Mountaineer Week, West Virginia University’s annual celebration of Appalachian history and culture, begins Friday (Oct. 28) at noon with a craft fair and quilt show in the Mountainlair.

Since 1947, Mountaineer Week offers the WVU student body and Morgantown community an opportunity to learn more about West Virginia history and celebrate the state’s traditions.

“We hope you will join us for our 64th celebration of the state of West Virginia,” said Sonja Wilson, Mountaineer Week coordinator. “Mountaineer Week is organized with our WVU students in mind. We want to educate them on the culture and history of our great state.”

New events for 2011 include the Mountaineers Run United four-mile walk/run and a walking ghost tour of WVU campus buildings presented by the West Virginia Humanities Council. Main Street Morgantown will also present a window display contest on High Street for the first time.

Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, some events will contain a war history and statehood theme. The craft fair and quilt show weekend will be highlighted by West Virginia native Katie Welch’s Antebellum period garment designs. Her exhibit, Clothing of the Civil War, will be displayed in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.

WVU Libraries will feature a Civil War exhibit in the West Virginia and Regional History Collection titled “The Issue Is Upon Us!” The exhibit is open Monday (Oct. 31) through Saturday (Nov. 5) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday (Nov. 1) until 9 p.m. A guided tour by curator John Cuthbert will take place on Wednesday (Nov. 2) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participants who are interested in attending should email Wilson at Sonja.Wilson@mail.wvu.edu.

The annual Mountaineer Week lecture, presented by the West Virginia Humanities Council, will feature a presentation on Clarksburg native Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on Wednesday (Nov. 2) at 7:30 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. The HistoryAlive! cast will act out the life of Jackson and his role as a Confederate general.

The Office of Multicultural Programs and the Appalachian Cultures Committee will present the film “Long Shadows: The Legacy of the Civil War” as part of the Brownbag Luncheon Series on Thursday (Nov. 3) at 11:30 a.m. Jo Brown from WVU Libraries will lead the discussion in the Gluck Theatre.

Mountaineer Week celebrates Appalachian heritage with events emphasizing Mountaineer traditions. These events include an Appalachian folk dance, folk concerts, a beard-growing contest and a Country Vittles Dinner Buffet.

“We hope to bring in thousands of visitors from our campus, community, state and region to enjoy our diversified Mountaineer Week programs that encompass Appalachian cuisine, music, dance and traditions,” Wilson said.

Mountaineer Week is an annual celebration of West Virginia’s rich Appalachian heritage and traditions. The activities serve to remind and educate WVU students about the culture that has made West Virginia what it is today. This fall, the festival commemorates its 64th year. For a complete schedule of events, visit the Mountaineer Week website at http://mountaineerweek.wvu.edu/events.

Mountaineer Week is a great time to remember days gone by. Share with us your own WVU memories through the University’s Heritage Project. Do you have a special recollection from Mountaineer Week? Tell us at http://heritageproject.wvu.edu/share_a_message.

-WVU-

ks/10/18/11

CONTACT: Sonja Wilson, Mountaineer Week Advisor
304-293-2702, Sonja.Wilson@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.