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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.

Snowshoe Mountain has set its lineup for the annual Ballhooter Music Festival March 13-15, 2020.
Culture

Snowshoe sets lineup for annual Ballhooter music festival

by Clyde Craig

Spring skiing, free concerts, and a vibrant nightlife have conspired to make the annual Ballhooter Festival at Snowshoe Mountain popular with visitors from across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and the Midwest. Snowshoe Mountain has announced the lineup of free village concerts for its eighth annual Ballhooter Festival, scheduled March 13-15, 2020, according to resort spokesman Shawn … Read more

A mess of ramps cooks during the annual ramp dinner at Helvetia, West Virginia.
Culture

Spring festivals in West Virginia growing in popularity

by Bianca Bosworth

Events that celebrate the arrival of spring in West Virginia are expected to be bigger and more popular than ever, according to the publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine. Ramp dinners, wildflower walks, and maple-syrup festivals are all drawing more tourists to the Mountain State, says David Sibray, who says he expects the trend will … Read more

Visitors tour a line of decorated shops during the Bramwell Christmas Tour of Homes. (Photo: Mercer County CVB)
Culture

Bramwell Christmas tour adds new home being restored

by David Sibray

A historic village of lavish homes in a remote corner of West Virginia is adding a new landmark to its annual Christmas tour, hosted every second Saturday in December. Residents of Bramwell, West Virginia, once reputedly home to more millionaires than any other community its size, will open their doors to guests from 5-8 p.m., … Read more

A ghost hunter roams a West Virginia forest.
Culture

W.Va. grows as a popular destination for ghost hunting

by Bianca Bosworth

PAX, W.Va. — West Virginia’s popularity as a destination for ghost hunting continues to increase, says the publisher of one of the state’s leading paranormal websites. Thousands of ghost hunters are now coming to the Mountain State monthly, according to Jonathan Moore, the publisher of West Virginia Ghosts, which celebrates its 24th year of publication. … Read more

Civil War Christmas By Thomas Nast
Culture

Shepherd to host Civil War Christmas December 7

by Clyde Craig

What was Christmas like during the Civil War? Find out during the fourth annual Civil War Christmas at Shepherd University on Saturday, December 7, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sponsored by the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War and the Department of History, the event will take place in conjunction with … Read more

Mountaineers Are Always Free will be released by the WVU Press to the public in early spring of 2020.
Culture

WVU to release book on history, symbol of the Mountaineer

by David Sibray

The West Virginia University Mountaineer is not just a mascot: it’s a symbol of West Virginia history and identity embraced throughout the Mountain State. Rosemary Hathaway, folklorist and associate professor of English in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, explores the spirit of the Mountaineer in her new book, Mountaineers Are Always Free. Published … Read more

Hungry Beech Nature Preserve, Roane County, West Virginia.
Culture

Gallery: Autumn in West Virginia by Jesse Thornton

by David Sibray

Each season the staff at West Virginia Explorer asks a photographer to help us express the beauty of West Virginia. This year we’ve asked Jesse Thorton to provide us his take on autumn. Much of Thornton’s work is for sale on his website, Reflection in a Pool. Wreck of remarkable aircraft may remain in the … Read more

The Five River Campground extends along the valley of the Cheat River north of Parsons, West Virginia.
Culture

October pow-wow in Tucker County moves, expands

by David Sibray

To accommodate a larger attendance, the inaugural gathering of Native Americans for song and dance on the Cheat River on October 5-6 has been moved to a larger venue. The “We Are Still Here” pow-wow—celebrating the native history of West Virginia—has been moved to the Five River Campground at Parsons, in Tucker County, which will … Read more

Whitney Bsharah, marketing consultant for WVExplorer Magazine.
Culture

W.Va. tourism marketer looking for industry insights

by David Sibray

Distance is helping Whitney Bsharah help West Virginians reach tourists, and as a native living abroad she’s observed changes in what audiences think about the Mountain State. “I will always miss home, but I think living in Richmond helps give me insight into how people feel about visiting the state,” she says, “and that’s turned … Read more