Donate here for a chance to win a Cannondale Mountain Bike donated by our friends at Pathfinder!
The bike will be sized to the winner. The winner will be drawn at Cheat Fest on Saturday night.
Category: Uncategorized
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Win a Landscape Plan for your Property!
Visit the silent auction at Cheat Fest at the fest to bid on a Residential or Commercial Landscape Plan complete with site visit, scaled drawing, and plant palette donated by Heather Olson.
-Local clients include private residences in and around Morgantown, Cheat Lake, Philippi, and projects at Pete Dye Golf Club, as well as schools or non-profits.
-Designer has years of experience in residential, commercial, equine, parks, and more!
-Specializing in Low-water use/xeriscape gardens, English cutting gardens, edibles, pollinator gardens and more!
-Approximate Value – $850
(Note: Area of focus not to exceed 3 acres and site shall be within 50 miles of Morgantown WV; if site is beyond 50 miles from Morgantown 26505, designer shall instead work off digital aerial imagery and client provided measurements and digital photographs in lieu of site visit)
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Buy a Cheat Fest ticket – Win a VIP upgrade!
Here’s how it works:
When you purchase a presale ticket for Cheat Fest here you will be entered into a raffle every two weeks. The earlier you purchase, the more chances you have to win the goods! We will pick each week from out entire pool of ticket holders, so purchasing now sets you up for a chance to win all of these.
Prizes will include:
1/19 – $100 Friends of the Cheat Membership – Join the clean water fam! We ♥ our members. With this Confluence Crew membership you will get one $5 off coupon for FOC merch, a member sticker, and an 8×10 photo print of the Cheat River.
2/2 – FOC Map T – Next time you are talking about that rapid that dumped you, you can orient your friends on your t-shirt.
2/16 – FOC Hat – These new hats are stylin’! Consider it your Cheat Fest crown.
3/2 – Swag bag – I hope you like surprises!
3/16 – TBD
3/30 – VIP upgrade – Get VIP perks with your Cheat Fest ticket. Camp onsite for free, join us at the VIP Party Friday night, enjoy hospitality backstage, and park onsite!
4/20 – VIP Upgrade
Click here to buy your tickets!
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Mud and Love (No, it’s not Woodstock) It’s Cheat Fest, 2017 by Susan Truxell Sauter
How do you make having to wear four layers of clothing to stay warm and maneuvering through soft pools of oozing, brown mud into fun? Well, you call it Cheat Fest. You call it family.
This 23rd year of the festival that celebrates the beloved river, the Cheat, is just past, and I, a somewhat long-time supporter, want to report that the last two years I’ve attended, Cheat Fest renews my faith in the organization called Friends of the Cheat. The organization, which used to have a somewhat scruffy, ragtag reputation, pulled this major feat together with determination and forethought, and this year, regardless of weather and its stupendous mud, with tremendous professional skill. No ragtag group puts this thing together. It’s more like a group of smart, flexible, class-five rapid-runners.
A new spin for 2017, the event began one day earlier. And Friday was one of those perfect, crisp, fresh spring days when wind gently rustled blooming dogwood branches and grass was still under foot . As a major donor, my eyes look a little differently at FOC than maybe a once-a-year attendee. Of course, I want to see progress, and well-considered spending of precious resources. I hope for sustainability, and thoughtful planning. I could see that everywhere, from the large, new composting toilets to even the food vendors using very cool heavy paper plates that could be composted too. How vendors came to do that wasn’t necessarily on their own—it was at the urging of Cheat Fest organizers.
Speaking of vendors, I was blown away by the artists that bring their work to sell. Their wares are really quite high quality—from indigo-dye, earth-image printed clothing, to delicately woven-wire jewelry to intricate mosaic-inlaid cutting boards—I could do a whole year of gift shopping in one fell swoop if I wanted. And feel good about it since the person you’re buying from is usually the person whose sweat and vision made the thing.
Board member Connie Miller organized a membership drive this year. I don’t know the final numbers. But speaking with attendees was so inspiring and useful from the standpoint of just spreading the word about FOCs projects. Let me tell you about some encounters when my shift came around. I’d ask people to join us Friends of the Cheat for an annual member fee of $30. Sometimes I’d discuss the remediation work FOC does, with lots of back and forth questions. (And with the help of FOC staff!) Or I’d explain the water monitoring CAPABLE program, where we regularly visit creeks to gather their baseline health. The person would say, “Wow. I always believed in you guys, and I come to this festival, but I’m so glad you talked with me. Your work is amazing. I guess I never realized the extent of what you do.” Other times I’d ask where they were from. Answers ranged from Cleveland (!) to Baltimore to Preston County. The fellow from Baltimore had been coming for 14 years! The Preston County guy had personally known the painter, Hoyt Reel, of the FOC giveaway postcard. And had been attending every year. The Cleveland couple explained it was their first year and that they knew quite an entourage in their Ohio city who love Cheat Fest and attend. One woman wanted to be the 28thmember to sign up since her birthday falls on the 28th. One man just about demanded to donate money to the stage. We made sure they got what they wanted.
