May 11- May 25 – Rhododendron Photo Contest with Active SWV Facebook. (winner announced 5/25)
Saturday, May 11 – Coffee, Tea, and Sweet Treats along with the Emergency Preparedness Fair, 11 am – 2 pm, downtown (Word Park and Neville Street weather-permitting; Rain location: middle level of BIG); sample tickets sold at The Raleigh Playhouse & Theatre, 5 sample tickets for $5. Music at Word Park and Cardinals Plaza, featuring Strings of Green, WWHS Choir/Theatre, Beckley Children’s Theatre Ministry, and Seeking Altitude.
Also, the WV Paranormal Collective will be having an event at the Raleigh Playhouse & Theatre / Sir Walters, $10.
Saturday, May 11 – Raleigh County Library – flower power slime time, noon
Sunday, May 12 – Happy Mother’s Day
Tuesday, May 14 – Rhododendron-themed Painting with Sarah at the Raleigh County Library, 4:00 pm, registration opens May 1.
Wednesday, May 15 (or rain date – May 22) – Waterfall Wednesday Walk at the Piney Creek Preserve – Whitestick & Cranberry Creek Waterfalls, 5:30 pm, with WV Land Trust and Beckley Outdoors. Pre-registering requested at wvlandtrust.org/pineycreek.
Thursday, May 16 – Raleigh County Library – Paper Rhododendrons, 4 pm, an adult craft event.
Saturday, May 18 – Pickleball tournament at New River Park, Info: 304-673-8390.
– Painting event at Pottery Place, 11:30 am, painting watercolor cards with flower theme.
– Founder’s Day at Wildwood House Museum – 11 am – 2pm
Sunday, May 19 – Visit Grandview to see rhododendrons in bloom. Walk with a National Park Service Park Ranger, 2:30 and 3:00 pm
Thursday, May 23 – Music in the Beckley Underground, 5:30-7 pm, music by Shane Ingram with Fruits of Labor Pizzeria
– Full Moon Walk with Active Southern WV, McManus Trail, 7:30 pm
Friday, May 24 – Full Moon Walk with Active Southern WV, Grandview, 7:30
– Last day to enter a photo in the Facebook Rhododendron Photo Contest
Saturday, May 25 – Rhododendron Festival Car Show and Concert at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway, 4-8 pm, Vehicle registration 4-6 pm; Concert by Krista Hughes Band (5-7:30)
– Winner of Facebook Rhododendron Photo Contest announced.
Monday, May 27 – Memorial Day Cars, Coffee, and Cruise with Archies’ Cruisers: 10-11 am – Cars will lineup in the parking lot beside Word Park; 11 am – Memorial Day ceremony – Pledge, National anthem, patriotic songs, history of Memorial Day; 11:30 – Cruise from Word Park, through downtown, along Kanawha, ending at the American Legion cemetery; Noon – 1 pm – Wildwood will be open, plus Scott Worley will offer tours of the Wildwood Cemetery. Then, visit the Open House for new Raleigh County Veterans Museum (in former Sheriff office on Eisenhower Drive) – tentative.