POINT PLEASANT — Tourism season has kicked off as the days continue to warm up and bring in a fresh breeze of events.

During the recent Mason County Convention & Visitors Bureau meeting, board members commented on recent happenings and also discussed upcoming events.

In April, the CVB participated in the Mason County Youth Expo held at the National Guard Armory. According to reports given, members enjoyed participating in the weekend event and handed out brochures and tourism guides to families. A ‘Calendar of Events’ also was passed out to a reported 1,000 elementary school children.

The recent Siege of Fort Randolph was proclaimed by CVB chairman, Denny Bellamy as the ‘biggest and best’. Other members said that there was more re-enactors than ever before and the public participation was higher than in years past.

The CVB announced several upcoming events including another Point Pleasant in Bloom ‘Planting Day’ to take place on May 22. The association is available to help anyone plant flowers on that day.

Also on Saturday, the 14th quilt square will be dedicated at 1 p.m. It will be placed at Jack Burris’s farm on Route 35 entitled, ‘God’s Eye’.

As May comes to an end, the Memorial Day Parade will be held on the last Saturday of the month, May 29 in Point Pleasant. Line up will be at noon at the Mason County Board of Education - Central Office and the parade will start at 1 p.m. The parade is set to commemorate Memorial Day. A memorial service also will be held after the parade. There will be no charge for any of the activities and the public is welcome to participate. The Mason County Post 2 AMVETS and the Ladies Auxiliary are sponsoring the weekend events.

But it seems the busiest week of all is yet to come during the first week in June. Events slated for the weekend of June 4 and 5 include the Woodland Indian Gathering that will take place at Fort Randolph, the 20th Annual Bend Area Care Budweiser Catfish Tournament, and the Antique Tractor Pull.

For two days, Fort Randolph will host Native re-enactors will entertain with presentations, portrayals and demonstrations. Workshops also will be held on proper clothing of the period, as well as life skills of Native Americans in the region. For more information about the Woodland Indian Gathering, contact Craig Hesson, president of the Fort Randolph Committee at 304-675-7933.

One of the largest catfish tournaments east of the Mississippi River will take place Saturday, June 5 at the Mason Park & Levy. Nearly 80% of tournament monies raised will benefit the ‘Kids for Christmas’ program in the Bend Area that assists needy families during the Christmas season. Launching begins at 7:30 a.m., with weigh-ins taking place at 3:30 p.m. For more information about registration fees, contact Elvis Zerkle at 304-773-5680 or 304-675-1150 ext. 201. You can also visit www.bendareacare.com for additional information.

Also during the same weekend, the West Virginia State Farm Museum, located on Fairground Road, will host an Antique Tractor Pull. The event begins at 6 p.m.

Another fishing event will take place on Saturday, June 12 at Krodel Park.

The 17th Annual Parent/Child Fishing Rodeo is open to children ages 0-20, as well as for adults 21 and over. Age categories are as follows: 0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 20 and over. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Prizes will be awarded in each category for shortest fish caught, longest fish caught and most fish caught. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with fishing taking place from 8 a.m. to noon. Winners will be announced at noon. This event is sponsored by the Mason County Family Resource Network. Contest rules apply and no fishing license is required.

The next general meeting of the CVB will take June 15, 2010.

For more information about the tourism center, or to view an entire list of upcoming events for the year, please visit www.masoncountytourism.com.