40TH WV VANDALIA GATHERING STARTS TODAY

(05/27/2016)

On Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29, the Culture Center and State Capitol grounds will set the stage for the 40th annual Vandalia Gathering - the state's annual celebration of the traditional arts, music, dance, stories, crafts and food of West Virginia. The free festival's unique blend of ethnic and cultural heritage combines an atmosphere as comfortable as a family reunion with the excitement of a state fair. The Vandalia Gathering creates new memories each year for the thousands of visitors who flock from across the Mountain State and around the country to celebrate traditions passed from generation to generation. The festival pays tribute to West Virginia's mountain culture and ethnic heritage by showcasing a variety of craftspeople and performers. For those who love the sounds of traditional music or would like to be introduced to it, Vandalia Gathering fits the bill. Concerts and contests fill the weekend, and impromptu musical jam sessions spring up all over the grounds. At any moment, a shade tree becomes the site of a lively performance as strolling musicians stop to join in on a favorite tune. The 2016 Vandalia Gathering kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, May 27, with an awards ceremony for quilt and wall-hanging winners and presentation of the Vandalia Award, the state's highest folklife honor.

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