BECKLEY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – This weekend, the City of Beckley will kick off its first event held under the Appalachian Festival. Organized by the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, the festival is now in its 24th year.
Michelle Rotellini, President and CEO of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, explained how the goal has always been to grow the festival, ultimately resulting in a month-long, city-wide celebration.
According to Rotellini, the Appalachian Festival stemmed from the Appalachian Makers Market, a large arts and crafts fair that began in 1965.
“24 years ago, they started the festival, not just the market but the whole festival, with the idea that maybe one day, we could grow it to a whole month and attract people to our area for all of August. We have been gradually adding things to accomplish that.”
The festival will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 21, with the Honey Festival at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. Different events- all highlighting Appalachian culture- will be held throughout the week, and the festival will come to its end on August 27 and August 28 with the Appalachian Makers Market, an event that features handmade arts from quilt making to jewelry and everything in between.
The week-long Appalachian Festival includes a collaborative partnership of events such as:
Daniel Vineyard Wine Festival Appalachian Street Fair
Fridays in the Park
Honey Bee Festival
Youth Museum Thomas the Train Exhibit
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine Tours
Tamarack Courtyard Concerts
Full Moon Bike & Walk
Farmers Markets
Youth Library Events
Beckley Art Center Exhibits
National Park Ranger Programs
Appalachian Jamboree Concert
Haunted Beckley Ghost Tours
Support Local Business Show
This year, the festival is growing with the introduction of Restaurant Week. Restaurant Week- the celebration of Appalachian cuisine and local businesses- will take place from Monday, August 23, through Thursday, August 26, at participating restaurants.
Rotellini spoke of this year’s newest attraction, stating the importance of the continual expansion of the festival.
“It helps southern West Virginia and the Beckley-Raleigh County area to be more sustainable, meaning that no matter what is happening economically, we have things that are ingrained into the fabric of our culture and those things will always remain,” she said. “Having a festival is one of the components of having a sustainable town or community. 100 years from now, people will still recognize Raleigh County for the same things we recognize today. We are not a dying town; we are a growing town.”
In addition to creating a sustainable community, Rotellini says the chamber always seeks to foster a love for Appalachian culture.
“It’s very important because we are very unique, and as we transition to new forms of energy and we are maybe not so much of the coal community that we used to be, it’s important to focus on this sort of Appalachian culture. The people that came to work in the logging and mining industries were our European ancestors- German, Italian and Polish. It’s just very interesting to celebrate those things so the new generations can understand.”
Festivalgoers will have plenty of opportunities to learn about what makes southern West Virginia the place it is during this week’s event and activities. Learn more about the Appalachian Festival here.