Students Invited to Celebrate Appalachia

Students, faculty, staff and the community are invited to Bluefield College’s Appalachian Festival, Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the campus quad.

Designed to recognize and celebrate the history, people, culture and traditions of Appalachia, the college’s annual Celebration of Appalachia was established in the fall of 2011. The event features local music, history, crafts and food from vendors who come to show and sell their handmade products.

This year, more than 40 vendors will participate in the festival with music, food, artisan exhibits, crafts, storytelling, books, clothing, and much more. Winners of the Appalachian Writing Contest will also be announced, and contributors will read their stories during the festival. 

Among the food vendors scheduled to participate: Appalachy Mountain, R&A’s Doughnut Express, and Ol’ Skool Concessions. These vendors will be serving a variety of foods, including kettle corn, donuts, nachos and cheese, fried apples, drinks, fries, corn dogs, pretzels, jalapeño peppers, funnel cakes and more.

The festival will also feature six hours of old-time music from local musicians like Piper, the Bland High School JAM Band, Paul Catron, Lanny Lindamood, Steve Kruger, Rory Mullennex, Ron Mullennex and others. 

Members of the BC community and the public at-large are invited to join the fun, enjoy the music and food, and learn more about the history of Appalachia. For more information, visit bluefield.edu/appalachia.