President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, portrayed by Bill Donegal, will be a very special live studio guest at WBOY-TV to promote the New Deal Festival. President Roosevelt will be speaking about the history of Arthurdale and how it holds a special place in his heart. He will also promote the events and activities happening at the annual New Deal Festival.

Tune in at Noon on Friday, July 13th on WBOY-TV channel 12.

“We want to show how fascinating history can be. Oftentimes when kids think history, they think of dusty books. At the festival they can learn about Arthurdale, the Great Depression, and World War II as living history,” said Jeanne Goodman, Arthurdale Heritage Executive Director.

Youngsters can enjoy games and activities geared especially for them in the festival’s supervised kids’ area. This year, they can get up close with hawks, eagles, and owls from the West Virginia Raptor Rehabilitation Center. Kids can also take part in old fashioned games like marbles and stop by the little red barn to visit Turbo the “toy” pig, horses, goats, calves, and other livestock. Kids have the opportunity to get hands-on by visiting the World War II military encampment and by talking with descendants of original Arthurdale homesteaders.

One of the most popular events at the New Deal Festival is the antique car, truck, and tractor show. Guests can check under the hood of some of Detroit’s classiest machines from the 1920s all the way to hot-rods and muscle cars from the 1960s and ‘70s. The show, hosted by the Arthurdale Tire Kickers Club, also features antique tractors, including a restored tractor manufactured at the Reedsville Co-Op Tractor Factory.

Tour options allow a closer look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Little Village. Climb aboard a horse-drawn wagon and explore the Arthurdale community. Or opt for an old-fashioned hay ride. Tickets for these specialty tours can be purchased at the information booth the day of the event.

Be sure to bring your appetite. As always, the festival features Arthurdale’s famous home-cooked, grilled chicken dinners. The recipe, kept secret by the descendants of homesteaders is an Arthurdale tradition. Each dinner includes sides and homemade dessert. Also are available are more traditional festival fare of hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and more.

Gates open at 9:30 a.m. Purchase your festival tickets in advance and save. Online tickets are $5.00 per adult, $3.00 per child 6-11. At the gate, admission is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 6-12. Kids 5 and under are free. Parking is free. Advance tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.newdealfestival.org

Jeanne Goodman, Arthurdale Heritage Executive Director will be a featured guest on the morning talk show to promote the New Deal Festival. Goodman will be promoting all the new events and activities at this year’s festival including the Fratkin Collection, the Traveling 219 Project, the expanded kids area and more.

The segment begins at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Morgantown AM on WAJR 1440-AM. You can listen online live at WAJR.com.

2012 New Deal Festival TV Spot

If you’d like to pay with cash or check and pick up the day of the festival or in our office.

Pricing*:
Pre-order pricing will be as follows:
$19.95
$14.95 for AHI members

Day-of sales:
$24.95
$19.95 for AHI members

*NOTE: Add $2.00 for XXL and $3.00 for XXXL sizes.

Rosie The Riveter – We Can Do It!

Defend American Freedom – Is Everyone’s Job

Front of shirt:

Front of shirt

New to the festival is the Traveling 219 exhibit. The Traveling 219 Project is a continuation of the work of the Federal Writer’s Project that offered a candid snapshot of rural West Virginia during the Great Depression and the early days of World War II.  Volunteers revitalizing this project by collecting oral histories along Rt. 219 to document everyday life in WV.  You may have heard some of their stories featured on WV Morning or Inside Appalachia.  Their  display will include stories they’ve collected about Eleanor Roosevelt plus related photographs and artifacts.

FDR (Bill Donogan) at the 2010 New Deal Festival – Taken by Maria af Rolen – All rights reserved

An annual tradition, guests can visit with reenactors portraying President Franklin Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. This year’s festival features expanded historic reenactments and an authentic World War II military encampment as well as recruiting station. Children and students can also interact with reenactors to gain a better perspective of life military and civilian life during wartime.

Fratkin Collection

Also, returning to the festival is the expanded Fratkin Collection. Housed in the New Deal Homestead Museum, this collection is on loan from Robert and Susan Fratkin and features original FDR campaign posters, Civilian Conservation Corps badges, National Recovery Act posters, and much more. The Fratkin Collection is a special opportunity for guests to see artifacts that are rarely displayed locally.

