Stonewall Jackson Heritage Arts and Crafts Jubilee in West Virginia

What started as a small gathering of crafters and musicians more than 25 years ago has grown into one of West Virginia's finest festivals — the Stonewall Jackson Heritage Arts and Crafts Jubilee.

This exciting 4-day event is held over Labor Day weekend near Weston at Jackson's Mill, the boyhood home of famous Confederate Civil War General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. You can park for free at the local airstrip, then ride on a tractor-pulled hay wagon to the main festival area.

There you'll find more than 200 crafters and artisans displaying their handiwork. You'll also enjoy folk music and dancing, gristmill demonstrations, wood-chopping contests, and storytelling, pie-baking and turkey-calling competitions.

I love the old-time concerts and Civil War reenactments, and I never miss a chance to stroll through the encampment near the Appalachian Muzzleloading Club.

That's not all — there's also a marble-shooting tournament, displays of handmade quilts and vintage farm equipment, heritage music, apple-butter making, historic buildings like the McWorter Cabin (circa 1790) and glassblowing.

There's food galore, too — wait until you taste the roasted corn on the cob, corn bread and beans, pork and chicken barbecue, blackberry cobbler, fruit dumplings and lots more. They're all delicious!

To find Jackson's Mill, take Exit 105 from I-79 and follow the signs for 7 miles. This year's festival is August 30-September 2; admission is $7 for adults and $2 for children under age 12. Four-day passes are available.

For details, call the jubilee office at 1-800-296-1863.