Events

2022 marked the return of all of our in-person programming! Click Here for a full schedule of 2024 events, and stay tuned for details below. During the height of the pandemic, in lieu of in-person gatherings, we created regular virtual programming and special broadcasts for each of our events; you can watch the replay of those programs here. We will continue streaming live broadcasts of our events, so that anyone can access them, regardless of your ability to attend in-person. For the latest updates, please tune in to our Facebook page. Upcoming events are listed below. 

Previous events

La Rouge - a Red Dress Event

The Grassroots District

Join RiffRaff Arts Collective, Holler Gallery, Wild Roots Coffeehouse, Hammer & Stain and Shine Time Studios for La Rouge - A Red Dress Event, a night of mingling, music, art & love!

featuring ❤

🎨 1-4 p.m. - Artist & Creatives Networking and HeART Market with Silver Arrow Art, Shannon Shine Shine & others at ✨ Shine Time Studios

🫖 5-7 p.m. - Art Reception and Tea Party with Tap Twice Tea featuring Sound Healing with Joanie of The Gaia Den at WILD ROOTS coffeehouse

🎼 7-10 p.m. - Live Music & Artist Reception with 🪕 Tim & Maggie at RiffRaff Art Boutique, with NEW ART by Rainbow Art Farms, Eric Thomson, Emlee 100 and more. 🎸Jacob Brooks at Holler: Contemporary Appalachian Art Gallery & 🎤 Singer/Songwriter Showcase with Jon Bolt and James Hart in The RiffRaff Listening Room @ 867 Mercer Street

🎭 Murder Mystery Paint Party at Hammer & Stain

Mercer Monster Mash

Mercer Street Grassroots District

👻 Events for the Whole Family Bring Mercer Street Back From the Grave! ~🍭Trick or Treat on Mercer Street ~🧛‍♀️Costume Contest hosted by Doc Atwell & EJ with Prizes! ~ 🎃Performance Pumpkin Carving by Shannon Gerasimchik ~🎸Live Music by Red Audio ~🔮and more activities TBA. Stay tuned! 🚧The street will be closed from Bee Street to 7th for a safe Trick or Treating experience.

This is the final First Friday Concert in the Square in the 2023 series, which runs from May-October. Concerts are FREE & open to the public. The event will also feature The HeART Market, with artisan vendors who pour their heart into their work, and craft activities for the kiddos. ❤ Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs & picnic blankets, and enjoy dining, strolling the shops, creative activities and all The Grassroots District has to offer. James Hart and Old Soul Reunion will open the show from 6-7pm and Option 22 will take the stage from 7-9pm. About the Artists: Option 22: This infectious, eclectic Americana groove is led by powerful, yet blissfully soothing vocals dancing atop a smooth, soulful flow. Positive lyrics inspire unity and call for change. Based in Princeton, Lori McKinney (vocals, drums, spoken word) and Robert Blankenship (guitar, hand-drums, didgeridoo) have been writing & playing music together since 2004. Now infusing the mix are the highly skilled & ever-flowing bass lines of Brandon Dunn, the rock solid, hard hitting rhythms of Ary'an Graham (drums) and the soulful guitar stylings of Jacob Brooks (lead guitar). As a group, they understand the power of music to heal & transform, and they use their creative gifts to make a positive impact on the world around them. Robert & Lori live and work within a multi-purpose creative zone they created in downtown Princeton, The RiffRaff Arts Collective, which is revitalizing a one dark, depressed area with color and life. They also founded and run Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival, among other events. The other musicians orbit around the collective, bringing their talents and spirits around often, forming a sphere of creativity and good vibes. Option22.net James is a talented blues/soul songwriter and musician, shining light at Stages Music School in downtown Princeton and has performed at Culturefest for the past 10 years with multiple acts. A prolific writer, he's written over 70 songs. He says, "Music has always been a major part of my life; I see it as a way to deal with life and sometimes a way to not deal with life; I believe it is the art of creating emotion. In my solo work, I write what I have experienced either directly or indirectly and I try to play music that makes people happy, so most of what I write comes from that. But I don't want to just make them happy, I want to make them think about their relationships and the people they love, in hopes of helping them somehow deal with and reflect on the good and the bad in a positive way. After all, if you take away the cars and the houses and all the materialistic things, all we have left is each other.” James is joined by the remarkable talents of Jordan Furrow (drums), Robert Blankenship (bass) and Jacob Brooks (lead guitars) with guest vocals by Je'dah Madison ad Lori McKinney. This concert is brought to you with support from Princeton Community Hospital - WVU Medicine. ❤

