CITY & EVENT CALENDARS
2021 Event Schedule
Beckley Events’ committee organizes and hosts community events. During the 2020 pandemic, many of our usual events had to be cancelled, but the committee offered several socially-distanced events such as neighborhood car cruises, drive-in movies and concerts, a Kids’ Day with a drive-in circus, and a reverse Christmas parade.
The committee hopes to be able to bring back some of the community’s favorite annual events in 2021 such as the Rhododendron Festival, Fridays in the Park, Car Shows &/or Cruises, an Appalachian Festival event, Kids Classic Festival, Chili Night and the Christmas Parade. The City of Beckley also plans to host a stop of the Great Race – a national vintage car event – on June 25, 2021. Follow “Beckley Events” on Facebook to keep up with local events.
Tentative 2021 Events/Activities: (Note that these events are tentative and may be postponed or cancelled dependent on the status of the pandemic cases and safety concerns. We will continue to follow recommended safety guidelines during events.)
February 2 – Thomas & Friends – Explore the Rails exhibit opens at the Youth Museum
Spring – Watch for Public Art Projects’ announcements: The unveiling of the Rising Cardinals statue on the plaza/corner and the Bill Withers statue (when completed) at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway. Mural painting will continue at the McManus Trail Art Park throughout the year. Check out the Monuments, Markers and Murals Tour list on this website – visitors can walk the downtown section of the tour on their own to see the many sites, learn history and view public art.
April 1 – Opening day at the Exhibition Coal Mine
April – Neighborhood Car Cruise(s) – dates and locations to be announced
May – Rhododendron Festival – may offer a couple of car cruises, walks, and a drive-in movie. The usual Coffee & Tea Celebration, Sweet Treats, & Founder’s Day events are not confirmed, and plans will be dependent on the status of Covid-19 cases and safety concerns during Spring.
June (tentative) – August – Fridays in the Park – individual performers, food vendors, limited seating, Word Park, lunchtime
June 20 – WV Day activities at the Exhibition Coal Mine/ Youth Museum from 11:00 – 2:00
June 25 – Great Race – This National Vintage Car event will make an overnight stop in Beckley – the community will offer welcoming festivities
July 4th – Fireworks display at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center
July 31 – Annual Summer Cruise-in Car Show or Cruise, Downtown
August 21 – 4th Annual Honey Festival – Exhibition Coal Mine 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
August 27-28 – Appalachian Festival (With a downtown event on the 28th)
September 4-11 – Kids Classic Festival (note Sept. 11 falls on Saturday)
October 1 – Arthur’s World Exhibition opens at the Youth Museum
October 2 – Chili Night
October – A few Halloween decorations may be added to a section of the McManus Trail
November 11 – American Legion’s Veterans Day Parade
November 20 – December 5 (tentative) – Ice Skating Rink at the Exhibition Mine
Nov. 26 & 27 Dec. 3 & 4 – Appalachian Coal Town Christmas – at Exhibition Coal Mine, 5– 9 pm
December 4 – Christmas Parade
On-going – Active Southern WV will continue Full Moon walks/rides on the McManus Trail during most months. Follow “Active Southern West Virginia” or “Beckley Events” on Facebook for details.
Follow the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, the Youth Museum of Southern and the Historic Black Knight for updates about their events.
Also, the Raleigh Playhouse & Theatre may host virtual events, and hopefully at some time during the year, be able to offer in-person events again.
Beckley Events contact info: 304-256-1776, jmoorefield@beckley.org, PO Box 5015, Beckley, WV 25801
City of Beckley Meetings
