Members of the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce were asked to consider hosting one of the first weekend festivals celebrating the “Year of the Trail” at the September Member Meeting. Based on the positive feedback from the member, the Chamber Directors agreed to proceed with the project at their October Board Meeting.

Joe Miller, outdoor tourism expert within the Governor’s Hometown Strong Initiative told the Chamber Members that Bladen County has an abundant number of outdoor resources that could draw visitors from Northeastern United States during the typical off season.

Miller noted that besides outdoor activities, the county is also blessed with wineries, a distillery, a vibrant downtown, and lots of quaint shopping that would provide things to do when the visitors were not on the trails.

Miller proposed a weekend long festival that would package hiking, mountain biking and water related activities during the day with music and food at night in Elizabethtown and White Lake. He also suggested that weekend in February, which could potentially be the first of several of these events throughout the state.

The Chamber Board has assigned the Trail Weekend to its Tourism Promotion Committee. Anyone wishing to serve on that committee should contact the Chamber office at 910-862-4368.