Events Calendar

Arts & Crafts

In Conversation: Inspired Furniture Then and NowAfter Hours Reception: November 7, 2019 from 6 – 8 p.m.August 1, 2019 – January 26, 2020Price-Strongwell Cultural Heritage Galleries In Conversation: Inspired Furniture Then and Now explores the legacy of furniture making in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. This exhibition features work by contemporary furniture makers in tandem with historical pieces from the region. Placing …

Music | Family Fun | History/Heritage | Performances

The Crooked Road Open Jam is an informal musical gathering on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Thursday of each month. You don't have to play an instrument to partake, though it's always open to those who do. Either way, just come prepared to have fun and be blown away by the level of talent Southwest Virginia has to offer. Entertainment is free; special a la carte BBQ menu also available. 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Thursday of each month 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Arts & Crafts

From These HillsOpening Reception: October 3, 2019 from 6 – 8 p.m.October 3, 2019 – February 9, 2020 William King Museum of Art continues to celebrate the diversity of regional artistic talent with its biennial exhibition, From These Hills: Contemporary Art in the Southern Appalachian Highlands, a major exhibition of new works by artists working in all media in Southwest Virginia, Northeast Tennessee, Western North Carolina, Southern West Vir…

Family Fun | Holidays | Winter | Arts & Crafts | Culinary | Wine/Beer

Help support your LOCAL neighbors this holiday season by shopping at Abingdon Farmers Markets’ Holiday Market. Some of the available items will be: produce, meats, baked goods, wreaths, hats, scarves, jewelry, paintings, soaps, coffee, cards, herbs, wine, eggs, fudge, jams and jellies, and canned goods. The Abingdon Farmers Market is a place for local farmers, artisans and food producers to sell their products directly to the community. Freshly grown and made products taste better and…

In Our Own Words: Native Impressions 2015-2016November 7, 2019 – February 23, 2019WKMA After Hours: November 7 from 6 – 8 p.m. In Our Own Words: Native Impressions 2015-16, on loan from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, highlights the lives of Native Americans today. This series of prints, produced by Daniel Heyman and Lucy Ganje under the guidance of master printer Kim Fink, was inspired by conversations with members of North Dakota’s four r…

Arts & Crafts

In Conversation: Inspired Furniture Then and NowAfter Hours Reception: November 7, 2019 from 6 – 8 p.m.August 1, 2019 – January 26, 2020Price-Strongwell Cultural Heritage Galleries In Conversation: Inspired Furniture Then and Now explores the legacy of furniture making in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. This exhibition features work by contemporary furniture makers in tandem with historical pieces from the region. Placing …

Music | Performances | Holidays | Arts & Crafts | Fall

A timeless tale of joy and goodwill filled with Irving Berlin’s call songs, topped off with glorious dancing and lots of snow makes this a show a holiday classic for all audiences! Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is the story of Bob and Phil, two showbiz buddies putting on a production in a picturesque Vermont Inn after World War II. In the bargain, these two meet their perfect mates, who happen to be sisters and honor their beloved army general. Full of romance, laughter and some of the grea…

Performances

By David Sedaris Recommended for mature audience due to language and subject matter This outrageous holiday comedy stars Crumpet, a rebel without a Claus, who recounts his true-life tale of being an out-of-work writer doing a stint as a Macy’s department store elf. His encounters, as an Elf during the season of forced joy, have become a delightful cult classic for those in need of a holly-jolly antidote! A delightfully absurd look at the commercial Christmas season, Sedaris’ s…

Arts & Crafts

The Gallery @ Barr Photographics LLC is excited to announce the holiday installment of the Corner Gallery’s 2019 exhibition series with a collection of giclee on canvas photographic works entitled “Different Perspective” by gallery owner and photographer R. Dean Barr. In his artist statement Dean reveals, “This collection of photos represents just what the exhibit title indicates, images captured from a different perspective. The perspective of an image can be in…

Holidays | Arts & Crafts

Join Round the Mountain: Southwest Virginia's Artisan Network and the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace for our Holiday Market on December 14th! • Over a dozen artisans• Children's activities• Local food• Live music from Wolf Hills Jazz Quartet…

Family Fun | Holidays | Winter | Arts & Crafts | Workshops/Classes

ELVES WORKSHOPSaturday, December 14 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.  $5 for non-member, Free for WKMA members Calling all elves! Get creative this holiday season with Elves Workshop! Families work with WKMA staff to create unique holiday gifts and decorations just in time for gift-giving. This day of holiday family fun and creativity comes complete with light refreshments. For information call (276) 628-5005 ext. 112.  