20th Annual Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival

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Appalachian South Folklife Center

The 20th annual Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival! ❤ 4 days of music, art, dance, workshops, healing arts, children's activities, artisan vendors, drum circles, community art, camping & more in the beautiful WV hills. ❤ Featuring Toubab Krewe, Raquy Danziger, Option 22, Holy River, Kennedy OneSelf, Infinite Third, The Get Right Band, Mama & The Ruckus, McKinney, Whitney Mongé, Adama Dembele, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road, Minor Swing, Aire & Sol, Brinjal, The Charleston Rogues, Kathryn O’Shea, André Lassalle, Andrew Adkins Band, McKinney, Je’dah Madison, Ginger Wixx, GOTE, James Hart, Derian Mills, Jordan Furrow, CassiRaye, Tim & Maggie, Shine Resonance, The Pigment Sanctuary, and more. Stay tuned for workshop, healing & visual arts lineups. ❤ Find details & tickets at culturefestwv.com

First Friday Concert in the Square: The Settlement with Grace Campbell

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Dick Copeland Square, Mercer Street Grassroots District

This is the fourth in the First Friday Concerts in the Square series, which will run every 1st Friday May-October. Concerts are FREE & open to the public. The event will also feature The HeART Market, with artisan vendors who pour their heart into their work, and craft activities for the kiddos. ❤ Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs & picnic blankets, and enjoy dining, strolling the shops, creative activities and all The Grassroots District has to offer. Grace Campbell will open the show from 6-6:45 and The Settlement will take the stage from 7-9pm. About the Artists: The Settlement is a funk-fusion jam band from Huntington, WV. The eclectic, electric ensemble was founded in 2014. The Settlement cleverly combines rowdy rock riffs, complex jazz harmonies, funky bass lines, creamy pop vocals, jammin' reggae grooves and a multitude of diverse world music influences. thesettlementbandwv.bandcamp.com Grace Campbell is a singer/songwriter originally from Princeton, West Virginia with a charm all her own. Her impeccable songwriter skills and charismatic personality have warranted her quite the fan base both in West Virginia and on social media. This concert is brought to you with support from Princeton Community Hospital - WVU Medicine. ❤

Southern Coalfields Solar Community Meeting

WILD ROOTS Coffee House

Come and join us for an in person Solar Community Meeting regarding the Southern Coalfields Solar Collaborative at Wild Roots Coffee in Princeton! We will have a presentation and information available at 1:00pm so that you can learn more about our largest discount program available in Boone, Logan, Wyoming, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer & Raleigh Counties until October 3rd! This is available to residents, businesses, Nonprofits & Churches! For more information:https://www.solarholler.com/southern-coalfields.../

Learn about Mushroom Plugging with the experts of EB Fungi, who opened their new location in The Grassroots District last year! This event will take place in Camp Creek State Park, right after yoga & sound healing with The Gaia Den! Meet at the ampitheater at Camp Creek at 11am. Consider camping for the weekend & taking in all the lovely activities! Find a full schedule at peakofthebloom.com!

Enjoy a yoga session with the talented Joanie of The Gaia Den in the beautiful setting of Camp Creek State Park! This event is part of Peak of the Bloom, a celebration of the art of nature! Plan to camp for the weekend & enjoy all the activities, and rise & shine to this peaceful experience! Find the full schedule & details at peakofthebloom.com!

Enjoy a free concert at the beautiful Camp Creek State Park Ampitheater with the talented artists of Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road, plus artisan vendors, creative activities and more! This event is part of Peak of the Bloom, a celebration of the art of nature, August 4-13 in The Grassroots District and Camp Creek State Park. Find the full schedule & information at peakofthebloom.com! About the Artists: Billboard-charting bluegrass artists Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road perform internationally and stateside winning both industry awards and the hearts of fans. Growing up just down the road from Doc Watson, Liam Purcell leads Cane Mill Road as they rock the traditional bluegrass standards they were raised on, yet boldly write original music with roots in the fertile grounds of bluegrass, old-time, and Americana. Their powerful arrangements and dynamic stage presence have landed them main stage slots at legendary festivals across the country. Named Momentum Band of the Year by IBMA in 2019, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road have been recognized as one of the fastest growing bands in the industry. Their latest release "Roots" debuted at #6 on the Billboard Bluegrass Album Charts, joining their three previous albums for a total of 12 weeks in the Top 10. In 2022, bandleader Liam Purcell turned heads by sweeping the Rockygrass Instrumental Championships on Guitar, Mandolin, and Banjo, becoming the first person in history to do so. You’ve seen Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road on national TV with PBS appearances on David Holt’s State of Music and Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour. Other performance highlights include Merlefest, Grey Fox, The Berklee Performance Center, and Wide Open Bluegrass. Canemillroad.com

