The West Virginia Molasses Festival

Sweet molasses takes time and hard work, but West Fork Park volunteers believe the delicacy is worth the effort. They begin in late May planting sugar cane; soaking Honeydew, Orange, and Tracy cane seeds overnight before sowing.

In September, with the harvest of their spring labors, they work overtime to make the sorghum for the West Virginia Molasses Festival.

On the first day of the festival cane stalks are ground through the mill, releasing the juice. The juice then enters the long, flat "evaporating "pan" which is divided into controlled sections. Volunteers bustle back and forth at the pan, working up a fire of soft wood, moving juice through the controlled sections - from one end of the pan to the other.

When heated, proteins and non-sugars form a greenish foam called "skimmings" which rise to the surface. For three days, workers stand over the heat to skim the juice. As skimmings are cleared, the amber color comes through. Skimmers test the liquid for desired density and color by watching syrup drip from their skimming paddles. Experience tells them when the sweet syrup is ready.

Molasses is then sold in the festival's country store, where jars fly across the counter. The syrup sells out quickly - until the next batch is finished.

The process may seem simple, but this thirty-nine year tradition requires the work of masters. Yet, even above the challenge of molasses making, this festival includes all the highlights of small town life.

In addition to molasses, this festival includes the best of local gospel and bluegrass. Young and old dance, sing, and play music together.

The parade is the parade of parades - with queens, contestants, horse-drawn carriages, politicians, trucks, cars and kids.

Candy rains on children waiting along the sides of the road.

And grilled chicken? This ain't no back-yard barbecue. Three hundred and fifty chicken halves, served with gallons of baked beans, cole slaw, lemonade and tea, and hundreds of rolls with butter.

Food, music, molasses and fun. These volunteers have been at this for forty years, building their park, their building and their community with the fruits of this festival.

This is how it's done.

The West Virginia Molasses Festival is held the third weekend in September, from Thursday to Sunday. Camping is available for $8 a day; $10 a day with electric. For more information on camping, call 304-655-8604. For information on the festival in general, call 304-655-7371.