Virginia Welcome Center at Rocky Gap

05/23/2024

Bands-Arts-Bourbon-Ale = BA BA Fest 2024!

Saturday, June 1st, join us at the Homestead Museum for great music, talented artisans, bourbon tastings, and local craft beers! Admission if free for this celebration of Appalachian culture. Gates open at 2pm and parking is available at the Wytheville Visitors Center.

05/21/2024

05/20/2024

We're kicking off National Travel and Tourism Week with our friends from Wytheville Museums. They're here highlighting their sites and the upcoming BABA fest on June 1st which will feature food, music and live demonstrations. Erin of Laurel Ridge Studios is an incredible local broom maker and will be demonstrating her traditional craft here until noon. You'll also find her at BABA fest!

05/10/2024

Today is "Mother" Maybelle Carter's birthday! Before becoming the matriarch of a genre, Maybelle was born on May 10, 1909, in Nickelsville, Virginia. She was one-third of the Carter Family, along with her cousin Sara Carter and Sara's husband, A.P. Carter. Maybelle was only 18 and 8 months pregnant when the Carter Family went to Bristol in August of 1927 to make their first recordings. At the Bristol Sessions, they recorded six songs for the Victor label. They would go on to record over 250 songs in their career. In the 1930s, The Great Depression hit the music industry hard, and it became difficult for many musicians to make a living. During this time, the Carter Family moved to Texas and began playing on the XERA radio station located on the U.S. and Mexico border. Because the station was located in Mexico, it did not have to adhere to U.S. radio regulations which limited signal strength. XERA was a million-watt station and could be heard all the way from Mexico to Canada and in 48 U.S. states. Their time on XERA led to another surge in popularity for The Carter Family and also started a family tradition when their children began performing with them on the show. By the end of the 1930s, The Carter Family had sold over 300,000 records.

The original Carter Family disbanded in 1943. After that, Maybelle Carter and her daughters began performing as “Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters” featuring Anita, Helen, and June.

Though she also played autoharp and banjo, Maybelle was best known for her skill with the guitar. She even created a signature technique, the "Carter lick" or "Carter scratch" that continues to influence guitar players today.

This image shows Maybelle being helped into the Carter Family Fold by Sara Carter Bayes and Johnny Cash to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Carter Family's Bristol Sessions recordings. This year, the Carter Family Fold is celebrating its own 50th anniversary!

Image is from the Robert Alexander Collection in the museum.

05/08/2024

State Permit ✅
Reservation site will go live in a few days! Stay tuned! ⛺
paddlerscamping.com

05/07/2024

05/07/2024

Plan your trip to Tazewell County and find what you love! Check out our itineraries for inspiration.
https://visittazewellcounty.org/

05/02/2024

ARTISTS IN THE GARDENMay 15th - 18th, 2024 GET TICKETS To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Warm Springs Gallery, we have invited 14 artists from across the country to participate in a springtime botanical-themed plein air event. Join us for a four-day celebration of art, culture, and horticultu...

05/01/2024

04/25/2024

🎣 Join us for Tazewell County's Kids Fish Day on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Cavitt's Creek Park - Lake Jack Witten! 🌳🐟

📍 750 Recreation Drive, North Tazewell

🕘 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Enjoy FREE fishing, snack bags, prizes, and more! 🎉 Don't miss out on the fun! 🎣

04/25/2024

⏰ TOMORROW!

Grab last-minute tickets to the SWVA Artisan Conference! Secure your spot to experience trainings, networking, and more!

🔗 REGISTER at swvaarts.com

04/24/2024

Be sure to Visit Bath VA in May for this 4 day celebration of art, culture, and horticulture!

04/12/2024

04/12/2024

🎻 Get ready to kick up your heels at the Floyd Country Store's Old Time Dance with The Lovely Mountaineers this Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 7:00 PM! 🎶Featuring an electrifying lineup, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of foot-stomping tunes.

But wait, the fun doesn't stop there! 🌟 Before the dance kicks off, join others at 5:00 PM for a flatfoot dance workshop presented by Gina Dilg. Learn the ropes of Appalachian dance and get ready to show off your moves on the dance floor!

Learn more at https://www.floydcountrystore.com/event/old-time-dance-the-lovely-mountaineers-2024-04-13

04/05/2024

🌙 April is here and Franklin County Moonshine Heritage month is in full swing! Be sure to savor the flavors and learn about the history of spirit distillation in Franklin County, Virginia.

🌽 Taste: Twin Creeks Distillery, Franklin County Distilleries, Roosters Rise -N- Shine Distillery, Law's Choice Distillery by Henry Lee Law

📚 Learn: Blue Ridge Institute and Museum and Franklin County, VA Historical Society

📆 Experience:
✅April 19th - Kentucky Gentlemen with Julie Williams "Free Show" at the Harvester Performance Center.
✅April 20th - Dell Iron Project "Homegrown Music Series" at the Harvester Performance Center
✅April 20th - "Murder at the Gine Joint" at the The Claiborne Bed and Breakfast
✅April 27th - "Moonshine Heritage Bash and Car Show at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
✅ April 30th - "The Big Reveal Announcement" with Visit Franklin County, Virginia, Visit Patrick County, VA, and Visit Floyd, VA at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum

📣 Other Exciting Announcements Coming Soon!

📷 Discover Rocky Mount

03/27/2024

📅 FULL SCHEDULE AVAILABLE NOW! Don't miss the opportunity to learn, network, and be inspired. April 25-27, 2024, at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace.

Thank you to our sponsors for their support: Appalachian Regional Commission, Virginia is for Lovers, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Virginia Humanities, and Virginia Highlands Community College.

02/09/2024

Update to our Lego night!

We were unable to get the Wall-E and Eve pair Lego set due to the item being back ordered.

However! We were able to get these adorable Stitch sets!

Reserve yours today!

02/06/2024

🍫🍷 Chocolate and wine...need we say more? Join Cocoa Mia for their first wine and chocolate event! 🎉 Get ready for an unforgettable experience where they'll guide you through five exquisite wines expertly paired with their signature house-made truffles. Grayson and Jennifer will be your hosts, sharing insights into the art of truffle making and delving into the world of wines. Limited tickets are available for Saturday 2/17 (12p to 2p) and Sunday 2/18 (12p to 1:30p OR 2p to 3:30p). Don't miss out! Secure your spot now at https://bit.ly/cocoamiavday 🌟

01/31/2024

Plenty of opportunities to get on the ice at the APEX Center this month! Check out our February schedule!

01/26/2024

COMING SOON! A new exhibit, "Hometown Sounds - Musical Culture of Wythe County" will open Friday, Feb. 16, at the Wythe County Decorative Arts Museum. The Museum is located at the Willowbrook Jackson/Umberger Homestead, 1125 Tazewell Street, Wytheville. More details to be announced.