Fridays in the Park
Fridays in the Park: Free concerts are held weekly during the summer at Word Park on Neville Street from 11:30 am until 1:00 p.m., weather-permitting. Lunch vendors sell food items during the event. The August entertainment line-up at the gazebo begins with David Runion on August 5th, and the Chris Oxley Quartet on August 12th. The Simply Jazz & Blues Festival will offer music by the Jenny Wilson Trio on August 19. Then on August 26th, Friday in the Park celebrates the Appalachian Festival with music by Lost Cannon Bluegrass Band and Shane Ingram and Friends.
Uptown Tailgate Farmers Market – The farmers market continues at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway Plaza off of Neville Street. Market hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 – 5:30 pm, and Fridays from 10 am – 1:30 pm. The market will celebrate National Farmers Market Week – August 8 – 12 – by offering free vendor set-up and registering customers and vendors for prize drawings. Wednesday, August 10th will be Tomato Day (largest tomato contest & salsa made from local produce contest). Mini-cupcakes will be offered to the first 30 customers on National Cupcake Day on August 15.
Praise in the Park Night is planned for August 12 at Word Park beginning at 6 pm. This evening of praise and worship will feature three groups – The Gospel Harmony Boys, The Stewart Family and the Faith Harmony Boys. Contact the First Baptist Church on Neville Street for more details.
The Simply Jazz & Blues Festival will be held August 19 – 21 at Word Park and at local venues. The festival offers a great line-up of music. For details, visit www.simplyjazzandblues.com.
Taste of Beckley – As one of several events planned for the Appalachian Festival, Taste of Beckley will be featured on Saturday, August 27th from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. in uptown Beckley. The festive block party will offer a variety of food, entertainment & fun for all. Restaurants, organizations and event vendors are invited to set up booths along Main, Heber & Neville Streets selling their specialties to the community. Vendors sell items on their own, so tickets are not required. Celebrity judges will vote for individual categories including best appetizer, entree’, sandwich, dessert, and most attractive booth. The public will vote for the Peoples’ Choice Booth.
Entertainment will feature the New River Jazz Band performing at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street., 2 Johns on Neville Street at 6:00 pm, and the Allen Smith Band at 7:00 p.m. near the intersection of Fayette & Main Streets. A Kids Zone area will be offered by Faith Community Church. The annual Oreo stacking contest by Southern Communications will also take place between 6:30 & 7:00 pm.
For more information on these or other events contact Beckley Events at 304-256-1776 or visit website site www.beckley.org or “Beckley Events” on Facebook.