Family Fun | Holidays | Winter | Arts & Crafts | Workshops/Classes

ELVES SENSORY WORKSHOPWHERE: William King Museum of Art - 415 Academy Drive, Abingdon, VA WHEN: Saturday, December 14 from 1:30 – 2:30p.m.COST: $5 for non-member, Free for WKMA members This holiday season, WKMA is excited to offer a sensory-friendly museum experience for families with loved ones who experience sensitivities, communication differences, and those on the autism spectrum. We welcome you to join us as we dim the lights, lower the sounds, and ge…

Arts & Crafts | Workshops/Classes

Bring something new to your lunch hour! Join us at William King from 12:00pm-1:00pm on the third Wednesday of the month to watch (or even participate in) a studio art demonstration or hear a brief arts lecture. Topics vary each month! How to participate: 1.) Call a day prior to ensure a seat is saved for you 2.) Bring your brown bag lunch the day of the Lunch n Learn. The front desk will direct you to the month's meeting place. 3.) Enjoy your lunch while participa…

Culinary

Special prix fixe menu at Sisters American Grill, served until 9pm.  Reservations required.  The bar will stay open until midnight. Come celebrate the new year with The Martha!

Music | Winter

This series of concerts on the Barter Theatre stage showcases nationally recognized artists. On Fridays and Saturdays in January, Abingdon Music Experience presents a uniquely intimate concert experience with legendary musicians at the historic Barter Theatre. Since its inception in 2011, January Jams has featured artists like the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Ricky Scaggs, Mavis Staples, and Jason Isbell, to name a few. Barter Theatre is traditionally "dark" in J…

Family Fun | Performances | Winter | Wine/Beer | LGBT Friendly

For Fans of: Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs, Hot Rize, Grateful Dead Even among the pantheon of music’s finest artists, Del McCoury stands alone. From the nascent sound of bluegrass that charmed hardscrabble hillbilly honkytonks, rural schoolhouse stages, and the crowning glory of the Grand Ole Opry to the present-day culture-buzz of viral videos and digital streams, Del is the living link. On primetime and late-night television talk shows, there is Del. From headlining sold-out conce…

Music | Family Fun | Performances | Winter | Wine/Beer | LGBT Friendly

Blue Ridge Beverage Presents the 8th Annual January Jams featuring Sierra Hull in Concert at Barter Theatre in Abingdon VA on Saturday, January 11th. For Fans of: Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent Sierra Hull’s positively stellar career started early. That is, if you consider a Grand Ole Opry debut at age 10, called back to the famed stage a year later to perform with her hero and mentor Alison Krauss to be early. She played Carnegie Hall at 12; at 13 s…

History/Heritage | Winter

Native American Film Series - Defending the FireLOCATION: Southwest Virginia Higher Ed CenterCOST: FREE and open to the publicWHEN: Thursday, January 16 at 7 p.m. Native American Warriors have navigated a unique cultural and spiritual path, relying on the tenets of the Warrior in ancient and modern warfare. The lessons of the Warrior are universal; the spirit of the Warrior survives, even in the face of conflict. Defending the Fir…

Music | Family Fun | Performances | Winter | Wine/Beer | LGBT Friendly

Blue Ridge Beverage Presents the 8th Annual January Jams featuring indie folk band: The Collection on January 17th at Barter Theatre in Abingdon VA. Genre: Indie Folk For Fans Of: Death Cab for Cutie, MIPSO, Fleet Foxes "If You Love An Uplifting Band, The Collection Is For You" -Bob Boilen, NPR Music     *Top 10 NPR Tiny Desk Entries 2019* ​On the surface, the name of NC band The Collection’s new album, ‘Entropy,’ may seem deceptive…

