The weekend of June 17-18, the community is invited to celebrate the rebirth of White Sulphur Springs with a music and arts festival on Main Street. A joint production between Cross Creek Hospitality, 50 East, The Schoolhouse Hotel, and White Sulphur Springs Rotary, the weekend will include live music, art, local food, spirits, and brews, and activities for the kids.
We gather to celebrate the incredible post-flood rejuvenation of White Sulphur Springs. This rebirth is the shining example of what can be accomplished with cross-sector collaboration. With businesses, local government officials, philanthropists, and volunteers all working towards a common goal, the community has been transformed.
The weekend festival includes concerts and events as follows: Friday, June 17, The Schoolhouse Hotel is hosting their official dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. The group will celebrate the incredible transformation of the former White Sulphur Springs High School into the world’s only fully accessible boutique hotel. The property includes The Varsity Club and The Rooftop dining experiences, as well as private event rental spaces such as The Ballroom. At 6:30 p.m. the Gum Store Studios Krewe will kick off a New Orleans style Second Line Parade at their spot on Gum Street. Heading down Dry Creek Road, folks are invited to join the parade in front of The Schoolhouse Hotel. Led by Grammy winning Rebirth Brass Band, we will party down to Big Draft Brewing’s Main Stage to kick off the festival. Don’t forget to decorate your umbrella! Rebirth Brass Band takes the stage at 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 18, starting at 7 a.m., Joey Miller has gathered a crew to clean up our downtown creeks. Breakfast for volunteers is provided by Mountain Steer Meat Company and Big Draft Brewing. To sign up, don’t hesitate to reach out. Or, just show up that morning ready to do some cleaning. Main Street between the lights shuts down from noon to 6 p.m. We invite artists and local artisans to join us to sell and exhibit their wares on Artisan Road on Main Street. Painters, potters, designers, street performers, and artists of all kinds are welcome. Exhibits open at 1 p.m. We also host the Smooth Ambler Whiskey Wagon, Big Draft’s Banger Burrito’s, Mountain Steer Meat Company’s burger truck, and more. At noon at the 50 East Stage, Stillwater Hum opens the show, followed by Nathan Seldomridge and the Whistlepig Rodeo. From 2 to 4 p.m., Field Day kicks off on The Schoolhouse Hotel lawn. Bring the kids for bouncy houses, balloon animals, face painting, and more. At 5 p.m., Artisan Road will close and the Big Draft Brewing Main Stage will open. Kicking off with Wayne Graham, followed by Wolfpen Branch at 7 p.m. Headlining the festival is John R. Miller, who Tyler Childers calls “a well-travelled wordsmith mapping out the world he’s seen, three chords at a time.” He takes the stage at 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 19, join us back at Big Draft Brewing’s Cross Creek on Main for Shamarr Allen at 8 p.m. The best part of this festival – it’s free thanks to the following incredibly generous sponsors.