Photos | Martha Sparks

Ridge Meade, 9, of Chapmanville, had Barney of Mayberry and 75-year-old Reba Donahue two steppin’ during the talent show held Thursday afternoon. Meade was competing for a $250 grand prize in the contest.

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Hundreds of people came to downtown Logan for the first day of the annual WV Freedom Festival on Thursday evening. Despite a set back by a severe thunderstorm earlier, all the vendors, acts and stages were ready for entertainment.

“It has been a great first night,” said Logan Mayor Serafino Nolletti. “We have a great turnout on our vendors. Everybody is having a good time… that’s what we want to see.”

Following the storm, temperature and humidity levels dropped, allowing for a comfortable evening in downtown.

“The temperatures have cooled off and the weather set us back a little bit today in setting things up with a few problems, but we overcome them and everything is going great,” said Nolletti.

The festival continues today and the theme will be Logan County Night. The festival will honor Logan County and its coal, people, heritage and trails. Events will include a pet show, talent show, motorcycle stunt show and the ever popular Lymp Sync contest.

The festival will be held all day Saturday with a car show, the military salute where American’s Got Talent winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. will perform the national anthem at 4 p.m. and a finale of fireworks beginning at dusk followed by the immensely Block Party with DJ Bill France.

The schedule for the festival includes:

Friday July 6

• 6 p.m. — Dynamo Dogs, former Ringling Brothers act, in front of McCormick’s; Team Extreme Motorcycle Stunt Show in the parking building lot at Holland Lane

• 6-7 p.m. — Lip Sync Contest on main stage. You must dress to compete for the $250 grand prize.

• 6-8 p.m. — Salute to Coal Motorcycle Show, held in memory of Frank Chirico and hosted by The Blue Knights Motorcycle Club; registration fee $15; t-shirt to entries; tons of prizes and trophies

• 7 p.m. — Tug Valley Entertainment (DJ) on DMV lot; High Energy Magic of Speed in front of McCormick’s

• 7:30 p.m. — Dynamo Dogs, former Ringling Brothers act, in front of McCormick’s; Team Extreme Motorcycle Stunt Show in the parking building lot at Holland Lane

• 7-8 p.m. — Logan County celebration, on main stage, with Logan, Man, Chapmanville, county and state representatives; Salute to coal and trail system.

• 8 p.m. — ASW Wrestling on DMV lot with special guest Mouth of the South Jimmy Hart

• 8:30-10:30 p.m. — The Easy Street Band on main stage

• 8:30 p.m. — High Energy Magic of Speed in front of McCormick’s

• 9:30 p.m. — Dynamo Dogs, former Ringling Brothers act, in front of McCormick’s; Team Extreme Motorcycle Stunt Show in the parking building lot at Holland Lane

• 10-11:30 p.m. — Tim Browning and the Widow Makers live on main stage.

Saturday July 7

Fireworks finale

• 11 am.-1 p.m. — Car Show registration at the DMV lot, show held in memory of Frank Chirico. $15 registration fee with trophies and prizes. Entertainment by Tug Valley Entertainment

• 1-3 p.m. — WV Freedom Festival Car Show

• 12-2:30 p.m. — Street Players Band live on main stage

• 1 p.m. — High Energy Magic of Speed in front of McCormick’s

• 2 p.m. — Dynamo Dogs, former Ringling Brothers act, in front of McCormick’s; Team Extreme Motorcycle Stunt Show in the parking building lot at Holland Lane

• 3 p.m. — Car show awards on the DMV lot with Barney of Mayberry

• 3-4 p.m. — Live band, Red Neck Side Band, on main stage

• 4 p.m. — Military Salute on main stage hosted by American Legion Post 19. Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. performing national anthem; line up for Coal Rally on Middelburg Island. March is from Island to main stage. Make signs, wear coal shirts and march with the crowd

• 5-6 p.m. — Coal Rally at Main stage followed by Downtown Window Decorating Contest winners. Contest in memory of Betty Nolletti

• 5:30-6:30 p.m. — Live band, Easy Street Players, on DMV lot (Fun Before the Fireworks Showcase)

• 7 p.m. — High Energy Magic of Speed, in front of McCormick’s, final show of evening

• 7-8:30 p.m. — Live band, Easy Street Players, on DMV lot (Fun Before the Fireworks Showcase)

• 8 p.m. — Team Extreme Motorcycle Stunt Show in the parking building lot at Holland Lane; Dynamo Dogs, former Ringling Brothers act, in front of McCormick’s

• 7:30-8:30 p.m. — Crisp & Davis Band on main stage

• 9 p.m. — Dynamo Dogs, former Ringling Brothers act, in front of McCormick’s; Team Extreme Motorcycle Stunt Show in the parking building lot at Holland Lane

• 9 p.m. (Dusk) Fireworks – Two firework shows from Hospital Hill and The Water Tower

• 9 p.m.-Midnight — WV Freedom Festival Block Party Blow Out with Bill France following the Fireworks

10-11 p.m. The Sweet Water Band on DMV lot.

For more information on the Festival, visit the WV Freedom Festival facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WVFreedomFestival. You may also call 304-752-4044 for more information.