It will be hair today, gone tomorrow when some of West Virginia Universitys biggest and burliest participate in”razor-sharp”competition at noon Monday, Oct. 14, in the WVU Mountainlair commons area.
The annual shave-off event and the subsequent beard-growing is prelude to 55th annual Mountaineer Week activities that take place Nov.1-9.
“This is always a fun event and one of Mountaineer Weeks oldest traditions,”said Sonja Wilson, WVU Mountaineer Week coordinator.”I hope everyone will come out and cheer on some of WVU s finest mountain men.”
WVU s musket-wielding mascot Trey Hinrichs will be on hand as will Miss West Virginia Janna Kerns, a WVU senior. The New Tricks Barbershop Quartet also will perform.
When Mountaineer Week begins Nov. 1, the week of events will be packed with family fun festivities, delectable edibles and mountaineer music.
The popular Mountaineer Week Arts and Craft Fair will have its offerings of handmade jewelry, handwoven clothing and blankets, pottery, silk-screened t-shirts and other hand-crafted items from 58 state artisans in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.
The Country Roads Quilt Show also will return. Both events will be held Friday, Nov. 1-Sunday, Nov. 3, in the Mountainlair.
A Country Vittles dinner, complete with live Appalachian music from the Percival Pickers, will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, in the Mountainlairs Hatfields. Adults are $11.50, WVU students, $9 and children under 12, $6.75.
There also will be funnel cakes and candied apples for sale throughout the week, as well as apple butter-making demonstrations and old-time square dancing.
Appalachian authors will read from their works, and Bil Lepp, the West Virginia Liars and National Storytelling Champion, will spin his tales.
Clogging presentations will take place along with numerous displays and exhibits, plus the third annual Mountaineer Week Turkey Calling Contest.
“We are particularly excited about a third Mountaineer Mascot reunion,”Wilson said.”All former Mountaineer mascots, representing many generations, will be invited back to campus for this special occasion. The last reunion was held in 1997.”
The week concludes on Saturday, Nov. 9, with the Mountaineer Week football game when WVU plays BostonCollege at Mountaineer Field. Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer will be named at halftime as well as the Most Loyal Mountaineer, Alumni and Faculty and Staff.
A complete list of events will be forthcoming. For more information, call Sonja Wilson, 304-293-2702.