Event & Activity Spotlights
Looking for something fun to do? The Observer highlights events and activities happening in Shepherdstown, Charlestown, Ranson, Bolivar, Harpers Ferry, Berkeley County, and other areas in and around Jefferson County and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.
Whether you’re looking for live music performances, educational hikes at one of the local parks or nature preserves, or a family-friendly activity to fill a weekend or weekday, there’s always something happening in and around Jefferson County!
Email Explore@WeAreTheObserver.com if you have an event or activity to include in our calendar.
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Appalachian Heritage Festival at Shepherd University
“Celebrating Women’s Voices in Appalachia” is the theme of the 2022 Appalachian Heritage Festival (Sep 25) on the Shepherd University campus. Read the Full Story >>
Jefferson County Fair Marks End of Summer
The Jefferson County Fair is a week-long celebration of local agriculture, with arts & crafts and competitions in all sorts of categories for all ages. The main focus is on youth and encouraging the traditions of animal husbandry and farming that run deep in the local community. Read the Full Story >>
Friends of Music Announces 2022-2023 Concert Season
The Friends of Music 2022-2023 season starts this month with a performance by the Two Rivers Chamber Quartet on September 25. Read the Full Story >>
Cyber Thriller Debuts at Theater Festival
It took only 20 years for the number of Internet users to grow from a few hundred million to 5 billion people. Today, cyberattacks are constant. And because the United States was an early adopter of connected technologies, we are particularly vulnerable. Read the Full Story >>
Appalachian Chamber Music Returns In August For a Second Season
Last summer, a new music festival landed in Harpers Ferry, bringing a relevant and approachable experience of classical music. The Appalachian Chamber Music Festival is now back for its second season with a two-week schedule of performances celebrating the history, nature, and culture of Jefferson County and the surrounding region. Read the Full Story >>
Library Summer Programs Entertain & Educate
All of the local public libraries (Charles Town, Bolivar-Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown & South Jefferson) have a variety of events, activities, classes and challenges as part of their summer programs. Read the Full Story >>
Celebrate Independence Day 2022
The American Flag carried by members of the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department (above) is a staple of the Shepherdstown’s Independence Day parade in Jefferson County every year. For fireworks and festivals, there are many events in nearby cities and counties during this July 4th weekend. JUL 2 (Sat) — Independence Day Festival in Brunswick · Read the Full Story >>
Speaking On Dilemmas — June 14
Speak Storytelling presents storyteller Bobby Norfolk in performance on June 14 (Tue) at 7:30 pm. This month’s event is online only. Norfolk’s program is entitled “The Moral of the Story.” Read the Full Story >>
Try Acting Like a Kid
The Black Box Youth Playhouse in Shepherdstown (113 South Princess St) is offering 4 weekday camps (Mon-Fri) for youth aged 4 through 18 this summer. Read the Full Story >>
Youth Summer Music Programs
Shepherd University School of Music is offering 3 youth programs this summer taught by University faculty. Read the Full Story >>
Dive into Reading this Summer
The Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Library, South Jefferson Public Library, and Shepherdstown Public Library are all running reading programs for kids this summer. The theme for 2022 is “Oceans of Possibilities.” Read the Full Story >>
Bark in the Park
The Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County annual Bark in the Park is on June 4. Events include a blessing of the animals, canine demonstrations. dog & owner games, and canine contests. Vendors will include rescues, craft products, and food (for people too). Read the Full Story >>
Entler Museum Opens Exhibit on Black Education
A new exhibit exploring the Black student experience in Jefferson County before and after desegregation is now open at the Historic Shepherdstown Museum, located in the Entler Hotel. Read the Full Story >>
Lecture: Warriors In Peace
Dr. Stephen Goldman will speak on the topic of “Warriors in Peace: White and Black Union Veterans and the Fight for Equality in Post-Civil War America” presented by the Shepherd University President’s Lecture Series on March 22 (Tue) at 6:30 pm in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education Auditorium (213 N King St, on the Shepherd University Campus). Read the Full Story >>
Mozart Concert On March 19 & 20
The Friends of Music will resume their 2021-2022 concert season with two performances of an all-Mozart concert by the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra. Titled “Winds for Wolfgang,” the concert will feature famous selections from Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” and “Magic Flute,” and the entirety of his Serenade No. 10 (“Gran Partita”). The Orchestra’s music director, Jed Gaylin, will conduct. Read the Full Story >>
