Oak Hill, WV (WOAY) – One of the busiest weeks on Oak Hill’s calendar is just a week away, as the 27th annual Oak Leaf Festival prepares to take over the downtown from Aug. 31 through Sept. 6.
The week-long celebration brings vendors, food trucks, rides and live entertainment to the streets, along with pageants, a parade, car shows, a chili cook-off and fireworks. For many in the area, the festival marks an early turn toward autumn even with weeks left on the calendar.
Pulling it together is a months-long effort, according to organizer Saundie Smith.
“Every year we start about January and work our way up to it,” Smith said. “We have a good committee. Everybody helps out.”
The payoff for downtown comes when the crowds fill Main Street. Tim Naylor with the New River Gorge CVB said the week delivers a direct boost to local businesses.
“It’s really good for the city of Hill to see that much traffic come through in the week,” Naylor said. “They got a lot of live music, a lot of vendors. Those vendors will see a lot of foot traffic and make a lot of sales. So it’s really good for the community.”
Naylor added that the impact can reach beyond the festival itself, as some visitors take a closer look at what the town has to offer.
“They’ve been going through some renovations and trying to get some life back into parts of the city and just bringing those people in who may not be from here and might see something, maybe see a storefront that they want to put a business,” Naylor said. “And so those vendors who come in may end up finding a permanent location.”
This year’s celebration also carries a connection to country music history. Smith said the festival’s special guest is Hilary Williams, daughter of Hank Williams Jr.
“She’s going to be with us,” Smith said. “She’ll be in Friday evening and through Monday. And she is going to be here Saturday and enjoying all the festivities.”
For Naylor, the visit brings a well-known name back to a town already woven into the family’s story.
“Hank Williams’ last stop was here in Oak Hill,” Naylor said. “So it’s really kind of just a good homecoming for her and for this community to see something to make that connection again.”
A full schedule is available at oakleaffestivalwv.org.
