OAK HILL, W. Va. -The Oak Leaf Festival originally started as a sports festival, but then grew. Now, twenty-five years later, the festival features more than a week of activities for those of all ages and interests, including live music, a car show, rides and more.
“…We’re trying to do something for everybody. We try to do it for kids, teenagers, adults. We have amusement rides down behind the bank, so just trying to involve everybody in the community,” says Saundie Smith, director of the Oak Leaf Festival.
This year is the festival’s 25th anniversary, and Smith says it’s been a great week, with people saying they had a good time. Among those enjoying their time at the festival is Kaidence, a young entrepreneur who set up a snack booth to raise money for vacation.
“Well, technically we go to Tennessee, and we want some money to spend there,” says Kaidence.
Local hospice, Hospice of Southern West Virginia, found a way to use the festival to raise money for a good cause by selling raffle tickets for a donated car. Brenda Young, a clinical care coordinator with the hospice, says they wanted to come to this annual event to connect with the local community, especially the car enthusiasts.
“Well, I mean, we know there is a car show, of course, and it’s a local event, and, like I said, we serve the families and patients right in this community, and we want to make sure that we like to connect to those people,” says Young.
Despite some rainy weather, Smith says the 25th anniversary of the Oak Leaf festival has been a success, with a great turnout from the community. While Sunday was the last day of this year’s festival, Smith says it won’t be ‘leafing’ Oak Hill any time soon.
If you would like to enter the car raffle for the Hospice of Southern West Virginia, Young says you can still buy a ticket on their website.
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