PARKERSBURG - Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park will offer several special activities and trips to the island in June as the summer tourism season takes off.
The first Sunday Sundae Cruise of the summer will be held on Sunday and will feature ice cream and a sunset sternwheeler cruise around the island.
The cost is $12 per person. The Island Belle sternwheeler will depart from Belpre's Civitan Park at 6:30 p.m. and return to the dock at 9:30 p.m. The cruise will include a brief stop at the island for a hand-dipped ice cream sundae.
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (304) 420-4800. Other dates for the Sunday Sundae Cruises are July 11 and Aug. 8.
The next special program will be Brunch with Margaret Blennerhassett on Thursday, June 10.
The event will feature a morning sternwheeler cruise to the island where visitors will be greeted by Margaret Blennerhassett, portrayed by re-enactor Debra Conner, for a tour of the mansion and a brunch.
The cost of the program is $39.95, and reservations are required. The day also includes a horse-drawn wagon ride and a visit to the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History in downtown Parkersburg. Other dates for the program are Aug. 12, Sept. 9 and Sept. 23.
On Sunday, June 20, Blennerhassett Island will host its annual West Virginia Day Celebration to mark the 137th anniversary of West Virginia becoming the 35th state in the U.S. The public is invited for birthday cake at 2 p.m. at the concession shelter.
The final special event of the month will be the Blennerhassett Island Frolic and Evening Picnic Meal on Saturday, June 26.
The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for children ages 3 to 12. Reservations are required and can be obtained by calling (304) 420-4800 or visiting the Blennerhassett Museum at Second and Juliana streets.
The ticket includes the round-trip sternwheeler ride to the island, a picnic-style meal, a narrated wagon tour and a guided tour of the Blennerhassett Mansion. Bicycles will also be available, at no charge, for visitors to ride on the island. The island gift shop will also be open during the evening.
The boat departs Civitan Park at 6:30 p.m. and will leave the island at sunset returning to the park around 9:30. The concession stand will be open and offer other menu items as well. Other Island Frolic dates include July 24 and Aug. 28.
