Ben Shaffer

The festival spans over a week each fall, typically from late September to early October, and is held citywide in Elkins without designated festival grounds. The private company is based in Elkins, WV. Mountain State Forest Festival, Inc. is a longstanding nonprofit organization that hosts the annual Mountain State Forest Festival, a major regional event celebrating natural resources, forestry heritage, and community spirit. The festival features a royal court, including the maid/queen, maids of honor, princesses from across the region, a minor court, trumpeteers, jesters, scouts, and the mascot Woodly the Elf. The event emphasizes conservation, economic development, and community involvement, maintaining strong ties to agriculture and forestry industries. It is largely volunteer-driven, supported by sponsors, and governed by a board of directors with a paid executive director and administrator. The organization provides resources such as event registration, program booklets, archives of past participants, and encourages community participation through volunteers and sponsors. The company was founded in 1930.