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
Announcing Princess Morgan Lear Cowgill! 🍁
Princess Morgan Lear Cowgill was appointed by WV Senator Robbie Morris. She is the daughter of Kenn and Amy Cowgill of Keyser. She is the granddaughter of Bill and Debbie Umstot of Keyser and the late Maynard and Kim Cowgill of Cumberland, MD. Princess Morgan has one brother, Mason. Morgan is a 2026 graduate of Frankfort High School, where she served as the marching band drum major, Vice President of the National Honor Society, and Vice President of the senior class. She was also a member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, FFA, and the state champion cross country team. Morgan was named a Burger King Scholar and Promise Scholar, and completed the Plant Sciences program at the Mineral County Technical Center. She is currently a freshman at Shepherd University where she is majoring in social work and has the goal of being a child life specialist with hopes of working in children’s hospitals. Morgan attends Centenary United Methodist Church. She has been a member of Mineral County 4-H for ten years, where she was a junior counselor at younger camp and was Chief of the Cherokee Tribe at older camp. She was also named Spirit of older camp in 2025.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #elkinswv #autumnincolor #msff2026
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
Congratulations Morgan
Congratulations and looking forward to the events. Hope you have a good time
We are so proud of you Morgan Cowgill !!!
Announcing Princess Raighan Talor Hall Carte! 🍁
Princess Raighan Talor Hall Carte was appointed by Board President Scott Harris. She is the daughter of John W. Carte II and R. Heather Hall of Montrose. She is the granddaughter the late John W. Carte I and Ruth A. Carte of Vienna and Eric A. Hall and Rebecca S. Hall of Glenwood. Princess Raighan has one brother, John W. Carte III, and one sister, Kenadi Sloane Hall Carte. Raighan is a is a 2026 graduate of Elkins High, where she was Student Government President, National Honor Society Vice President, and Senior Class Council Secretary. She received the Austen Moore Kindness Scholarship, the Pat Schoonover Excellence in Science Scholarship, HOBY Academic All-Star Award, and Elkins High School’s Student Government and National Honor Society scholarships. She is currently a freshman at Coastal Carolina University, where she received the Presidential Scholarship and is a member of the HTC Honors College.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #elkinswv #autumnincolor #msff2026
15 CommentsComment on Facebook
Announcing Princess Karley Myrie Hoffman! 🍁
Princess Karley Myrie Hoffman was appointed by WV Senator Jason Barrett. She is the daughter of Dawn and Rick Hoffman of Charles Town. She is the granddaughter of Linda Horman of Charles Town. Princess Karley has four sisters, Christin Hoffman, Kaley Moore, Destiny Partlow, and Kassidy Hoffman. Karley is a 2025 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Jefferson High School, where she was an officer in the Key Club, a member of FCCLA, SGA and National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and Interact. She also attended Rhododendron Girls State. Karley is currently a junior at Shepherd University where she is working toward a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing with a minor in Spanish. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honor Society, and serves as a junior literacy editor for Sans Merci, Shepherd’s Art & Literature Magazine. Karley received 2nd place for Shepherd’s Catherine Fix Essay contest in the spring 2026. In May 2026, she spent two weeks abroad in Costa Rica taking Spanish classes at the Costa Rica Language Academy.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #elkinswv #autumnincolor #msff2026
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
🍁🍂🍁
Congratulations
Congratulations!!
Announcing Princess Morgan Lear Cowgill! 🍁
Princess Morgan Lear Cowgill was appointed by WV Senator Robbie Morris. She is the daughter of Kenn and Amy Cowgill of Keyser. She is the granddaughter of Bill and Debbie Umstot of Keyser and the late Maynard and Kim Cowgill of Cumberland, MD. Princess Morgan has one brother, Mason. Morgan is a 2026 graduate of Frankfort High School, where she served as the marching band drum major, Vice President of the National Honor Society, and Vice President of the senior class. She was also a member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, FFA, and the state champion cross country team. Morgan was named a Burger King Scholar and Promise Scholar, and completed the Plant Sciences program at the Mineral County Technical Center. She is currently a freshman at Shepherd University where she is majoring in social work and has the goal of being a child life specialist with hopes of working in children’s hospitals. Morgan attends Centenary United Methodist Church. She has been a member of Mineral County 4-H for ten years, where she was a junior counselor at younger camp and was Chief of the Cherokee Tribe at older camp. She was also named Spirit of older camp in 2025.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #elkinswv #autumnincolor #msff2026
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
Congratulations Morgan
Congratulations and looking forward to the events. Hope you have a good time
We are so proud of you Morgan Cowgill !!!
Announcing Princess Raighan Talor Hall Carte! 🍁
Princess Raighan Talor Hall Carte was appointed by Board President Scott Harris. She is the daughter of John W. Carte II and R. Heather Hall of Montrose. She is the granddaughter the late John W. Carte I and Ruth A. Carte of Vienna and Eric A. Hall and Rebecca S. Hall of Glenwood. Princess Raighan has one brother, John W. Carte III, and one sister, Kenadi Sloane Hall Carte. Raighan is a is a 2026 graduate of Elkins High, where she was Student Government President, National Honor Society Vice President, and Senior Class Council Secretary. She received the Austen Moore Kindness Scholarship, the Pat Schoonover Excellence in Science Scholarship, HOBY Academic All-Star Award, and Elkins High School’s Student Government and National Honor Society scholarships. She is currently a freshman at Coastal Carolina University, where she received the Presidential Scholarship and is a member of the HTC Honors College.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #elkinswv #autumnincolor #msff2026
15 CommentsComment on Facebook
Announcing Princess Karley Myrie Hoffman! 🍁
Princess Karley Myrie Hoffman was appointed by WV Senator Jason Barrett. She is the daughter of Dawn and Rick Hoffman of Charles Town. She is the granddaughter of Linda Horman of Charles Town. Princess Karley has four sisters, Christin Hoffman, Kaley Moore, Destiny Partlow, and Kassidy Hoffman. Karley is a 2025 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Jefferson High School, where she was an officer in the Key Club, a member of FCCLA, SGA and National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and Interact. She also attended Rhododendron Girls State. Karley is currently a junior at Shepherd University where she is working toward a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing with a minor in Spanish. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honor Society, and serves as a junior literacy editor for Sans Merci, Shepherd’s Art & Literature Magazine. Karley received 2nd place for Shepherd’s Catherine Fix Essay contest in the spring 2026. In May 2026, she spent two weeks abroad in Costa Rica taking Spanish classes at the Costa Rica Language Academy.
#forestfestivalwv #RandolphCountyWV #elkinswv #autumnincolor #msff2026
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
🍁🍂🍁
Congratulations
Congratulations!!