Brown Shop Bears of Kearneysville is a haven of beautiful handmade stuffed bears. Treva Blackford has been making bears and other animals longer than she can remember. Photo by James P. Whipple

HARPERS FERRY – The 39th annual spring Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival was held recently at the Sam Michael’s Park with more than 160 artisans participating.

The event was well-attended by the public. Some of the participants were local businesses from Jefferson County. Pathway Photo, owned by Ed Mills, had a display of several images of Harpers Ferry and many other communities across Jefferson County.

“Pathway Photo is located in an area rich in Civil War history and surrounded by natural beauty,” Mills said. “We feature interpretative photography of the area known as The Hallowed Ground. This 175-mile corridor includes Gettysburg . . . to the north and Charlottesville . . . to the south. Our photo art captures rivers, mountains, and meandering byways that provide a peaceful backdrop for these historical treasures.”

Brown Shop Bears of Kearneysville is a haven of beautiful handmade stuffed bears. Treva Blackford has been making bears and other animals longer than she can remember.

“I design and handcraft bears, foxes and other animals,” she said. “Most are made from mohair, which is sheared from the Angora goat then woven into a fabric backing. It comes in many colors and styles.”

Aunt Irene’s Sweets ‘n’ Treats is a Candy is run by Michelle Foust and Bettie Abdella.

“We Make Wonderful Chocolate dipped treats, glorious cinnamon roll, luscious fudge, and a whole host of our own creations,” Foust said. “Our Candy shop is in Historic Harpers Ferry and has been featured in Southern Living Magazine.”

The award winning Sycamore Pottery is owned by Ren and Pam Parziale. The pottery is located on Payne’s Ford Road near Kearneysville.

Sycamore Pottery is well known throughout the area for the many pots, pitchers, and bowls made for the National Park Service, Historic Shepherdstown, 4-H Camp Frame in Berkley County and other cultural and civic organizations.

The Parziales work was recently recognized with an Award of Distinction by the Eastern Panhandle Heritage Craft Center Pottery Exhibition in Martinsburg. Their work has been exhibited at Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling and Washington County Museum in Hagerstown, Md.

Leaping fish, flowers, and swooping brushwork enhance a colorful selection of glazes, butternut, celadon, soft gray and blue.

States from Maine to Florida and many points between were represented at the festival. Several were from West Virginia.