State Parks: Performances Under the Stars
Enjoy performances under the stars at
one of the many amphitheaters nestled
in the mountains of West Virginia. Many
State Parks host outdoor performances.
For information on upcoming shows,
check the calendar at www.wvstateparks.com or call 1 800 CALL WVA.
Pipestem Resort State Park
amphitheater, Mercer County
Extend a fun evening of live
performance into an overnight
vacation at Pipestem Resort State
Park in Summers County. The park’s
amphitheater seats 525; attendees
may also bring blankets for hillside
seating. Performances run the gamut
– from community band and dramatic
presentations to bluegrass and rock
and roll or the stories and mirth of
champion liar Bil Lepp. The stage also
is the setting for nature programs such
as “Geology! Rocks” and Three Rivers
Avian Center’s popular “Wings of
Wonder: Birds of Prey” series. Attendees
do not have to be overnight visitors to the park, but if you’ve got the time, Pipestem’s
setting in the beautiful Bluestone Gorge makes it well worth the stay.
Between Beckley and Princeton, Camp Creek State Park also hosts regular
performances at its amphitheater. The 8th Annual Appalachian Heritage Festival,
co-sponsored by the Appalachian Highland Music Association and Camp Creek State
Park Foundation, will take place Sept. 17 and is billed as a great family-friendly day
complete with food and music. The park’s convenient location – only two miles off
I-64 – makes it a popular destination with campers.
“The Aracoma Story,”
Chief Logan State Park,
Logan County
Liz Spurlock Amphitheater at Chief Logan State Park features a series of
productions starring local singers and actors. Recent offerings include “Cinderella”
and “Disney’s Jungle Book.” The theater is perhaps best known for it presentation
of “The Aracoma Story,” the modern version of which blends tales of the Shawnee
people with the story of young love between an Indian princess and a British soldier.
While the original Prickett’s Fort of 1774 served as a refuge from Native American
war parties on the western frontier of Colonial Virginia, Prickett’s Fort State Park in
Fairmont now serves as a monument to living history. In addition to tours and pioneer
demonstrations offered daily, the park also stages shows at its outdoor theater. Visitors can
find entertainment selections ranging
from string music and polka bands to
the musical “Annie Get Your Gun.”