Arts & Culture

You can see Southwest Virginia's rich culture in the performing arts, in galleries and schools, and in festivals held across our region.

Take in a performance at the Barter Theatre, the official state theater of Virginia and one of the leading regional theaters in the country. Choose from Broadway classics, contemporary and original drama, or productions that celebrate the our local history and culture.

Spend an evening at The Trail of the Lonesome Pine in Big Stone Gap, one of the country's longest-running outdoor dramas. Its lively action and rich characters take you through the beginnings of coal mining here, in the last part of the 19th century.

Festivals are everywhere: Floyd's four-day music festival, Floydfest, with world music genres and the music born right here; Bristol's Rhythm and Roots Reunion, combining multiple stages with streetside jams in the heart of historic State Street; and countless other festivals from Rugby to Honaker.

Many of our small towns and cities boast theaters restored to their original splendor, with live music and theater in dynamic downtowns. Marion's beautiful Lincoln Theatre hosts Song of the Mountains monthly, a long-running PBS series featuring old time and bluegrass music.

Arts centers and galleries offer the chance to see and buy arts and crafts – or to take a class. Emory and Henry College and Ferrum College both offer programs that focus on learning and enriching the community, as does the Appalachian School of Law.

Click a star on the map above to start experiencing the authentic and distinctive arts and culture of Southwest Virginia.