Billed as “Clarksburg’s Biggest Tailgate Party”, the event will kick off Saturday, Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. at Jackson Square on W. Pike Street. (The event had originally been planned for Oct. 3 but was rescheduled because of inclement weather.)
The United Way of Harrison County is hosting its second huge football game-watching extravaganza. This autumn’s Tailgate is for the West Virginia University at Baylor game. People can see their favorite Mountaineers play while also enjoying food, friends, musical entertainment and prizes.
The Tailgate is free to make the fun available to everyone. “We want people to feel comfortable in coming,” said Marie Battles, Executive Director of the United Way of Harrison County.
Two 70-inch TV screens will be set up – one in the middle of Jackson Square and one facing the lower lot – so Mountaineer fans can easily watch WVU bash Baylor.
The Tailgate area set-up includes bleachers. “But people can bring their own chairs if they wish,” Battles said.
She also said that people with easy-ups should plan to arrive early, because those spaces will be limited.
“The only place they can set those up is around the perimeter,” she explained.
Vendors will be on hand with typical tailgate beverages and fare, such as pizza and wings. Tailgaters should eat and drink up because it will help support their community. These vendors will be donating 20 percent of their proceeds to the United Way, Battles reported.
“Annie Neeley and Her Hillbilly Band” will be performing from 10:30 a.m. until game time at noon and will perform again at halftime. The Cultural Foundation Barbara Highland Fund is sponsoring this superb musical treat.
As if WVU football, food and music isn’t enough, there will be several raffles and a drawing for two tickets to the November 7 “Mountaineer Week” home game of WVU vs. Texas Tech. The tickets were donated by the Clarksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau. Other organizations and local businesses will be donating other items for the raffles and a silent auction.
Battles reported that other agencies, groups and organizations are all working together to make the Tailgate Party a success, including FirstEnergy Foundation, which is a sponsor.
“We’re very grateful to everyone and to the Clarksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau and Clarksburg Uptown for their partnership in helping us pull this together,” Battles stated. “The City of Clarksburg has also been highly instrumental in helping us make this happen.”
She cited the Public Works and the City Parks departments for being especially helpful in setting up the satellite links and bleachers, respectively.
“So this really is a community effort,” Battles exclaimed.
Even though the event is free, the United Way welcomes contributions. “We’ll graciously accept any donations people have to offer,” Battles stated.
All proceeds will go to the United Way of Harrison County and will help the organization reach its 2016 Campaign goal of $842,000.
The United Way invites you to bring your Mountaineer Spirit and plan to join your friends and neighbors to cheer WVU to victory.
“We hope people will come out to the Tailgate to enjoy the game, food, music and much more,” Battles concluded.
For more information about the event, call (304) 622-2157 or (304) 624-6337.
