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West Virginia’s mountains are blooming and its rivers are ripe for rafting. From June 2-4, joyful sounds will echo up and down New River Gorge as musicians strum and sing their way through the 3rd Annual Mountain Music Festival at ACE Adventure Resort.

This festival, dedicated to music, adventure, arts and crafts, live painters, workshops, food and local craft beer begins Thursday, June 2 with a pre-festival party then runs through the wee hours of Sunday morning. Still available are performance tickets and accommodations in newly refurbished cabins and on immaculately tidy sites for pitching tents and hooking up RVs.

This 1,500-acre playground in West Virginia’s mountains may well be the only place in the world where visitors can combine whitewater rafting with a high-power music festival on an all-weather stage.

“This weekend marries the best of what ACE Adventure Resort does: facilitate outdoor adventure and bring in some of the country’s most outstanding musicians,” says Chris Colin, impresario. Year-round he is ACE Adventure Resort’s Special Events Coordinator and Kayak School Manager. He suggests signing up as soon as possible for opportunities to Kick It with the Artists. Fans can sign up to river raft and zip line with their musical favorites. Other activities include mountain biking, world-class rock climbing, horseback riding, standup paddle boarding and more

On Thursday evening, music during the pre-party will be provided by The Hornitz and Big Something. On Friday the lineup includes Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Cabinet and The Infamous Stringdusters before headliner, Trampled by Turtles out of Duluth, MN, continues to rock under the stars.

Saturday’s packed line-up features Groove Fetish, Major and the Monbacks, YumYum Beast, Fat Cheek Kat, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Dumpstaphunk, Galactic and Lotus. There’s also a Beach Party with activities on the resort’s newly enhanced crown jewel, the five-acre Wonderland Water Park which will be vying with the music for attention.

A May 21 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the resort debuted the upgraded water park featuring WV State Tourism Commissioner Amy Shuler Goodwin. This marked the culmination of nearly $1 million in infrastructure improvements focused on enhanced guest amenities. Along with lodging and food and beverage refurbishments, roads and parking facilities have been expanded and a new entrance landscaped. Much of the splash, however, was lavished on the five-acre water park that is at the heart of ACE Adventure Resort.

A variety of festival packages are available for pre-purchase as tickets are cheaper in advance. They will also be available at the door. One presale package includes a three-day festival pass and three night’s campground reservation, access to the pre-festival party, parking and a full-day ACE Lake pass for Saturday for $200.

Tickets are available online at www.mountainmusicfestwv.com/tickets.html. For more information and lodging reservations please call ACE Adventure Resort at 800-787-3982 or visit aceraft.com/.