Some special events to look forward during the month of July in Beckley include:
Beckley’s 4th of July fireworks display will take place around 9:30 p.m. in the Pinecrest / Beckley Little League / Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center area.
Fridays in the Park concerts are held at Word Park on Neville Street from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, weather-permitting.
Theatre WV performs at Friday in the Park
The July schedule begins with Christian rock band FOG on July 5th, and Dave Runion on July 12th. The July 19th date will be special as National Boy Scout Jamboree bands will perform at the gazebo from 11:30 am – 12:20 p.m. Two bands, a 60-piece concert band and a smaller jazz band will be featured. Also, Theatre West Virginia will follow singing excerpts from the Wizard of Oz. A dance theme will fill the July 26th event with line dancers from the Mercer County and Raleigh County Commissions on Aging, followed by young dancers from Harmony in Motion.
The Uptown Tailgate Farmers Market plans to open on Wednesday, July 10th. The market will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway Parking Garage Plaza. The market may add Monday afternoons later in July and August. For more information, contact the WVU Extension office at 304-255-9321.
The Friends of Coal Auto Fair will be a huge weekend of activities at the YMCA Sports Complex from July 18 – 21. The annual Cruise-in Car & Bike show will take place on Friday, July 19th. Anyone interested should register at the YMCA Sports before 6:00 p.m.; the line-up for cruise begins between 5:15 – 5:45 p.m., with the escorted cruise leaving YMCA Complex at 6:00 pm to cruise toward the Historic District. The route follows Route 19 to Johnstown Road to Kanawha Street to McCreery Street onto Heber and then lining up along Neville Street & Main Streets. Residents who live along the route are encouraged to watch the cruise like a parade. The streets in uptown will not be reserved for line-up until cruise arrives after 6 pm, so those interested in showing their vehicle should not arrive early. Cruise participants will get the first spots on the streets. The first 100 cruisers who check-in at Word Park will receive a dash plaque. Specialty awards by City departments will be presented, along with door prizes. Vehicles registered for the Friends of Coal Auto Fair are also registered for the Cruise show.
Free entertainment uptown will include Old School Band from 6:30 – 7:30 at Word Park. This band is the house band at American Legion Post 32 and plays oldies music. Other music at the Word Park gazebo will include singer, songwriter and American Idol finalist Robbie Carrico performing from 8:00 – 8:40 p.m. Robbie has reinvented his style and sound and has a recent Country inspired CD.
Other uptown activities include the Beckley Area Shag Club dancing at McBee’s (street level room) and members of the Boatmen performing in front of Fosters between 7 and 8 p.m.
The Raleigh Playhouse & Theatre will offer a play entitled “Laundry & Bourbon.” At 8 p.m.
One of the highlights of the Friends of Coal Auto Fair at the YMCA Sports Complex is the Saturday evening concert by the Davisson Brothers & Travis Tritt. For more information, call the YMCA at 304-252-0715 or visit www.friendsofcoalautofair.com.
Another event to be held uptown in July is the “Redefining Cool” event planned for Monday, the 22nd at Word Park. A free concert beginning at 6:30 p.m. will feature the School of Harmony and Andre Williams with Colton Pack. The annual event is designed to provide a forum for young people, parents and professionals to express feelings and ideas on the subject of “bullying” and positive self image for young people.
For more information about Beckley events, like “Beckley Events” on facebook, or visit www.beckley.org or www.raleighcountyevents.com, or call 304-256-1776.