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.
Now in its fifth year, West Virginia’s fast-growing Mountain Music Festival, scheduled for May 31-June 2, is adding zip-lining and whitewater rafting to its high-end ticket packages. Organizers are expecting a 30-percent increase in attendance in 2018 and are improving systems that will allow more than 2,500 expected guests to enjoy the venue’s waterpark, campgrounds, … Read more
A new film aims to tell the true story behind what happened in a rural West Virginia town when a group of locals encountered a monstrous being moments after seeing strange objects in the sky. “The Flatwoods Monster: A Legacy of Fear” is a new documentary from director Seth Breedlove, which will unlock a decades-old … Read more
The Greenbrier Valley Theatre through Feb. 3 will showcase a series of eight 10-minute plays featuring local performers as part of its tenth annual “New Voices” festival. Teaching Artist Lukas Hagley, who is directing and performing in this year’s festival in Lewisburg, West Virginia, says a committee combed through hundreds of submissions and found eight … Read more
“Rewriting the hip progressive-bluegrass genre,” Yonder Mountain String Band will perform Saturday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center in Huntington, West Virginia, according to Angela Jones, director of Marketing & External Affairs for the Marshall Artists Series. Presented by the Miller Investment Group at RBC Wealth Management, Yonder Mountain has … Read more
Red heart-shaped bathtubs gained world fame in the ’70s in Pocono resorts, and now three of these mementos of American romance are attracting a new clientele in West Virginia. Three tubs have made their way into luxury vacation cabins among the national parks of southern West Virginia, where they’ve become exceptionally popular draws, according to … Read more
Scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 19-21, the annual Winter Wonder Weekend this year at North Bend State Park will feature hiking, crafts, and activities—all with a 1960s theme. Emily Fleming, deputy director of the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, which sponsors the annual event, said the 1960s was an exciting decade in Ritchie County … Read more
On January 1, 1853, the first train arrived in Wheeling, West Virginia, (then Virginia) on the newly completed Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the first rail line linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Ohio River. The event was groundbreaking—not only for what would become northern West Virginia, but for the nation. For more than a quarter … Read more
Nationally known songwriters Jim Ritchey and Kelly Hunt will host the third annual retreat for songwriters at Twin Falls Resort State Park Nov. 10-12. The workshop is designed for songwriters of all levels but will be particularly helpful for those who already have written and need help perfecting their craft. Participants need not play an instrument, … Read more
Southern West Virginia’s rich history is celebrated annually through winning photographs featured in the 2017 Hidden History photo exhibit now on display in Logan. According to Jodi French-Burr, organizer of the competition, the historically based photographs by West Virginia photographers are on display at the Country Roads Visitor Center in Logan. First displayed at Tamarack, … Read more
PARKERSBURG, W.Va.—For two nights in October visitors to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park can experience the candle-lit world of 1805 and attend a period-accurate party during the park’s popular Mansion-by-Candlelight event. On Oct. 13-14, the event will capture the magic of the island’s historic setting with hundreds of candles lighting the way to the its … Read more
