MORGANTOWN, WV (LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia University is celebrating its Appalachian heritage with the 77th annual Mountaineer Week, a seven-day event showcasing the region’s rich traditions in music, food, and arts and crafts.
The festivities began on Monday, Nov. 11, and run through Sunday, Nov. 17.
The week officially launched at noon Monday in the Mountainlair Food Court with the judging of the long-running Beard Growing Contest.
Sixteen students, who have spent six weeks cultivating their beards, will compete for the title of “best beard on campus.”
The contest, a Mountaineer Week staple since 1949, offers cash prizes and shaving kits sponsored by University Apartments.
The Mountaineer Week Arts & Craft Fair, a highlight of the celebration, will take place Nov. 15-17 on the Mountainlair’s second floor.
Seventy Appalachian artisans will display and sell handcrafted goods, including pottery, jewelry, handblown glass, and woven scarves.
The fair will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Quilting enthusiasts can visit the Quilt Show, hosted by the Country Roads Quilt Guild, in Elizabeth Moore Hall.
The show, celebrating the region’s quilting and needlework heritage, will be open during the same hours as the Arts & Craft Fair.
On Thursday, Nov. 14, scholars and musicians will explore West Virginia’s folk music traditions at a special event in the Mountainlair Gluck Theatre.
The evening will feature presentations by anthropologist Gloria Goodwin Reheja, WVU design studies professor Chris Haddox, and regional history expert Lori Hostuttler, along with a musical performance by Haddox and WVU alumna Mary Linscheid.
Throughout the week, the Mountainlair Food Court stage will come alive with Appalachian music. Performers include The Hillbilly Biscuits, the WVU Bluegrass Band, and The Starlight Darlins, among others.
The Arts & Craft Fair and Quilt Show will also feature the traditional sounds of the hammered dulcimer, played by Bob Shank, Pat Harper, and Jeff Fedan.
Five WVU seniors will be recognized as Mountaineers of Distinction during halftime of the WVU vs. Baylor football game on Saturday, Nov. 16.
These students embody the university’s core values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation.
Visitors can sample traditional Appalachian fare and watch an apple butter demonstration and sale.
An exhibit by the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia will provide insights into regional wildlife conservation efforts. Food vendors offering festival favorites will be stationed in front of the Mountainlair.
