Alderson 4th of July Celebration & State Fair of WV Selected as STS Top 20 Events

Lewisburg, WV (March 14, 2013) - The Alderson 4th of July Celebration and the State Fair of West Virginia were recently selected as a Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Top 20 Events for Summer 2013.

Alderson's 4th of July Celebration is set for July 4-8. With a long-standing history of hosting West Virginia's largest Independence Day celebration, the five-day event includes musical performances, concessions, a rubber ducky race, grand parade and fireworks display.

"This is a wonderful event, and I am thrilled that we are receiving another distinction for it," said Event Chair, Karen Lobban, Along with this STS award, the event was also voted "West Virginia's Favorite 4th of July Celebration" by WV Living magazine.

A second event to be selected is the State Fair of West Virginia scheduled for August 9-17. This annual tradition features family fun, food, rides, livestock exhibits and more.

"We are excited to once again be recognized as a Top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society," said State Fair CEO, Marlene Pierson-Jolliffe. "This year's 89th annual State Fair is themed "Feel the Magic." We guarantee an event that is jam-packed with great entertainment, engaging agricultural displays and educational opportunities for all ages.".

The Top 20 Events list began in 1985 as a way to promote the best events in the Southeast. Nominations must be received by STS members and the two events were nominated by the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) in January.

The Top 20 Events publication is sent to over 1,600 newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, AAA publications and others. The combined circulation runs into the millions.

Founded in 1983, Southeast Tourism Society is dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism to its 12 member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The membership includes state travel offices, attractions, hotels, motels, resorts, convention and visitors bureaus, airlines, car rental agencies, newspapers, magazines and other travel-related organizations. Its headquarters are in Atlanta.

For more information, please call 800-833-2068.

About the Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau:
The CVB's mission is to strive each day to positively impact the area's economy by marketing the region as a premier tourist destination. The Greenbrier Valley is the second most visited region in the state with 1.3 million visitors annually making an economic impact of more than $181 million.