Music | Family Fun | Performances | Winter | Wine/Beer | LGBT Friendly

Saturday, January 18, 2020 features indie folk harmonies of Penny & Sparrow. For Fans Of: Drew Holcomb, JOHNNYSWIM, The Milk Carton Kids Texas natives, Baxter and Jahnke first crossed paths at UT Austin, where they developed both a fast friendship and a deeply symbiotic musical connection. Beginning with 2013’s ‘Tenboom,’ the staunchly DIY pair released a series of critically lauded records that garnered comparisons to the hushed intimacy of Iron & Wine…

History/Heritage | Performances | Winter | Arts & Crafts | Workshops/Classes

The History of Chair Caning with Brandy Clements & Dave Klinger of Silver River Center for Chair CaningLOCATION: William King Museum of Art - 415 Academy Drive, Abingdon, VAWHEN: Saturday, January 18 from 2:00 - 4:00pmCOST: FREE and open to the public WARNING: You might become a chair nerd. A Brief History of Chair Caning is a timeline of woven chairs that spans the globe and 4000 years. From Middle Kingdom Egypt to Mid-Century Sc…

History/Heritage | Winter

Native American Film Series - What Was OursLOCATION: Southwest Virginia Higher Ed CenterWHEN: January 23, 2020 at 7 PMCOST: FREE and open to the public Like millions of indigenous people, many Native American tribes do not control their own material history and culture. For the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes living on the isolated Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, new contact with lost artifacts risks opening old wounds …

Music | Family Fun | Performances | Winter | Wine/Beer | LGBT Friendly

Blue Ridge Beverage Presents the 8th Annual January Jams featuring the New Faces of Country Music: Charley Crockett at Barter Theatre Friday, January 24th. For Fans of: Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Colter Wall Charley Crockett’s been running nearly his entire life, but with the title track to his sixth album, the Texas songwriter looks back at where he came from. “The Valley” chronicles his hard upbringing on the south Texas border in San Benito and his si…

Music | Family Fun | Performances | Winter | Wine/Beer | LGBT Friendly

Blue Ridge Beverage Presents the 8th Annual January Jams at Barter Theatre: Lilly Hiatt. For Fans Of: Jason Isbell, Drive By Truckers, John Moreland, Brandi Carlile Lilly Hiatt returned with Trinity Lane on August 25th, 2017. The 12-song set was produced by Michael Trent of Shovels & Rope and engineered by Andy Dixon at Trent’s Studio Bees in Johns Island, SC. It is the follow up to her acclaimed sophomore album Royal Blue, which Paste Magazine described as “a gl…

History/Heritage | Winter

Native American Film Series - Blood MemoryLOCATION: Southwest Virginia Higher Ed CenterWHEN: January, 30 at 7 PMCOST: FREE and open to the public Battles over blood quantum and ‘best interests’ resurface in the untold history if America’s Indian Adoption Era – a time when nearly one-third of children were removed from tribal communities nationwide. As political scrutiny over Indian child welfare intensifies, an adoption survivo…

History/Heritage | Performances

For one night only at Barter Theatre, meet Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson for an interactive evening of history.  Acclaimed reenactors Bill Barker and Richard Schumann will take the Barter Theatre stage in Abingdon on Thursday February 13, 2020 for "Conversation with Henry and Jefferson," a one-night interactive dialogue you won't want to miss. The program begins at 7:00pm and the doors open at 6:00pm. Guests will enjoy colonial era music from local brothers "Sons…

Music

["Jill Andrews + Darin and Brooke Aldridge","February 14, 2020\nDoors open 7:15pm","Show begins 8:00pm\n \nGenre: Singer Songwriter, Indie Folk, Americana\nFor Fans Of: Josh Ritter, The Milk Carton Kids, Mandolin Orange\n \nJill Andrews Bio:\nA native of East Tennessee, Jill Andrews kicked off her songwriting career as co-founder of the everybodyfields, a band whose mix of Southern genres – folk, country, bluegrass &ndash…

