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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.

Shepherd University's Appalachian Studies program is accepting fiction competition submissions by May 1.
Culture

Shepherd opens 2020 Appalachian fiction competition

by Clyde Craig

The Appalachian Studies and Communities at Shepherd University is accepting submissions by May 1 for its 2020 West Virginia Fiction Competition. The competition was created to encourage writers and storytellers whose talent and creative writing ability is distinctive and promising and to foster an appreciation of Appalachian culture and values represented in the diverse writing … Read more

Putnam County, won first place with her representation of Dolly Sods.
Culture

Student quarter designs reveal iconic West Virginia images

by David Sibray

What do West Virginia high school students think about when they consider iconic West Virginia images? The winning entries for the 2020 Create-a-Quarter-for-West-Virginia contest reveal much. In conjunction with Presidents’ Day, the sixth installment of the Student Artist Series, was emceed by West Virginia First Lady Cathy Justice, who established the series to promote the … Read more

Bookstores in West Virginia are holding their own against the onslaught of e-readers and other media.
Culture

Bookstores across West Virginia growing, diversifying

by David Sibray

Opening a bookstore may not be the best way to turn a profit, but bookstores in West Virginia are doing well and diversifying, says an author who’s published a book on the matter. Matt Browning, the author of “Bookstore Explorer: West Virginia,” says thirty bookstores now exist in the Mountain State, often in areas where … Read more

A kitten peers out from behind a flowerpot in West Virginia. (Photo courtesy Sindy Strife)
Culture

West Virginia mountain community spearheads animal rescue

by David Sibray

Would-be pets are among the victims of decline in the coalfields of southern West Virginia, but one community in Mingo County has managed to spearhead a rescue effort that’s off to a remarkable start. Gilbert Happy Tails, to host its first “Fur Ball” fundraiser this month in Gilbert, West Virginia, has already received support from … Read more

Fayetteville will transform into a magical village during Wizard Weekend.
Culture

Wizard Weekend in Fayetteville brews up magical family fun

by David Sibray

This weekend’s Wizard Weekend in Fayetteville, West Virginia, seems ideally suited to the character of the whimsical town on the rim of the New River Gorge, organizers say. Beginning Thursday, the first annual community festival will see many of the town’s shops, restaurants, and attractions transformed into magical venues—wand shops, potion distilleries, and feast halls … Read more

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