En plein air (French pronunciation: ​[ɑ̃ plɛn ɛːʁ], French for outdoors, or plein air painting) is the act of painting outdoors. The talented artist Eric Thompson will lead a plein air painting workshop in the beautiful wildflower fields of Camp Creek State Park. Meet at the Camp Creek State Park amphitheater at 3:30pm and enjoy a beautiful ride up to a remote area of The Forrest. No experience necessary. Cost to attend is $35. Lapboards, canvases and paint will be provided. Register here on this site! Reserve your spot now, as this event is likely to sell out. This event is part of Peak of the Bloom, a celebration of the art of nature, August 4-13 in The Grassroots District and Camp Creek State Park. Find the full schedule & information at peakofthebloom.com!

Award Winning Photographer Steve Jessee of Associated Photography will lead us on a guided photo exclusion through the beautiful and remote fields of wildflowers at Camp Creek State Park. Enjoy a beautiful wagon ride up to the special spot! Meet at Camp Creek State Park Amphitheater at 4:45 p.m. The wagon will depart at 5pm. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED https://peakofthebloom.com/guided-photo-hike-registration This event is part of Peak of the Bloom, a celebration of the art of nature, August 4-13 in The Grassroots District and Camp Creek State Park. Find the full schedule & information at peakofthebloom.com!

Peak of the Bloom / All Together Arts Parade & Day of Merriment!

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Mercer Street Grassroots District

The most whimsical day of the year in downtown Princeton is back! We had to postpone due to wet conditions, and the new date will be part of Peak of the Bloom, a celebration of the art of nature! Don your faerie wings and flower crowns, grab some glitter and join the fun! The day begins at 11 a.m. with sidewalk chalk, face painting, costuming and joyous festivity. We will make our way to the sidewalk in front of the New Farmer's Market site (next to Oasis Market Gas Station at 702 Mercer Street) at 12:30 p.m. and begin marching at 1 p.m. down Mercer Street. Costumes, wings, puppets, glitter, and non-motorized floats are welcome and highly encouraged. Anyone is welcome to join the parade! (No motorized vehicles are allowed.) After the parade we will make our way to the Town Square for drumming, dancing and general merriment. This day will be part of Peak of the Bloom, a celebration of the art of nature, which will take place August 4-13. Details coming soon as peakofthebloom.com! Questions? call 304-320-8833.

This First Friday Concert is the Kickoff to Peak of the Bloom, a celebration of the art of nature, and the fourth in the First Friday Concerts in the Square series, which will run every 1st Friday May-October. Concerts are FREE & open to the public. The event will also feature The HeART Market, with artisan vendors who pour their heart into their work, and craft activities for the kiddos. ❤ Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs & picnic blankets, and enjoy dining, strolling the shops, creative activities and all The Grassroots District has to offer. Find a full schedule of Peak of the Bloom activities at peakofthebloom.com. Sam Eplin will open the show from 6-6:45 and Appalachian Soul Man Aristotle Jones will take the stage from 7-9pm. About the Artists: Known as the Appalachian Soul Man, West Virginia native, Aristotle Jones has become a fan favorite in West Virginia, Central Appalachia and beyond. With engagement, connection, and passion, Aristotle Jones leaves it all on the stage with uplifting music influenced by artists like Bill Withers, Leon Bridges, Ray Charles, Darius Rucker, and other Genre blending musical pioneers. On stage with his 9 piece "Amazing Appalachian Soul Band", Jones captivates audiences with his range, emotion, authenticity and originality. With his full band Aristotle expands the arrangement to include a stellar horn section, a solid rhythm section, and feature soloists. The music is modern but the feeling of Aristotle's full band shows transport the audience with the nostalgic energy of Juke Joints found throughout rural Appalachia. ​A central theme of Aristotle's music and community projects is shedding light on the contribution to art in culture provided by Black Americans living in the Appalachian Mountains. He is the descendant of coal miners, and farmers who against all odds made a life in the poor coal town of Osage, West Virginia. ​Jones' music reflects the values of courage, fortitude and determination that were taught to him while porch picking with his grandfather, a regional Gospel and Soul singer who traveled to segregated coal camps performing for black coal miners in the mid 20th Century, and Aristotle is proud to carry on the legacy of Soulful Folk music inspired by Doo Wop, Gospel and Blues in Appalachia. You can find music from Aristotle Jones on Apple Music, Spotify, CD Baby, as well as other major platforms and at www.AristotleJones.com Sam Eplin is a Barbousville, WV native and super talent! His voice is an instant attention grabber, and his song craft is outstanding. He caught our attention from a video on Radio WV, and we knew we wanted him on our stage. This concert is brought to you with support from Princeton Community Hospital - WVU Medicine. ❤