Music

["Asleep At the Wheel","February 15, 2020\nDoors open 7:15pm","Show begins 8:00pm\n \nGenre: Western Swing, Country Rock\nFor Fans Of: Junior Brown, BR549, Dwight Yoakam\n \n“New Routes” the brand-new album by Asleep At the Wheel, marks both a new path forward and a nod to the freewheeling roots (get it?) of one of Texas’ most beloved bands. After a decade of collaborating on record with friends, with “New Route…

Music

["Acoustic Syndicate + Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley","February 22, 2020\nDoors open 7:15pm","Show begins 8:00pm\n \nGenre: Rock, Folk, Bluegrass\nFor Fans Of: Railroad Earth, Greensky Bluegrass, Hot Buttered Rum\n \nAcoustic Syndicate Bio\nAcoustic Syndicate is a musical institution. Since 1994, their unique blend of bluegrass instruments, rock sensibilities, and conscious songwriting has inspired a generation of musicians. Thr…

Music

["Scythian + Lindsay Lou","February 28, 2020\nDoors open 7:15pm","Show begins 8:00pm\n \nGenre: Americana, Irish Country, Folk\nFor Fans Of: Gaelic Storm, The Elders,\n \nScythian Bio:\nWashington DC-based Scythian (sith-ee-yin) began over 12 years ago as a bunch of college buddies playing Celtic music in the streets and has grown to be a headliner on the US Celtic Festival Circuit as well as a name in the Bluegrass\/Americana …

Music

["Amythyst Kiah + Front Country ","February 29, 2020 \nDoors open 7:15pm","Show begins 8:00pm\n \nGenre: Old Time Music, Bluegrass, Folk\nFor Fans Of: Rhiannon Giddens, Mandolin Orange\n \nAmythyst Kiah Bio\nBorn in Chattanooga and now based in Johnson City, Amythyst Kiah’s commanding stage presence is matched by her raw and powerful vocals—a deeply moving, hypnotic sound that stirs echoes of a distant and…

Performances

By William Shakespeare, Adapted by Katy Brown Murder. Power. Lust. Greed. Dark forces fuel the Macbeths' sinister ambition for the crown and their horrifying descent into madness. Don't miss this intimate and action-filled adaptation specifically tailored for Barter's Smith Theatre.

Performances

"A funny, touching, and totally irresistible comedy."By Alfred UhryWhen Daisy Werthan's son hires Hoke to drive her around town, the indomitable Daisy has no idea that her stubborn chauffeur will soon become a permanent fixture in her life.  Over the span of twenty-five years, these two develop an unlikely bond that challenges the idea of friendship during America's Civil Rights era. Featuring two of Barter's all-time favorite actors - Mary Lucy Bivins and Jasper McGruder.

Music | Family Fun | Workshops/Classes | Spring | Festivals

Join us for the 4th Annual VA Creeper Fest, celebrating the jewel of SWVA's Outdoor Recreation's crown, The Virginia Creeper Trail. This festival is family and pet friendly, featuring outdoor recreation organizations, outfitters, guides and activities based in SWVA and NETN. Several on-site activities immerse you in experience, including guided bike rides, yoga for runners, kayak & paddle board demos in our on-site pool, obstacle courses, history walks and much more. Full schedule availab…

Performances

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton,Based on the 20th Century Fox Film,Book by Patricia ResnickFull of laughter and sidesplitting Southern sass, this Broadway musical comedy is based on the hit movie starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin. Come watch these three unlikely friends as they scheme to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do, even in a man's world. Toe-tapping fun for the whole family!

Performances

By Tom ZieglerA funny, lyrical, & moving play about two strong and stubborn women. Grace, a feisty, cantankerous 90-year-old, plans to live out her life in her ramshackle cabin high in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. She has no use for Glorie, the volunteer health worker assigned to care for her. As the two women get to know each other, they reveal their secrets, dreams, & fears in this story about the power of healing and the joy of life. 

