All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Colonial Arts Center unveils completed façade in time for the Strawberry Festival

CAC Manager Anne Wilson, Buckhannon City Recorder Randy Sanders and CAC Board Member Keith Buchanan were on hand for the removal of the wooden barrier in front of the theater's new façade. / Photos by Monica Zalaznik

BUCKHANNON – The Colonial Arts Center unveiled its finished façade and removed the wooden barrier blocking its entrance.

The team working on the CAC construction revealed the front of the building May 11. Colonial Arts Center Manager Anne Wilson said the reveal had been long awaited by the CAC board and the community.

“The community has been very patient, and we’ve all been very patient through this process, and I know we wanted to have a grand opening sooner, but now that this is down, I think the community will have some more momentum and some excitement with the project,” Wilson said. “This is really one of the final pieces, and after this, we’re nearly finished — there’s just a few final finishing touches inside, and it’s really exciting the building will be fully ready for community use at this point.”

The theater’s seating installation is a highly anticipated construction component, but Wilson said they are also working on the basement right now. 

“There’s still just a little bit of work they need to do to finish up in the basement; I would say the biggest thing we’re excited about is getting all that art in the basement installed from St. Joseph’s Hospital — that will be the next big project,” Wilson said. “We’ll also get the donor recognition wall up in the lobby, so those are going to be the next two big pieces.”

The grand opening for the CAC is tentatively set for Oct. 7, and the new telescopic seating will be installed in August or September.

“We had an excellent turnout for all four shows of ‘Red Velvet Cake War,'” Wilson said. “The final show on Sunday afternoon actually sold out, and we had to bring some more seats from downstairs. The next show the BCT is going to do at the CAC will be in the middle of October — Oct. 13 and 14 –and they’re doing a murder mystery dinner theater; it’s a collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce.”

The next two events taking place at the CAC will be Art 26201’s “Liars Contest” on June 16, and The Rustic Mechanicals, a Shakespeare touring group, will perform their summer comedy July 7.

Buckhannon City Recorder Randy Sanders, who is on the CAC Board, said he was thrilled about the façade’s completion.

“This is a day we’ve been waiting for a few years now; you always come back to the entrance of a building, and this is going to be a great way to welcome people to the Arts Center,” Sanders said.

Below are a few scenes from this morning’s reveal:

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Upshur County Relay for Life aims to raise $35,000 for cancer research on July 19

The Upshur County Relay for Life will host its annual event July 19 at Jawbone Park, aiming to raise $35,000 for cancer research while celebrating survivors and bringing the community together through activities and remembrance ceremonies.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital team members engage in statewide healthcare leadership program

Two WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital employees were honored by the West Virginia Hospital Association Leadership Academy, with Paula Cutright graduating and Matthew Scott selected for future participation in the statewide healthcare leadership program.

Post 7 drops outings to Doddridge and Morgantown

Buckhannon Post 7 suffered consecutive road defeats, falling 10-2 to Doddridge County and 11-0 to Morgantown Post 2, dropping their season record to 2-15.

Summer basketball league begins week two

The Upshur County Summer Basketball League entered its second week with standout performances from top scorers including Cory Harper, Dalton Hamrick, Cordell Nicola, and Vinny Snuffer leading their teams across multiple games.

Buckhannon City Council Special Meeting Agenda: July 15, 2025

The Buckhannon City Council has released the agenda for its special meeting scheduled for July 15, 2025.

BCT to light up the stage with Mamma Mia starting this weekend

Buckhannon Community Theatre will present the musical Mamma Mia! at the Colonial Arts Center starting July 12, featuring ABBA hits, lively performances, and a cast assembled from across the region.

St. Joseph’s Hospital supports healthy habits with mile-long midday walks

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital has launched a noon walk initiative, inviting staff and community members to join daily one-mile walks to promote physical activity and improve health outcomes.

John Paul Ingram

John Paul Ingram, 83, a beloved Buckhannon resident, ordained minister, and avid outdoorsman who shared his faith and kindness with many, died July 6, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Wesleyan finishes seventh in MEC Commissioners Cup standings

West Virginia Wesleyan finished seventh in the 2024-25 Mountain East Conference Commissioner’s Cup standings, while the University of Charleston captured its eighth consecutive and tenth overall title for all-around athletic excellence.