CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Last week, Governor Justice held a virtual ceremony to award more than $1.5 million to a total of 330 fairs and festivals across West Virginia aiming to help organizers and communities bridge the gap in a year where such events were forced to cancel.

“We know with this pandemic, we had to close our fairs and festivals. It was the prudent thing to do, but it was still a tough thing to do because I know how important these events are to all of us,” said Gov. Justice. “So the next thing that comes up, several of the people who run these events came to me and said that, because of a lack of funds and lost revenue, we could be on the verge of losing as many of half of these events,” Gov. Justice continued. “There’s no way I was going to stand by and let that happen. So what did we do? We went back to work to find a way to keep them going.”

The $1,566,388 announced today will reimburse 330 fairs and festivals for the dollars they would have received out of the State budget to hold their respective events.

In McDowell County, the following fairs and festivals received awards:

American Legion Post 8 Veterans Day Parade $1,250.00
Bradshaw Fall Festival $1,188.00
Elbert/Filbert Reunion Festival $891.00
Hilltop Festival of Lights $1,188.00
Iaeger Town Fair $891.00
Keystone Reunion Gala $1,563.00
Last Blast of Summer $2,970.00
McARTS $11,881.00
Mountain Music Festival $1,485.00
War Homecoming Fall Festival $891.00

Of the total amount, the Governor announced that $300,000 would be provided to support the State Fair of West Virginia.

“Our fairs and festivals are the fabric of our state in lots of ways,” Gov. Justice said. “They bring in millions and millions of visitors. Imagine the economic impact. Think about all the joy and goodness centered around these events.

“They’re our identity,” Gov. Justice continued. “That’s why today is such a special day.”