Arts and Entertainment

Set for Nov. 7-13, the week pays homage to West Virginia University’s Appalachian roots with musical performances, art demonstrations, food tastings and more.

For the first time since 2019, West Virginia University’s free welcome-back-to-campus concert for students returns Tuesday, Aug. 16. The concert starts at 5:45 p.m. on the Evansdale Rec Fields adjacent to the Student Rec Center. Gates open at 5 p.m.

The return of FallFest highlights a packed Welcome Week at West Virginia University which begins Thursday, Aug. 11, and continues through the start of the fall semester Wednesday, Aug. 17. New events include a pool party for all students at the Student Rec Center Aug. 13 and a service project to benefit the West Virginia United Way Collaborative during Monday Night Lights for first-year students Aug. 15.

Mountaineer Week (Nov. 1-7) is just around the corner, with some familiar traditions like apple butter and kettle corn, and some new ones including lunchtime concerts and old-time storytelling. The annual celebration of Appalachian heritage is now in its 74th year on West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus.

West Virginia University is providing additional guidance to students, faculty and staff as campuses prepare to fully reopen for the fall 2021 semester. WVU’s highest priority is to offer a fully in-person, on-campus academic and student experience this fall. As always, the safety of students, faculty, staff and guests will continue to be an important guiding factor.

With recent decreases in COVID-19 cases across the country and the knowledge that COVID-19 vaccines are extremely safe and effective, West Virginia University now plans to fully reopen its campuses this fall.

It may look a little different this year, but Mountaineer Week, West Virginia University’s annual celebration of Appalachian culture will take place Nov. 8-14. The 73rd celebration will offer a variety of activities, mainly geared toward WVU students, on the Morgantown campus and online.

West Virginia University’s annual Diversity Week (Oct. 11-16), while an online event, will broach the subjects of justice for indigenous peoples, people with disabilities and people in the LGBTQIA+ community from its daily keynote speakers and student panels that explore intimate partner violence preventions, Hispanic and Latinx student issues, the Black Lives Matter movement and student advocacy.

Protecting the rights of others, exposing discrimination through entertainment venues, sharing the anxiety of recovering from substance abuse disorder and recounting the personal experience of escaping a war-torn country through refugee camps are the social justice themes woven among the four speakers at West Virginia University’s 2020 Hardesty Festival of Ideas lectures.

The Mountain Stage performance scheduled for March 29, at the WVU Creative Arts Center has been canceled due to the suspension of in-person classes and events on the WVU campus. All ticketholders will automatically be refunded at the point of purchase. Questions regarding refunds should be directed to 304-293-SHOW (7469).