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Bridge Jam is back with a killer lineup this year and the forecast looks great for Friday & Saturday! We chatted with Bill Wells, the founder of Bridge Jam to get the inside scoop for this year’s festival.

Bill Wells says Fayetteville is the perfect fit for Bridge Jam. ” We have great music, really good food vendors, to name a few Calacino’s from Beckley and Dobra Zupas. We will have 8 different breweries there each of those will be bringing 3 different beers on tap so we will have 24 beers on tap. Some of the breweries include Sweet Water, New Belgium national breweries and we’ve got Bridge Brew and Free Folk from Fayetteville along with Weathered Ground and Greenbrier Valley”, says Wells. He said they will also have wine available. Wells said the Cascade Festival Grounds make the perfect backdrop for a festival. Wells says it is a family-friendly festival that should be a lot of fun.

Tickets are available online at thebridgejam.com You can also buy tickets at the gate, Waterstone Outdoors and at United Bank in Fayetteville. If you purchase the tickets online there is a box to make donations to the New River Gorge Trail Alliance, Fayetteville Arts Coalition, or the Fayetteville Rotary Club.

Wells said, “I am really excited to bring Aqueous and everyone is really excited for Larry Keel, Mountain Heart is back and the Mud Hens are coming all the way from New York. There will be a lot of great local bands along with the national bands.” Camping is available onsite.

Purchase tickets

Buy Tickets Online for Bridge Jam 2019

The weekends fill up fast in Fayetteville. Savy travelers know that midweek can be the best time to experience Fayetteville. Your favorite restaurants are less crowded and you can experience the local flavor with a variety of activities only offered on weekdays. Weekdays in Fayetteville have their own special charm. Experience the beauty of the gorge where you can have the views to yourself without the crowds. The best part, you can save on great weekday lodging deals. If you are trying to escape the hustle and bustle, you’ll be glad you booked a weekday getaway.

MONDAY

Mac & Cheese Monday at Secret Sandwich Society

Mac & Cheese Monday is a phenomenon you need to experience at Secret Sandwich. You need this savory cheesy goodness in your life.

Wing Night at Elliott’s Whitewater Bar & Grill

 Choose from Hot, mild, southern bbq, teriyaki, kickin bourbon, honey hot, or garlic parmesan! Come in and ask us about our dry rubs too!

Tuesday

Live Music Tuesdays Southside Junction Tap House 8pm

Enjoy live music in the heart of downtown Fayetteville every Tuesday.

Taco Tuesday with Live Music @ The Burrito Bar Breeze Hill

6:30pm-9:30pm

Open Air Skating Rink

Ansted Skating Rink 6pm-9pm

The Ansted Skating rink was named one of Americas most unique skating rinks. It is open every Tuesday evening in August for skating fun!

Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesdays at Wonderland Waterpark Ace Adventure Resort 5pm-8pm
Join us every Wednesday this summer for $10 waterpark passes and $10 all you can eat pizza from 5-8 pm! All the sun, fun, and waterslides, AND our new splashpad you can handle for only $10.

Wednesday, August 28th is the last salsa Night of the season and things are heating up.

Thursday

Beer Bingo at the Southside Junction Tap House

Thirsty Thursday Live Music at the Burrito Bar Breeze Hill 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Group Rides at Arrowhead Bike Farm

5:45pm at Arrowhead Bike Farm

Fridays

Live Music at The Grove

Hiking

During Peak season popular hiking trails and overlooks can get crowded on the weekends. Enjoy spectacular views on weekdays without the crowds.

Waterfalls

Popular waterfalls can get crowded on the weekends, but midweek waterfall fun is surreal.

Deals on Lodging

Rates tend to run higher on weekends and availability can be at a premium during peak season weekends. If you have the flexibility to travel during the week, chances are you can snag a lower rate on accommodations. Explore all the midweek deals.
https://visitfayettevillewv.com/lodging/

JAZZ & BLUES IN THE VILLE is returning for its’ second year, to the town of Fayetteville. Hosted by the Historic Fayette Theater, this is a fundraising event begun by the theater that has now expanded to include two days of music.

On August 16th and 17th, the festivities will include cool jazz and hot blues from great local and regional acts: David Cole and Mainstreet Blues (Washington, D.C.,) The King Bees(Todd, NC), Lady D & MI$$ION (Beckley, WV), The Allen Smith Band (Athens, WV), The Colin Wood Project (Columbus, OH), Somethin’ Special (Charleston, WV), One For the Road (Fayetteville, WV), the High Street Jazz Band (Morgantown, WV) and a long anticipated reunion of southern WV favorites, the Red Star Rockets.

