The annual Rocket Boys Festival will be held Oct. 4-6 in Beckley. The event celebrates the lives of the four original “Rocket Boys” whose story was told in the award-winning movie, “October Sky.” This year’s event will begin October 4with a screening of the film at 9 am in the Governor Hulett C. Smith Theatre at Tamarack. Later that day Rocket Boy Homer Hickam, whose book was turned into the movie, will host a writer’s workshop at the facility. At 7:30 a concert featuring Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys will be held at the Woodrow Wilson Auditorium in Beckley. Friends of Coal Spokesmen, Coach Don Nehlen and Coach Bobby Pruett will also participate in this year’s event.
On Oct. 5, the event will feature a half marathon and a 5K distance run. The epicenter of the event will shift to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and other sites in town.
Following is the schedule of events for
Saturday Oct. 5, 2013 Schedule, Beckley
8:00 AM Festival Gates Open – Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine (BECM) and New River Park (NRP)
8:00 AM Educational Displays, Food, Crafts, and Specialty Vendors Open – BECM and NRP
8:00 AM Beckley Buddy Walk Registration starts at New River Park, the Buddy Walk starts at 9:00 AM for more information on the Buddy Walk www.downwiththat.
9:00 AM Youth Museum of Southern
10:30AM "Writer's Row” Opens for "Meet and Greet" – Rahall Company Store – BECM
11:30 AM Second Annual West Virginia State Championship of Paper Airplane Flight- NRP (4 Age Groups, All Ages Welcome) First Community Bank Launch Pad – NRP (Entry Fee $2.00 per pilot)
11:30 AM First Community Bank Launch Pad Opens for Registration and Rocket Building until 1:00 PM
Second Annual Rocket Launch from First Community Bank Launch Pad at 1:35 PM – NRP
11:00 AM Concert Series Begins with Live Music until 5:00PM - Ramey Ford Stage BEMC
2:00 PM LIVE ROUND SONG CONTEST JUDGING IN COAL CAMP CHURCH LOCATED BY EXHIBITION COAL MINE
6:00 PM All Activities Transfer to Uptown Beckley for the Annual Chili Night
5:00 PM Rocket Boys Will Be Guest Chili Night Judges
Sunday, October 6, 2013 Beckley
9:00 AM Motor Coach Tours Depart For Coalwood, West Virginia, returning 4:00 PM
Motor Coach Tour Departs from TAMARACK in BECKLEY.
Ticket are $29.99 Adults and $14.99 Students/Call 1-88-Tamarack