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.
Beckley Events 2021 Events/Activities: Note that these events are tentative and may be postponed or cancelled dependent on the status of Covid cases. We will continue to follow the recommended safety guidelines (social distancing/masks) during events.
Feb. 2 – Sept. 12 – Thomas & Friends – Explore the Rails exhibit opens at the Youth Museum
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day event at Beckley’s Historic Black Knight, food & music, 5-9pm, $20
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. Check out the Monuments, Markers and Murals Tour list on the City’s website beckley.org.
April 1 – Historic Black Knight Golf Course opens for the season
April 6 – Opening day at the Exhibition Coal Mine (Tuesdays – Saturdays)
April – Neighborhood Car Cruise(s) – Tentative dates 4/10 (Bowling Addition), 5/8 (McLean Addition and Harper Road), 5/22 (Airport to Grandview) and 5/29 (Park Middle School area) – Line-up 4:00-4:30, cruises begin at 4:30
April 24 – Celebrate Trails Day – Tentative – trail clean-up; mural painting; United Way Run (start at New River Park)
May – Rhododendron Festival – car cruises on May 8, 22 & 29; plus, walks and bike events; and other community events. A few of the special events include:
May 15 – Marker dedication for the new Bill Withers marker across from Stratton Elementary featuring a few Bill Withers tunes performed by various musicians – 11 am, followed by Concerts at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway. (Organized by the Raleigh County Historical Society, Matt Mullins, Annie Moore and other community members)
May 22 – Rhododendron Cruise to Grandview – Walks with a Park Ranger at Grandview
May 29 – Concerts at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway – 5:30pm – Motown hits by How Great Thou Art and 6:30pm – 80’s rock songs by Quiet Enough
June – August – Fridays in the Park – music, food vendors, Word Park, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
June 5 – National Trails Day
June 20 – WV Day activities at the Exhibition Coal Mine/ Youth Museum from 11am – 2pm
June 25 – Great Race – This national Vintage Car event will make an overnight stop in Beckley – the community will offer welcoming festivities, 5:30 – 8:30 pm, Music by Randy Gilkey, and Buddy Allen & Cheat River Band
July 4th – Fireworks display at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, 9:30 pm
July-August – Farmers Market at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway Plaza – MWF 3-5:30 pm
July 31 – Annual Summer Cruise-in Car Show or Cruise, Downtown, 5-8 pm, Music by The Danley Band
August 21 – Honey Festival – Exhibition Coal Mine 10am – 4pm
August 27-28 – Appalachian Festival (festival may include 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, 5:00-8:30 pm
October – Tentative: 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, 11 am
On-going – Active Southern WV will continue Full Moon walks/rides on the McManus Trail during most months. Follow Active Southern West Virginia & Beckley Events on Facebook.
Also, the Raleigh Playhouse & Theatre hosting virtual events, and hopefully will be able to offer in-person events again soon.
City of Beckley Meetings
