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local haunted trail kicks off scary season, and one area church is inviting neighbors to celebrate their Coptic heritage. Here’s the 411 from communities around the region, including St. Albans, Charleston and Clendenin.
TALES & TRAILS: ’Tis the season for celebrations. First up: St. Albans City Park will host the third annual Moon Lit Tales and Haunted Trails on Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11. The event takes place during the first opening weekend of the park’s yearly Haunted Trail. This year’s event will include a DJ, live band, food trucks, and more. Guests will also experience a stilt walker, fire performers, a toe tag hunt, a pick-the-path creepy tale, a costume parade, a geocaching activity, prizes, and more. Most activities are free, though there is a nominal fee to walk the haunted trail. Organizers are seeking vendors and sponsors for the event. Interested parties may fill out a vendor form or sponsor form, both available online. More information on Moon Lit Tales and Haunted Trails is available on Facebook or by emailing wvmoonlittales@gmail.com.
COPTIC FESTIVAL: Speaking of celebrations, members of the Kanawha Valley’s Coptic community are celebrating their heritage, and the public is invited. St. Mary and Archangel Gabriel Coptic Church in Charleston will host its annual Coptic Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11. Coptic Christians, one of the oldest Christian groups in North Africa, trace their ancestry to ancient Egypt. The Coptic language, which is still used in Coptic Christian liturgical services, is directly tied to the ancient Egyptian language. The Coptic Festival offers a full day of family-friendly fun. Guests can enjoy face painting, children’s games, and pose for photos with Pharaohs. Church tours and choir performances will be available throughout the day, and a full menu of authentic Egyptian cuisine will be offered. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for children. Children under 3 years old may attend for free. St. Mary and Archangel Gabriel Coptic Church is located at 309 Beauregard Street. More information on the Egyptian Coptic Festival is available on Facebook.
ELKTOBERFEST: No autumnal celebration would be complete without a beer festival. Thankfully, the second annual Elktoberfest returns to Main Street in Clendenin on Saturday, Oct. 11. The event offers music, craft vendors, food vendors, craft beer, and more. In the Oktoberfest vein, a traditional stein-holding contest and Chicken Dance competition will also be offered. Featured live music performers include Logan Truman, Kaden Meeks, Golden, The Carpenter Ants, and Josh Pantry & The Boys. Elktoberfest runs from noon to 8 p.m., and admission is free. More information is available on Facebook.
