Jessica Kerns-Galloway of Beverly. She is the granddaughter of Karen Kerns and Ray George of Beverly and Donald Kerns of Elkins. She has one sister, Rorie Kerns.
In the fall, Raegan will be a seventh-grade student at Elkins Middle School, where she is an honor roll student, EMS Hornet Cheerleader, and plays the clarinet in the band. She is a dedicated member of the Center Stage Performing Arts Competition team and tumbling program, where she gives back to the young dancers by assisting with tiny tumbling and dance classes. Raegan is an active member of her community, volunteering at multiple local events. She enjoys pageantry and currently holds the title of 2025 Miss Pre-Teen Tucker County Fair. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, swimming, horseback riding, and making memories outdoors with her family. Raegan is a member of Home of the Soul family worship.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #elkinswv #autumnincolor #msff2026
42 CommentsComment on Facebook
so proud!
So incredibly proud of you, Raegan! You have dreamed of this opportunity for years and worked so hard to make it happen! 🤸🏿🍁🍂
Congratulations! I can't wait to see Raegan as a jester! You will be fantastic.
🍁
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Announcing Woodly the Elf Pierslyn Laeic Farley! 🍁
Pierslyn is the daughter of Cameron and Farrah Farley of Elkins. She is the granddaughter of Loren and Charlene Bonnell of Kerens and David and Kim Farley and Betty Smith of Beckley. She has one brother, Breckston.
In the fall, Pierslyn will be a fifth-grade student at Elkins Middle School. She has been a dancer at Dance by Farrah for eight years, where she is a member of the competition team. She attended Third Ward Elementary, where she was an honor roll student and a member of the choir and the kindness club. Pierslyn attends Arbor Church in Beverly. In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts, dancing, tumbling, and working on her aerial silk skills. In the future, she wants to be a dance teacher as well as a schoolteacher. She was a runner-up for Woodly the Elf in 2025 and 2024.
Each year, a Randolph County student, from public, private or homeschooled students, is chosen to serve as Woodly the Elf through a poster contest. Woodly the Elf is sponsored by Citizens Bank of West Virginia.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #ElkinsWV #AutumnInColor #msff2026
23 CommentsComment on Facebook
Congratulations to Pierson! 🍁🍂
Congratulations
So proud of you Pierslyn. You will be a terrific Woodly! 🍁🍂
Announcing Royal Court Jester Raegan Catherine Kerns! 🍁
Raegan Catherine Kerns is the daughter of Danny “Cruz” and Jessica Kerns-Galloway of Beverly. She is the granddaughter of Karen Kerns and Ray George of Beverly and Donald Kerns of Elkins. She has one sister, Rorie Kerns.
In the fall, Raegan will be a seventh-grade student at Elkins Middle School, where she is an honor roll student, EMS Hornet Cheerleader, and plays the clarinet in the band. She is a dedicated member of the Center Stage Performing Arts Competition team and tumbling program, where she gives back to the young dancers by assisting with tiny tumbling and dance classes. Raegan is an active member of her community, volunteering at multiple local events. She enjoys pageantry and currently holds the title of 2025 Miss Pre-Teen Tucker County Fair. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, swimming, horseback riding, and making memories outdoors with her family. Raegan is a member of Home of the Soul family worship.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #elkinswv #autumnincolor #msff2026
42 CommentsComment on Facebook
so proud!
So incredibly proud of you, Raegan! You have dreamed of this opportunity for years and worked so hard to make it happen! 🤸🏿🍁🍂
Congratulations! I can't wait to see Raegan as a jester! You will be fantastic.