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West Virginia culture is a captivating blend of rich Appalachian traditions and vibrant high culture infused with the jazz of surrounding U.S. cities like Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. The state is renowned for its deep-rooted Appalachian heritage, which is showcased through folk music, storytelling, and traditional crafts such as quilting and woodcarving. Visitors can experience this authentic culture at local festivals and heritage museums throughout the Mountain State. At the same time, West Virginia also embraces high culture, with world-class performances at the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, acclaimed theater productions at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, and art exhibitions at the Huntington Museum of Art. This unique mix of mountain traditions and refined artistic offerings makes West Virginia a true cultural gem in the heart of Appalachia.

Two young girls pose for a vintage tintype portrait.
Culture

Beckley arts festival reveals extraordinary line-up Sept. 20-25

by David Sibray

Beckley’s second annual “BEX” arts festival, set for Sept. 20-25, will feature twelve extraordinary workshops and performances designed to bolster the growing arts community in southern West Virginia. Scaled down for its second year to permit covid-conscious interaction, the pandemic has allowed organizers time to design intensive programs as the region continues to attract more … Read more

A ghost hunter explores an allegedly haunted location in West Virginia.
Culture

Website launches interactive map of W.Va. ghost stories

by Clyde Craig

Need help finding a ghost? Ghost hunters who are exploring West Virginia will have an easier time sharing and investigating experiences thanks to a new interactive map of hauntings being published by WVGhosts.com. Available at haunts.WVGhosts.com, the map locates the sites of more than 200 reported encounters with ghosts and other supernatural phenomena across the … Read more

Renowned Country music singer Kathy Mattea will return to West Virginia to host Mountain Stage.
Culture

W.Va. native Mattea named new host of Mountain Stage

by David Sibray

National Public Radio and West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage today announced that West Virginia native Kathy Mattea will take over as the new host starting September 9. Mattea, a two-time Grammy winner from Cross Lanes, West Virginia, has performed on the world-renowned show hosted in Charleston, West Virginia, more than any other female artist, second only to … Read more