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

WVU to celebrate Appalachian heritage during Mountaineer Week

Mountaineer Week returns to WVU with events beginning Monday (Nov. 11), celebrating 77 years of Appalachian heritage with events, music, food, arts and crafts and more. (WVU Photo/Jennifer Shephard)

West Virginia University celebrates its Appalachian roots annually with a week of events highlighting music, food, and arts and crafts from the region. Mountaineer Week, now in its 77th year, starts Monday, Nov. 11, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 17.

The week kicks off at noon on Nov. 11 when 17 students will compete for the “best beard on campus” during the Beard Growing Contest held in the Mountainlair Food Court. This contest, the oldest ongoing Mountaineer Week event, dates back to 1949. Participants, who received courtesy shaves from Classic Cutz, have been growing their beards for six weeks. The top three will win cash prizes and a shaving kit from University Apartments.

The Arts & Craft Fair, the signature event of Mountaineer Week, takes place Nov. 15-17 on the Mountainlair’s second floor. Featuring 70 Appalachian artisans selected by jury, the fair offers handcrafted items for sale, including wooden products, scarves, pottery, jewelry and glassware. The fair is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The Quilt Show, run by members of the Country Roads Quilt Guild, honors the region’s quilt and needlework heritage. Free and open to the public, it is held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 15-16 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Elizabeth Moore Hall.

Academics including Gloria Goodwin Reheja from the University of Minnesota, Chris Haddox from the WVU School of Art and Design, and Lori Hostuttler from the West Virginia and Regional History Center will discuss West Virginia’s folk traditions on Nov. 14 in the Mountainlair Gluck Theatre. The event, titled “A Celebration of West Virginia Folk Music Traditions,” includes a musical performance by Haddox and Mary Linscheid. The West Virginia Humanities Council supports this event.

Visitors can also explore the WVRHC Folklife exhibit, featuring documents and artifacts from notable folklorists like Louise Watson Chappell, Patrick Gainer, and John Harrington Cox.

Appalachian music performances will be held on the Mountainlair Food Court stage throughout the week. Performers include Samuel James, Emma Birdz and Tommy Thompson III, Dalton Matheny and Jake Ujhelyi, Al Anderson, The Starlight Darlins, the WVU Bluegrass Band, and The Hillbilly Biscuits. Bob Shank, Pat Harper and Jeff Fedan will perform the hammered dulcimer during the Arts & Craft Fair and Quilt Show on Nov. 15-17. Additional student activities are planned during WVUp All Night, such as line dancing with Collegiate 4-H on Nov. 15-16, concerts by the Sweaty Hands String Band and Grace Campbell on Nov. 15, and Appalachian Trivia on Nov. 16.

Five seniors who embody the Mountaineer Values of Service, Curiosity, Respect, Accountability, and Appreciation will be recognized as Mountaineers of Distinction during the WVU vs. Baylor football game halftime on Nov. 16.

Throughout the week, additional events include Appalachian food sampling, an apple butter demonstration and sale, and an exhibit by the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia. Food vendors will offer a variety of festival foods in front of the Mountainlair.

See a full schedule of Mountaineer Week events.

Stay connected with WVU Arts and Entertainment for the latest event updates through Facebook, X and Instagram.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Raising the Jolly Roger With… Dawson Tenney

Buckhannon-Upshur senior Dawson Tenney, a four-year football and baseball player and former track member, reflects on a record-setting 60-57 win, coach Sloan Baisden’s “Standard Living” mantra, future college football and career plans.

Buckhannon Waste Board Agenda: December 4, 2025

The City of Buckhannon Waste Collection Board will hold a meeting December 4, 2025; this notice provides the agenda and topics to be addressed.

Buckhannon Consolidated Public Works Board Agenda: December 4, 2025

The Buckhannon Consolidated Public Works Board will meet December 4, 2025, and this notice outlines the meeting agenda.

West Virginia Wesleyan College to host regional music festival in January

West Virginia Wesleyan College will host a regional festival for WVMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, January 24. The event is open to solo instrumentalists, vocalists, small ensembles and pianists, with a registration deadline of January 10.

WVSSAC football championship schedules

The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission has scheduled four football state championship games in Charleston for Dec. 5–6: Morgantown vs. Martinsburg, Wheeling Central vs. Clay-Battelle, Frankfort vs. Bluefield, and Princeton vs. Nitro.

Shirley Ann McDaniels

Shirley Ann McDaniels, 85, of Buckhannon, died Nov. 30, 2025, at home; a homemaker who loved antiques, she is survived by husband Carl, three children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and siblings, with a private graveside service held.

Man who threatened to shoot Hodgesville Elementary students back in jail after alleged home confinement violation

Andrew Hitt was arrested on a misdemeanor charge on Monday after officers allegedly found that his browsing history had been deleted and that he couldn’t provide passwords during a routine check. He is being held on $100,000 cash-only bond.

Winter weather advisory: Snow, ice could make Tuesday morning commute tricky

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Upshur County from 11 p.m. Monday through 1 p.m. Tuesday. Residents can expect up to two inches of snow and a tenth of an inch of ice.

Upshur County Sports Calendar

Weekly Upshur County sports calendar lists area high school and college basketball, wrestling and swimming events Dec. 1–7, highlighted by Buckhannon-Upshur teams’ multiple games, duals and meets throughout the week.