But I took away the kind of thing you can’t put a price tag on. Like from a young woman who returned to be certain we’d follow up with a call so she can start monitoring the creeks (yep, I’ve got that covered!). Or when I asked one young guy if he was a member, and would he like to join, he stopped dead still. After a moment of quiet reflection, he said with reverence and awe, “I. Love. This River. I love. This river. So much. Yes. Yes, I’d really like to become a member.” He might’ve been the one who also said he was so glad someone cared about it like he did. Another memorable joiner wrote on our sign-up sheet, “Thank you. God Bless.”
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FOC thanks Susan Sauter for sharing her time and talent in CAPABLE volunteering and writing! We are so grateful for her kind words…
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Cheat Fest Races Put Smiles on Faces! And Financial Support in Different Places!
Did you ever wonder what we do with all the $$ love that funnels through the races? Let’s break it down. Follow the links to online registrations!
Cheat Fest 5K – all proceeds from this race go to the Preston Rail-Trails Committee, a sub-committee of FOC that has been wheelin’ & dealin’ for nearly 15 years to turn those unused train tracks into beautiful rail-trail. Big strides have been made in the past 3 years with the purchase of the Northern and Cheat rail-trails – both of which are now entering into construction phase! THE DEAL – registering for the 5K gets you 1) a nice bit of exercise for the morning of May 6th, 2) free entry to the fest, 3) a sweet t-shirt (if you register by March 31st!), 4) years of improved living conditions with walkable, bikeable rail-trails!, 5) a whole bucket of warm fuzzy feelings because you’re just the best.
Cheat Canyon Down River Race – all proceeds from this race benefit FOC directly! The Downriver Race is touted as one of the largest mass start river races in the country, maybe. 🙂 Racers load into the Cheat just downriver of Albright, and take on 10 miles of gnarly whitewater to the finish line, the Jenkinsburg Bridge. Registering in advance saves you $5! THE DEAL – registering for the Downriver Race gets you 1) in a boat, that’s a given, on a gorgeous stretch of whitewater, 2) free entry to the fest, 3) a sweet t-shirt, 4) the awesome knowledge that you are helping to improve the water quality of the Cheat River and are having a blast doing it, 5) free beer (for all paddlers over 21) at the after-party full of all your favorite people!
Want to support the 5K or downriver race but can’t make it in person? You can sponsor, too! Donate to the Rail-Trail or straight to FOC – we’ll be happy to help you out! Email bwarnick@cheat.org for help.
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Bask in the Glow of the 2017 Cheat Fest Art!
Feast your eyes on the 2017 Cheat Fest Artwork – by the wildly generous John Victor!
For 8 years, Southern Ohio artist John Victor has been graciously donating his time and expertise to Friends of the Cheat by designing the Cheat Fest artwork. Peruse his website for a glimpse into his talents. This year, FOC will be compiling all of John’s donated Cheat Fest art in a 16 page coloring book – available at the Cheat Fest merch booth.
John Victor 
“Pitzer” Former designer for the American Whitewater magazine, John has deep ties with the paddling world. Longtime friend to the Cheat River, John met the Pitzer family through music and mutual friends. John’s piece titled “Pitzer” is a touching tribute of his connection with Keith Pitzer, former Executive Director of FOC and renowned musician. Just recently, John paddled the Grand Canyon with none other than our current ED, Amanda Pitzer.
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Take advantage of a great marketing opportunity – sponsor the Cheat River Festival!
The annual Cheat River Festival is Friends of the Cheat’s primary fundraiser, with a big focus on the FUN part! Cheat Fest brings together over 3,000 families, outdoor enthusiasts, environmental advocates, music fans, art aficionados, and volunteers on the banks of the Cheat River in celebration of the river we all love. Proceeds from Cheat Fest support the work of FOC; from pollution abatement to paddling access, FOC has been making a measureable impact for over two decades.
Now, we are pleased to offer a means for Cheat Fest to work for your business, too. Through a cross-promotional partnership with Friends of the Cheat, you can position your business at the confluence of fun and fundraising! Reach a new audience, promote a special service, or simply reinforce your brand; we offer a variety of ways your sponsorship dollars can make a big splash.
Click here to see sponsorship packages
Contact bwarnick@cheat.org with questions or for more information about sponsoring the 2017 Cheat Fest. We have the following sponsorship packages available: Cheat River Stage Presenting Sponsor, VIP Party Presenting Sponsor, Stainless Steel Pints, Cheat River Kids Tent, Treasure Cove, Sustainability: Recycling & Compost, and Race Sponsors for the Rail-Trail 5K or Downriver Race. Feel good about where you spend your advertising dollars, and show the community you’re invested in their wellbeing.
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#FiestaFriday – Cheat Fest 2017’s Friday Night Lineup!
#FiestaFriday at the 2017 Cheat River Festival – Spend your Cinco de Mayo under the stars!
The Friday Night music lineup is:
Gates will open at 5:30 on Friday night. Music until 10:00. Come kick up some dust (or mud) with us. Get a first look at the Art Market or Silent Auction. We’ll have the majority of vendors and artists set-up – but not all – so don’t miss Saturday for the full experience. Tickets available online for Friday night and Saturday – preorder tickets for $5/15 until May 4th.