The Appalachian Blacksmith Association is back again at the New Deal Festival celebrating their annual “Hammer-In” at the Arthurdale Forge. The group features blacksmith craftsmen from across West Virginia. The Appalachian Blacksmith Association is a regional affiliate of the Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America. Guests also have the chance to see master potter Jamie Davis Bryan demonstrate pottery techniques. Additional artisan demonstrators are being scheduled. For a current list, please visit our website at: http://www.newdealfestival.org

Gates open at 9:30 a.m. Purchase your festival tickets in advance and save. Online tickets are $5.00 per adult, $3.00 per child 6-11. At the gate, admission is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 6-12. Kids 5 and under are free. Parking is free. Advance tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.newdealfestival.org

Your admission includes access to all museum buildings and exhibits, four music performances, Quilt Show, the Antique Car Show, artisan demonstrations, Craft Market, children’s activities and more!

Admission Pricing at Gate:
$8.00 Adult Admission or 2 adults for $15
$5.00 Children 6-11
Children 5 and under FREE

Advance Purchase Admission Pricing:
$5.00 Adult Admission
$3.00 Child Admission (ages 6-11)

Volunteer for the NDF and get Free Admission!

We are always in need of more volunteers to help with the event.  Volunteers to the event get free admission, drinks and our sincere thanks!  If you would like to volunteer for the NDF, please call 304-864-3959 or email ahi@arthurdaleheritage.org.

Soup Camel Music

From bluegrass to jazz, from Celtic to blues, an eclectic array of music is on tap at Arthurdale Heritage’s 2012 New Deal Festival. Performing on the main Center Hall stage are: Soup Camel, Aurora Celtic, the Adam Loudin Group, and Falling Run Bluegrass Band. The New Deal Festival opens at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 14^th with performances beginning at 10 a.m.

Soup Camel is a unique band from Morgantown, West Virginia consisting of; Soup Camel, Motown Minnie K, The Beat Doctor, The Lovely Leslie Faye, and Delta Dave. Their music is an eclectic mix of genres that can only be described as Americana. Mostly acoustic in nature, Soup Camel is rooted in jazz/blues from the 1920s to 1940s and beyond with some occasional journeys into world music.

Aurora Celtic

From the hills of West Virginia, Aurora Celtic plays evocative and energetic traditional and original music for fiddle, Irish flute, mandolin, tenor banjo, and pennywhistles. The trio describes themselves as ‘edgy mountain Irish.’ Their music bridges the cultures of Scotland, Ireland and Appalachia.

Adam Loudin Group

Adam Loudin is the Director of Band and Chorus at Robert L. Bland Middle School in Weston, West Virginia.  He attained his undergraduate degree in music education and trumpet performance from West Virginia Wesleyan College where he studied with James Moore and Harry Rich.  He went on to earn his Master of Music in Jazz Studies at Indiana University – Bloomington where he was the teaching assistant to world-renowned jazz educator, David Baker.  A former winner of the Mountain State Brass Competition and a semifinalist in the National Trumpet Competition, Adam’s instrumental performing experience includes the Danville Symphony Orchestra in Illinois, the West Virginia Brass Quintet, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Sean Jones, Roger Humphries, the David Baker Band, and the Artie Shaw Band.

Falling Run Bluegrass Band

A favorite at the New Deal Festival, The Falling Run Bluegrass Band is no stranger to the regional music scene. The band has played events around the region for over 15 years, including festivals, events, and West Virginia University functions. The band focuses on traditional bluegrass and features accomplished musicians who have mastered numerous playing styles from Rock-a-billy bass “slapping” to Scruggs-style banjo playing. Members of the Falling Run Bluegrass Band have also performed with other notable bluegrass groups including the Songcatchers, Uncle Earl, and Wild Hog. Band members are Ray Hicks, Tiffany Underwood, Tim Selman, Aaron Holley, Rachel Eddy, Chris Haddox, and Zach Fanock.

Performance Information
What: Arthurdale Heritage’s New Deal Festival
Where: Historic Arthurdale Center Hall Complex, Arthurdale, West Virginia
When: Saturday, July 14, gates open at 9:30 a.m. and performances begin at 10 a.m.
Tickets: Admission is $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children ages 6-12, and kids 5 and under are free. Purchase advance tickets online and save $3.00 off the cost of an adult admission and $2.00 off a child admission. Advance tickets are available at:
http://www.newdealfestival.org