The event begins on Friday evening, August 16th inside the theater with jazz performances by One For the Road, Somethin’ Special and the Allen Smith Band. Saturday will be a full day of jazz and blues beginning on Court St. Food and Art and Craft vendors will be set up along with a stage to present returning favorites, the Colin Wood Project and the High Street Jazz Band. The street party will conclude with the 16th Red Star Rockets reunion and their performance is dedicated to founding member and local music icon, John Yurick. Who passed away in 2016. The day is capped off inside the theater with performances by Lady D & MI$$ION, the King Bees and David Cole and Mainstreet Blues.

The street party is free to the public. The theater performances are $20 per day or $35 for a weekend pass. Tickets are available for sale through brownpapertickets.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the theater box office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6pm-8pm, or on the day of the events.

LODGING: The official hotel of Jazz & Blues in the Ville is the Quality Inn New River Gorge – 103 Elliott’s Way, Fayetteville, WV 25840. Mention Jazz & Blues in the Ville and receive the special rate of $82.00 + tax. Reservations must be made directly through the hotel by calling 304.574.3443. Located less than 5 minutes from the Historic Fayette Theater.

This is a fundraising event for the Historic Fayette Theater! Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available for businesses, organizations and individuals.
For sponsorship and general information contact: Doris Fields [email protected] 
567-525.8016. For vendor information contact: Jen Garvin [email protected] 304.763.9133

SCHEDULE:

JAZZ & BLUES IN THE VILLE – SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16TH (Historic Fayette Theater)

Emcee: Lady D

6PM – 6:45PM ONE FOR THE ROAD 
7PM – 7:45PM SOMETHIN’ SPECIAL 
8PM – 9:30PM ALLEN SMITH BAND

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17TH (COURT STREET)

Emcee: DJ New York

NOON – 1:15PM COLIN WOOD PROJECT
2PM – 3PM HIGH STREET JAZZ BAND
3:30PM – 5PM RED STAR ROCKETS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17TH (Historic Fayette Theater)

Emcee: Terell Bailey (WOAY TV)

6PM – 7PM LADY D & MI$$ION
7:15 – 8:30 PM KING BEES
8:45 – 10 PM DAVID COLE & MAIN STREET BLUES

The Fayetteville “Meet the Artist” is a new series celebrating our flourishing art scene by highlighting local artists and the diversity of art you can find in Fayetteville! We planned this month’s Meet the Artist in accordance with the Fayetteville Visitor Center’s featured summer artist display, by featuring artwork by Connie Mae. Mae uses light and shadows to create breathtaking nature paintings that truly encompass the magic of the New River Gorge. 

Mae grew up surrounded by nature, hiking in the Michigan woods. She said it was difficult to pinpoint a specific time of when she got started creating art because she can’t remember a time when she wasn’t creating art. Mae’s mother recognized her love for art and kept her supplied with materials at a young age and signed her up for every art class available. She majored in fine art at Spring Arbor University and received additional education at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art. Mae began sharing her love of art by teaching art classes. She never ceased to create art even in the busyness of raising a family. “I began focusing on my art full time six years ago, which had always been my dream. I had just moved to West Virginia and was absolutely captivated by the beauty, so the timing was pretty good for painting landscapes,” Mae said. 

Mae also said she has loved coming to Fayetteville for its beautiful hiking and delicious restaurants. One of her favorite spots is the Wolf Creek footbridge off of Fayette Station Road. “It is so peaceful and almost feels magical there. I’ve done a few paintings of that area,” said Mae.“When I’m in nature it balances my being and I feel inspired and closer to God. I think that experiencing something beautiful brings a sense of hope to people and it is more meaningful to share that with others. I guess that ultimately, I’m compelled to paint in an effort to share beauty and hope with others. I am intrigued by sunlight and shadow and how they change a whole scene. I find myself studying the effects of light and shadow on everything I see when I’m out on a hike or even when I’m driving down the road. I take it in visually and try to figure out how to translate it to my canvas. It excites me to discover the subtleties that are often overlooked and include them in my work.”

Mae has worked with a variety of mediums but prefers oil and enjoys incorporating other painting mediums with it to create different effects. When she’s not creating beautiful landscape paintings you can find her hiking, camping, kayaking, bike riding, sunset watching, enjoying a good book or challenging herself to a jigsaw puzzle. 

You can view Connie Mae’s Art at The Fayetteville Visitor Center as our featured summer artist. Her work can also be found at  conniemae-art.com.