Performances

"A musical delight for the entire family!"By L. Frank BaumMusic and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. HarburgThere's no place like Barter to see America's favorite musical! Join Dorothy & Toto as they skip down the yellow-brick road with only a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, & a Cowardly Lion to protect them from the Wicked Witch of the West. This joyous classic is a must-see for young and old alike.

Performances

"If you are looking to laugh or feel good, this play is for you!"By Bo WilsonStorms have flooded the roads, but it takes more than a little rain to keep the Charitable Sisterhood of Pennington Gap, VA from fulfilling their mission. When these ladies meet to organize a relief effort for homeless Guatemalans, they are greeted with a mountain of community donations - & that pile of stuff is hiding a thing or two. Join us in the church basement, where our five angels of mercy will l…

Performances

"As history often proves, truth is much more exciting than fiction."Book and Lyrics by Catherine BushMusic and Vocal arrangements by Ben MackelIt's 1920, the world is changing, and no one feels it more than the Burn family of Niota, TN. The family's first tractor is purchased, indoor plumbing arrives in town, & a young girl unexpectedly comes into their lives. Meanwhile, the country is abuzz over the controversial 19th Amendment that would give women the right to vote. In…

Performances

"Insanely hysterical and wildly believeable"A new comedy by Stephen BrownMegan hates country music singer Rick Montgomery, and she and her best friend Kimmy have decided tonight's concert will be his last. The two teens hatch an ill-conceived plot to kidnap the country music star in this laugh-out-loud, offbeat comedy. Songs will be sung, shots will be fired, and the girls will discover that revenge ain't all it's cracked up to be.

Performances

"A riveting story of the struggle between a father and his son (the creator and his creation)."Adapted by Richard RoseWhen scientist Victor Frankenstein infuses the spark of Life into his Creature, he begins a haunting examination of what it is to be human and the price we pay for playing God. A uniquely theatrical experience, this play is a Barter audience favorite and the perfect way to celebrate the Halloween season.

Performances

Based on the Best-selling Novel by Paula Hawkinsand Dreamworks FilmAdapted by Rachel Wagstaff & Duncan AbelRachel Watson longs for a different life. Her only escape is the perfect couple she spies through the train window every day. They are deeply in love...or so it appears. When Rachel learns that the woman she's been secretly watching has disappeared, she finds she may be a witness, and even a suspect, in this thrilling mystery that will leave audiences gasping.

Performances

"The overwhelming audience favorite from Barter's 2019 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights."A New American Musical by James Harriswith Music Arrangements by Mark HayesFeaturing Music from the World War II EraA world premiers from the author of Civil War Voices. Jewish refugee Henry Stern flees Nazi Germany at the age of five to start a new life with his family in the small town of Opelika, AL. Many years later, Henry makes an amazing di…

"The classic ghost story of Christmas."A traditional adaptation by Richard Rosefrom the book by Charles DickensThe joy of the Christmas season returns with this sparkling production! Come and relive the sheer exhilaration of Ebenezer Scrooge's ghost-guided journey into his Past, Present and Future, where despair gives way to hope, and reclamation awaits all who seek it. A memorable gift to treasure with family and friends that will leave you wrapped in the warmth of the h…

Performances

"A HILARIOUS comedy about FAMILY, FAITH, & FOOD."by Joe DiPietroNick Cristano, a single, 29-year-old, has just been offered his dream job, but it means leaving his hometown. His grandparents, with whom he has eaten Sunday dinner every week of his life, do not take the news well, and they get creative in an effort to keep Nick from leaving. Outrageous plans are made, a blind date is arranged, and stories are told, with hilarious results. The show is guaranteed to make you love yo…

Performances

A raucous one-woman show by Ginna HobenMary loves the holidays. Even when her fiance calls to say he's sick and can't come to Thanksgiving with her family, she makes the best of the day and snuggles in to watch the Macy's Day Parade on TV. But when the parade camera zooms in on her fiance kissing another woman, Mary's holidays take a turn for the ridiculous. What follows is a year of hilarious and strange dates that bring Mary back around to the next holiday season wiser, happier, and …