An all-new board of directors is excited to offer an “all local festival” for the 16th annual Autumnfest Heritage Fair to be held Friday through Sunday at the Wetzel County 4-H grounds.

The completely revitalized fair will feature something for everyone while still focusing on the traditional activities implied in the event’s title.

There will be crafts, heritage crafters, local artisans, apple butter, apple cider, sock monkey making, baskets, and more. Contests for largest pumpkin, pumpkin decorating and carving, homemade scarecrow, and baked goods will be held with all entries meeting a Oct. 10 noon deadline.

Saturday will include lots of fun with such activities as horseshoe pitching, tractor show, mud truck show, all at 11 a.m. Then there will be a pony pull and children’s activities at 1 p.m., and the popular corn hold game at 2 p.m.

No festival would be complete without some musical entertainment and Autumnfest is no different.

The headline talent Friday at 7 p.m. will be Hundred Miles from Nowhere, a local band based in Hundred. They were formed in 2005 by Melissa Hixenbaugh and Shannon Duckworth singing as a duo. It didn’t take long for their talent to be noticed, and they gained quite a following after performing at various functions.

The duo has evolved into a talented six-member band which includes Hixenbaugh, vocals, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar; Shannon Duckworth, vocals, bass and keyboards; Doug Phillips, vocals and guitar; Chuck Hixenbaugh, vocals and bass guitar; Kevin Stewart, drums; and Gary Duckworth, drums.

The band has performed at many local venues including The Spot, The American Legion, Hundred’s Fourth of July celebration, Wileyville Homecoming, The Chili Cook-Off, and the Colgate Showdown in Waynesburg, Pa. For more information on Hundred Miles from Nowhere look at their Web site, www.hundredmilesfromnowhere.com.

Opening for Hundred Mile From Nowhere will be the Karaoke Connection Singers at 5:30 p.m.

Local acts to perform Saturday are Pat Henderson and singers at 9 a.m.; a fiddle contest at 11:30 a.m.; the Mon Valley Pickers at noon; Price Family at 5 p.m.; and the S.I. Connection of Sounds Incredible at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Also, don’t miss the “just for fun” dancing from 1:30-2 p.m. and karaoke contest from 2-3:30 p.m.

Then on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. will be performances by Joy Trio, Ryan Ritchea at 2 p.m., Donnie Forrester at 2:30 p.m., and karaoke from 3-5 p.m.

Festivities run until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sunday will end with a drawings for a gun, 50/50, and quilt at 5 p.m.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served all weekend, in addition to food stands.

Admission and parking is free. Camping is available. Anyone who would like more information is encouraged to call Jolene at 304-775-2870 or e-mail jo9366@frontiernet.net.

The Autumnfest is sponsored by the Community Educational Outreach Service (CEOS).