“We had a good weekend with large crowds,” said Heather McIntyre, director of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. The chamber hosted the annual fall Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival this past weekend.

The festival welcomed vendors offering a variety of craftsmanship in a variety of mediums including jewelry, glasswork, rugs, stonework, photography and much more. The crafters are juried artisans and craftspersons who come from locations all across the country..

Wineries from around West Virginia also participated once again, offering samples of their beverages which could then be purchased for off-site consumption.

“We could not have asked for more beautiful weather,” McIntyre said. “People were out having fun with their families and doing a lot of shopping.”

Profits from the two festivals held each year go back into the community, McIntyre said, in the form of donations made by the Chamber. Specific organizations who receive vary each year; however, some remain constant. The Jefferson County 4-H Leaders Association, the Boy Scouts, fire and rescue companies around the county and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Reserves are all annual recipients. The donations to these specific groups come gate admission, McIntyre shared.

The Chamber has decided to limit the festival to once per year starting in the 2014 season. The spring festival, normally held in June, will be eliminated for now, McIntyre shared.

“We have found that the slow down in the economy over the past few years has taken a toll of the festivals,” she said. “It will be more cost-effective for our vendors to limit the show to once per year for now, at least,” McIntyre continued.

The next festival is set for Sept. 26, 27 and 28, 2014. For more information, call 800-624-0577.