Join us for a screening of the music video "Compassion and Contrast," by James Hart, and the premiere of the documentary piece, featuring a Behind The Scenes look at the making of and meaning behind the piece. Watch the videos, enjoy complimentary coffee & snacks from local businesses in our neighborhood, share reflections, share your story if you feel compelled, meet new friends and join in the conversation! We need to Talk is a movement using music videos and docushorts to build bridges and catalyze community healing. RiffRaff Arts Collective is creating sweeping, cinematic music videos featuring original music by artists within our community that have written songs about issues they are passionate about, or ways they see the world that they wish the community could open their hearts to. We are using these videos to stoke community dialogue, build relationships, and cultivate a culture of listening. The project aims to empower community members to tell their stories and raise their voices. Featured songs include themes of change and empowerment, and docu-shorts explore issues that inspired their creation. Find out more at the riffraff.net/weneedtotalk

This is the third in the First Friday Concerts in the Square series, which will run every 1st Friday May-October. Concerts are FREE & open to the public. The event will also feature The HeART Market, with artisan vendors who pour their heart into their work, and craft activities for the kiddos. ❤ Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs & picnic blankets, and enjoy dining, strolling the shops, creative activities and all The Grassroots District has to offer. Corduroy Brown will open the show from 6-6:45 and Alabaster Boxer will take the stage from 7-9pm. About the Artists: Alabaster Boxer, hailing from southern West Virginia, has been referred to as an assembly of all-stars of the state, featuring Nick Durm, Drew Bailey Lawrence, Jason Lockart, Randy Gilkey, Chandler Beavers, Bill Fraley, Brian Bell & F.M Turner, each with decades of musical experience under their belts in a variety of popular projects. Offering up a full length original debut album releasing in April 2023; Alabaster Boxer's design blends fusions of rock, pop, bluegrass, americana and more. With instrumentation amongst the group consisting of guitars, bass, drums, keys, mandolin and fiddle overtop of harmony driven original anthems, Alabaster Boxer aims to create a new yet familiar listening experience for any audience. The band has received high praise for their live performances and also noted for a story telling setlist, taking their audience along for an experience rather than just a concert. With years of experience, songs, miles, festivals and shows between the group's individual members, Alabaster Boxer is ready for any stage or setting. sonicbids.com/band/alabasterboxer

Corduroy Brown is an award winning songwriter, and feel good, poppy, rock performer from Huntington, West Virginia. The music uses sounds from the 90's and 2000's, and a focus on self worth. After being revived and placed on life support in 2021, he made a full recovery. Now themes of mental wellness and a willingness to live life to the fullest are represented in the music for his second time on the Earth. corduroy-brown.com This concert is brought to you with support from Princeton Community Hospital - WVU Medicine. ❤

This is the second in the First Friday Concerts in the Square series, which will run every 1st Friday May-October. Concerts are FREE & open to the public. The event will also feature The HeART Market, with artisan vendors who pour their heart into their work, and craft activities for the kiddos. ❤ Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs & picnic blankets, and enjoy dining, strolling the shops, creative activities and all The Grassroots District has to offer. Brenna Dugan will open the show from 6-6:45 and Andrew Adkins & 1863 will take the stage from 7-9pm. About the Artists: “Andrew Adkins is without a doubt the embodiment of the current state of roots music in West Virginia, as well as it’s most profound songwriter” -No Depression Magazine After 7 years of fronting the popular Appalachian Stompgrass band The Wild Rumpus at countless festivals, concerts and clubs including Merlefest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, and the AMA (American Music Association) as well as writing nearly all of the songs for their 3 studio albums, Andrew has now firmly established his own voice with the release of his 4th solo album. “Who I Am” on Mountain Soul Records.Produced by Mountain Stage musical director Ron Sowell, recorded by virtuoso guitarist and engineer Bud Carroll and featuring an all star line up on West Virginia musicians, the album showcases Andrew’s wry insightful songwriting and his soulful authentic voice. Andrew is not only a talented singer songwriter, he is held in high regard as performer by his peers. Often accompanied by his close friend, bass player and long time collaborator Clint Lewis, his performances leave a lasting impression. Here’s what Amanda Platt of the Honey Cutters had to say. “His onstage presence is the perfect mix of humor and humility, putting his audience at ease and drawing them into a songscape that originates in the Mountains of West Virginia and stretches to include the emotions and experiences that people of every corner of the country can relate to.” And this from fellow West Virginian Tim O’Brien -”Andrew brings a likable everyman to his live performances….his music and the stories he tells us are honest and real. Andrew reminds us that we’re all in this together.” andrewadkinswv.com Brenna is a singer/songwriter based in Charleston, WV. She creates the kind of music you put on to accompany your thoughts during a drive, music that makes you wonder what lies just beneath the surface. Music is a vulnerable and authentic expression of oneself, that is one of her highest values. She hopes to meet you somewhere between the words and the instrument. See you there.

