Officials say West Virginia's annual Hunting and Fishing Days celebration on Sept. 10-12 will look quite different as the outdoor exposition will be part of the inaugural "Adventure On! Freedom Festival" at the Summit Bechtel Reserve on the New River Gorge.
Adjacent to the newly established New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, the event will provide guests to experience the state as never before, according to Stephen McDaniel, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
"We are excited to bring all of the traditional National Hunting and Fishing Days activities to this incredible event this year," McDaniel said of the venue change.
"Events like this are a great place for us to show off our beautiful state's outdoor heritage and introduce a new generation of hunters and anglers to the sport."
In addition to free National Hunting and Fishing Days activities, the "Adventure On! Freedom Festival" will feature outdoor adventures such as zip-lining, rock climbing, and shooting sports, the Mountaineer GNCC race, the W.Va. Jeep Club off-road and overland experience, and a 9/11 memorial concert featuring the band Lonestar.
Details about the festival, including ticket information, are available at adventureonfestival.com. Access to adventures like zip-lining, rock climbing, shooting, and archery may be purchased online for an additional cost.
Hunting and Fishing Days activities include the WVDNR Outdoor Youth Challenge, a hands-on opportunity for children of all ages to experience a variety of outdoor activities including fishing, firearm use, and wildlife identification.
Participants can also visit the big buck and trophy fish display, which will showcase some of the best mounts from around the state. More details can be found online at adventureonfestival.com/features/national-hunting-fishing-days.
General admission to the event is free, though participants are encouraged to register. A variety of vendors and food options also will be available. There is a $15 weekend parking fee for all cars.
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