First Time Festival Guide: Gardner Winter Music Festival

The Gardner Winter Music Festival is held annually in Morgantown, WV.

The Indoor Winter version of Patty Fest

The hallways of South Middle School are filled with old mountain music.

Take note! The last Saturday in February is for Traditional Appalachian Sounds!

What is Appalachian Music?

The Appalachian Winter music festival you DON’T want to miss.

Enjoy the Community TOGETHERNESS!

Non-Stop Stage performances.

Fiddle Workshops.

Hammered Dulcimer Lessons.

Appalachian Flatfoot Dancing.

Your guide to the Gardner Winter Music Festival. Everything you need to know!

Is the Gardner Winter Music Festival good for kids?

Is the Gardner Winter Music Festival dog friendly?

Back to the Roots

What is Appalachian Music?

It’s a special blend.

Together we’ve all heard it.

At small and large gatherings.

It’s the music we grew up hearing..

Keeping up with the Times

(and the Joneses)

The times were quite simple. Even simpler before modern electricity in homes. Before any of us had a radio; Families and Friends gathered together with music.

Guide to Decluttering:
The Timeline of Clutter

“Plug in the Radio; and communication happened magically through the airwaves..“

So many notes…So little time…

There’s something special about Appalachian music. You typically don’t hear it on the radio. There’s CD’s; but you buy them from one of these here festivals. Finding ’em on YouTube and Spotify can be tricky.

The right place, and the right time…

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Throughout the State of West Virginia; there’s something going on about every weekend. In the Summer; when it’s peak festival season. Come to just about any major gathering; and you’ll hear these traditional Mountain tunes.

Traditional Mountain Music

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Jackson’s Mill Jubilee

Old Time? Right on!

Fiddle, Mandolin, Clawhammer Banjo, Cello, Penny whistle, Spoons, Lap Dulcimer… It’s quite a blend. Together this makes old time mountain music.

Fiddle Tunes

A group of Fiddle players at the
1926 Pocahontas County Fair

I grew up hearing these tunes at Burlington Apple Harvest Festival. Of course, it wouldn’t be a family reunion without a fiddle or a mandolin after the meal. These songs are familiar, to me. And maybe to you.. If you grew up around here.

A song book like this might be filled with songs with these folksy titles:

Boil ’em Cabbage Down
Turkey in the Straw
Wildwood Flower
Elk River Blues
Goober Peas

Traditional Ballads & Folk Songs Mainly from West Virginia

Songs of the South

The Gardner Winter Music Festival is held annually in South Middle School. The last Saturday in February.

Roam ‘Round

As we roamed through the hallways, stairwells, classrooms; Music filled the air. Jam sessions, choir practice, stage warm up. The sound was all around!

Stop and Listen

Non-Stop Appalachian Music

The set up was unlike any live music experience I’ve ever attended. No wait time between acts. No equipment to tear down. All acoustic, no electric. With these old instruments, it’s simple.

Performers carried their tune on,
and off the stage!

Line it Up!

You could easily spend a whole day here. In addition to this impressive full schedule. There’s food trucks, concessions, ample clean restrooms. Plenty of workshops and lessons to learn.

Or enjoy one of the many different Performing Artists on Stage!

Come make new friends, and see old familiar faces! This festival will have all your Winter blues chased away and gone!

Appalachian Flatfoot Dancing

It’s sort of like,
Jesco White dance lessons!

Come learn the Appalachian Flatfoot Dancing style. Instructors Jan Scopel and Kim Forey taught each step.

A sole-satisfying experience
for the entire family!

There are little to no selling vendors here. Gardner Winter Music Festival is a TYPE 2 Festival!

Everything you need to know about the Gardner Winter Music Festival:

This festival has Mineral County roots. It all started one Winter when Worley Gardner driven to the Stone House, a Travelers Rest Hotel in Burlington, WV.

In the dark of Winter, an idea is born..

“We ought to have a regular get-together so musicians would have something to do in the winter.”

Gardner Winter Music Festival History

You’ll feel like your best self!
Meander and Explore.

Parking was crowded at South Middle school. The school is a wonderful place for the event. An ample size for the crowd. But, in the future; Shuttle Busses may be needed. We arrived around noon, and got lucky.

General Cost was cheap! $5 admission at the door covers the entire day at the festival. Plenty of music to enjoy, and workshops to partake in. Children 7 and under attend FREE.

This festival atmosphere is everything. In the bleak of Winter, it only took about ten minutes to feel like my best self. We paid, walked towards the common area, then began hearing music. Music in stairwells. Music in classrooms. People were playing and singing everywhere.

Food/Bar lines: We did not check out the food scene. There was a food truck outside, with a few people in line. Inside there was snacks and concessions. Not sure on the prices. No lines. No alcohol is served at the Gardner Winter Music Festival.

Cleanliness: This is easily one of the cleanest festivals I’ve ever attended. Restrooms and floors were sparkly clean. Little to no trash in bins. Absolutely no smoking on premises.

Service of Staff: Check in was a breeze! We paid cash up front. The Gardner Winter Music Festival is run by volunteers. The volunteers at workshops were so eager to teach their craft. You won’t find a more friendly gang of folks!

Is the Gardner Winter Music Festival Kid Friendly?

Yes, but no. There were a few older kids there. The entire family could enjoy the day here. However, I’d say maybe ages 10+. For younger kids; the young and busy minds. There is not quite enough entertainment. Petting Zoos, Bounce Houses, Bubbles, Balloons, Face painting, etc.

A “junior area” would be great way to make this festival more family friendly. I’d love to see the musical history of Appalachia be preserved.

Our future generation should grow up gathering around to music, too.

Is the Gardner Winter Music Festival Dog friendly?

No. Please do not bring your pets to South Middle School. Service Animals permitted.

The Hunt is over…

In conclusion: You DON’T want to miss this Winter festival! As you and your family meander and explore the halls of South Middle School. Hearing different instruments and assemblies of voices. You’ll find yourself on the best adventure!

Mark your calendar: it’s held annually, the last Saturday in February.

Treasures are found!

Make it a Family Tradition for Appalachian Music!