All Together Arts Week

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venues around Mercer County

Experience a week in the life of the arts in Mercer County, West Virginia! Visit creative venues, make new friends and discover the vibrant creative scene our area is home to! Enjoy gallery hops, concerts, art shows, open mic, poetry, workshops, special tours, and the beloved Grand Finale Parade & Day of Merriment. Stay tuned to alltogetherarts.com for details & a full schedule of events.

This is the kickoff to the First Friday Concerts in the Square series, which will run every 1st Friday May-October. Concerts are FREE & open to the public. The event will also feature The HeART Market, with artisan vendors who pour their heart into their work, and craft activities for the kiddos. ❤ Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs & picnic blankets, and enjoy dining, strolling the shops, creative activities and all The Grassroots District has to offer. Princeton Dance Studio will open the show from 6-5:45 and Jonathan Scales Fourchestra will the stage from 7-9pm. About the Artists: Jonathan Scales is one of the most innovative steel pannists on the planet, redefining & challenging traditional expectations of the steel drum. He radically expands the sonic palette of an instrument often associated with cruise ships and tropical resorts to mimic the role of horns, piano, vibraphone or marimba with his stunning, virtuosic technique. His Fourchestra has had a fluid lineup of all-star musicians, such as bassist MonoNeon (Prince, Ghost Note), drummer Robert “Sput” Searight (Snarky Puppy, Snoop Dogg), percussionist Weedie Braimah (Trombone Shorty, Nth Power), and a number of other marquee-value players. He’s toured the North America, Europe, Japan, Central America and The Caribbean, and represented the US through the Department of State as a musical ambassador in a tour of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia. jonscales.com Princeton Dance Studio was founded over 40 years ago by Janis Gunnoe. Over the years, Mrs. Gunnoe has grown from a small studio on Mercer Street to building her own multi-studio building in Princeton, WV. By focusing on respect, proper technique, curriculum-based classes, and safety, Mrs. Gunnoe has helped shaped thousands of individuals who have gone on to become professional dancers, doctors, attorneys, business owners, and great parents! Over the years, Princeton Dance Studio has also welcomed new teachers who specialize in modern, ballet, hip hop, and much more by offering a variety of classes for all age groups. It is the goal of all the instructors at Princeton Dance Studio to train not only great dancers but to help shape great individuals. PDS competition team will open the evening with a performance at 6pm.

Earth Day Celebration

Appalachian South Folklife Center, Pipestem, WV

The Earth Day Celebration Returns, live & in-person at The Folklife Center! Join us for a beautiful day of activity and celebration honoring Mother Earth featuring music performances, special demonstrations, discussions, craft activities and more at the beautiful ASFC. Featuring: ~Music by CassiRaye, Option 22, Star Baby, Jordan Furrow, Shine Resonance, Swingstein & Conner, Tim & Maggie & more. ~Drumming & discussion with Mother Earth Beat, an all women Native American drum group based in West Virginia. ~Yoga, sound healing & more with practitioners from The Gaia Den ~Tie-dying for Kids with the tie-dye Soapwitch! ~Beekeeping workshop with Awakened Artwork ~Vending by Rainbow Art Farms, Awakened Artwork & more! Stay tuned for more activities & presentations, TBA! Admission is FREE. Enjoy the un-matched atmosphere of the ever-peaceful Appalachian South Folklife Center, revel in the breathtaking mountain views and celebrate life on Planet Earth!