Vandalia Gathering

The Vandalia Gathering is a popular festival devoted to old-time and bluegrass music, as well as related arts such as dance, quilt making, and cooking, which takes place each summer on the state capitol grounds in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. It was established in 1977. It is held on Memorial Day weekend in May. The festival features solo competitions, whose winners are awarded cash prizes.[1]

Vandalia Gathering
Everett Lilly and the Lilly Mountaineers performing at the 2009 Vandalia Gathering
GenreBluegrass music, Old-time music
DatesMemorial Day weekend in May
Location(s)Charleston, West Virginia, United States
Years active1977–2019, 2021–
WebsiteOfficial site

Performers at the festival have included Lester McCumbers, Dwight Diller, Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz, and Everett Lilly and the Lilly Mountaineers.

There was no gathering in 2020 as officials cited the COVID-19 pandemic as grounds for cancellation.

Vandalia Award

The Vandalia Award is an honor given by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History to recognize individuals "for their lifetime contribution to West Virginia and its traditional culture." The annual Vandalia Award ceremony occurs at the start of summer and typically on Memorial Day weekend, and held at the Normal L. Fagan State Theater at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston.

Year Winner(s) Ref(s)
1981 Melvin Wine
1982 Ira Mullins
1983 Woody Simmons
1984 Aunt Jenny Wilson
1985 Mike Humphreys
1986 Russell Fluharty
1987 Phoeba Parsons
1988 Ernie Carpenter
1989 Sylvia O'Brien
1990 Bonnie Collins
1991 Andy Boarman
1992 Wilson Douglas
1993 Jane George
1994 Frank George
1995 Nat Reese
1996 Elmer Bird
1997 Lefty Shafer
1998 Glen Smith
1999 Rush and Ruby Butcher
2000 Brooks Smith
2001 Norman Fagan
2002 Bob Kessinger
2003 Mack Samples
2004 Carl Rutherford
2005 Lester McCumbers
2006 Ethel Caffie-Austin
2007 Patty Looman
2008 Lou Maiuri
2009 Everett Lilly
2010 Bobby Taylor
2011 Buddy Griffin
2012 The Bing Brothers
2013 Gerald Milnes
2014 Roger Bryant
2015 Ken Sullivan
2016 Joni Hoffman
2017 Jim Good
2018 Bil Lepp
2019 Dwight Diller

See also

References
  1. "Vandalia Gathering". Wvculture.org. Retrieved 4 March 2019.


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