March 18, 2013
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Musicians will be center stage for the 2013 Vandalia Gathering at the State Capitol Complex when the annual festival takes place on Friday, May 24, and Saturday, May 25. This year’s festival will focus on the music competitions, concerts and awards. In June, the Vandalia Gathering will be featured as a part of West Virginia’s 150th birthday celebration, hosted by the West Virginia Sesquicentennial Commission.
“As the Sesquicentennial Commission began its planning, they approached us about ways to incorporate elements of the Vandalia Gathering into their events. After much discussion, we have found a way to both host the Vandalia Gathering on Memorial Day weekend and to assist the Sesquicentennial Commission in featuring some Vandalia events during the birthday celebrations,” said Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith.
The Vandalia Gathering will take place on Friday, May 24, and Saturday, May 25, this year. The focus will be on music contests and concerts, annual juried quilt exhibition awards program and the presentation of the Vandalia Award. Musical competitions and concerts will fill the Culture Center Great Hall, Theater and Plaza Deck during the festival. Food vendors will be on hand to offer traditional favorites and new flavors that Vandalia attendees have come to enjoy.
“There will be plenty of music at the Gathering,” said Commissioner Reid-Smith. “Our weekend event will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday with the annual juried quilt awards presentation and the Vandalia Award ceremony. A concert will follow the awards program.” Saturday, it will be all music from 10 a.m. through the evening as competitions and concerts are the focus of the day.
The Vandalia Gathering will then be featured during West Virginia’s 150th birthday celebration events being organized by the West Virginia Sesquicentennial Commission. During the celebration, which will take place June 20-22 at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, the 2013 Vandalia Gathering winning musicians will be invited to play at the outdoor stage to highlight the importance of Appalachian music in West Virginia’s culture. The Commission will also host the food and craft vendors who traditionally participate during Memorial Day weekend and will set up the food contests, craft circle, dance stages, and liar’s competition.
“We are excited to bridge the traditions of the Vandalia Gathering with the festivities of our statehood celebrations,” Commissioner Reid-Smith said. “Appalachian music has played an important role in our state’s history, and we believe this will be a great addition to the birthday celebrations.”
To view a complete schedule for the 2013 Vandalia Gathering, please visit www.wvculture.org.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts with Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary. The Division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the Division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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