The Shepherdstown Fire Department will host a one day festival today at the fire department, 8052 Martinsburg Pike. This festival, which was held for the first time last year, replaces the annual week long carnival formerly presented by the department.

The department had made the change from a week-long event to the one-day because of the cost involved in hosting the multi-day event, especially when rain often hampered the success of the carnival atmosphere.

Rather than give up an event all together, the department chose to go with the festival which maintains the traditional bake auction many in the community look forward to each year. According to Dennis Barron, longtime fire department member, the auction has been held for at least 25 years, Favorites include hot milk sponge cake and red velvet, along with a variety of other delicious baked goods and even candies.Usually there are between 75-100 items offered for sale. The auction begins at 7:30 p.m.

The festival begins at 5 p.m. Friday and will include, in addition to the baked goods auction, a silent auction, raffles, hog roast, ice cream and other festival foods. A moon bounce and other inflatables will be on hand as will the famous Bubble B and Mr. B.

Please note that bingo will not be played during the festival and there will be no fireworks show this year.