Heron Festival set for Oct. 14 at Beech Fork State Park

A heron feeds at Beech Fork State Park. Photo by Delmer Kelley courtesy W.Va. Department of Commerce

Beech Fork State Park near Huntington, W.Va., will host its 2017 Heron Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14.

A celebration of one of the park’s most notable residents, the event is also a day for family fun, including free pontoon boat and hayrides, children’s games, art and crafts, gospel music and other events and activities, according to superintendent Dillard Price.

“Heron Fest celebrates what camping should be all about: enjoying the outdoors with family and friends,” Price said of the upcoming weekend.

Beech Fork is home to West Virginia’s largest state-park campground—including 275 sites near Beech Fork Lake.

“We have a lot of campers who see Beech Fork as almost home,” Price said. “Heron Fest is just a way of expressing our appreciation to our park visitors and to encourage them to continue camping in the fall.”

Adjoining 720-acre Beech Fork Lake, the 3,100 acre park and wildlife management area ranks among the most popular camping parks in the West Virginia park system.

Fishing, hiking, biking, boating, picnicking, and wildlife observation are among the most popular recreational activities Beech Fork affords, while hunting and fishing are popular in the adjacent wildlife management area.

A camp store, vacation cabins, a recreation center, and an outdoor swimming pool are among the park’s amenities.

Crafters interested in being a vendor at Heron Fest should contact the park at 304-528-2794 to inquire about remaining display areas.

Beech Fork State Park is located in the southwestern West Virginia near Barboursville and Huntington and is easily accessible from Interstate 64.

For more information about Heron Fest, camping, and the park, call 304-528-5794 or visit the park website.