MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The 13th annual MountainFest opens it’s doors Thursday afternoon at Mylan Park, with the promise of the largest potential turnout in event history.
“The buzz is absolutely incredible for the event this year,” organizer Jamie Summerlin said. “Those that have attended MountainFest in the past, you’ll immediately notice some changes that we’ve made.”
Those changes, according to Summerlin, will make the event even more lively, but won’t sacrifice the family atmosphere.
“The biggest years or so they’ve had 60,000 or so through the gates over the weekend, and again we’ve sold more tickets than they ever have pre-sales on that,” he said. “So that bodes well for a great crowd this year.”
Summerlin warned that the increased foot and commuter traffic throughout Morgantown and the entire region will require additional caution for local commuters.
“We really want to welcome our guests,” Summerlin said. “Over half of the pre-sale tickets that have been purchased have been from out of state. So those are tourists coming into West Virginia — getting a chance to ride our rodes. Be cautious. Be careful. Keep your eye out. Welcome them in.”
Tickets are still on sale, and Summerlin encouraged locals to check out the Festival.
“Don’t stay away from the event because there’s motorcyclists here,” he said. “It’s all-inclusive. We want people to come out — have a great time. Great music here this weekend. Bring the kids out, you know have a good time. Check out the motorcycles, and just enjoy the atmosphere of it all.”
MountainFest has donated over $900,000 back to local non-profits, according to Summerlin. In fact, the events success forced some changes due to new construction.
“We lost our campground this year because of the new aquatic and track facility being built right here on the property,” he said. “While we’ve lost something, our community has gained because of the success of events like MountainFest out here.”
Musical headliners will include War, George Thorogood, and Hank Williams Jr. Local acts like The Davisson Brothers Band will also appear.