Appalachian Roots Opening Night, kicks off the Annual MOV Multi-Cultural Festival on Friday, June 21st at the Parkersburg City Park. Starting things off will be Kanawha Traditions with Bobby Taylor at 6:30 p.m. This is a WV Vandalia Award Winning Old-Time Fiddle band. Following them at 8:15 pm will be the Big Possum String Band. Their repertoire ranges from both driving, traditional fiddle tunes, to early bluegrass and country numbers that’ll have you up and dancing.

Continuous entertainment will be on the main stage throughout the weekend including rock and roll, jazz, blues, R&B, Irish, Native American and Scottish bagpipe music. There will also be Mexican, Irish and Belly dancing along with African drumming and dancing.

The Prodigals from NYC will perform Saturday evening at 5:15pm. They have been hailed as one of the most successful bands to emerge from the East Coast Irish scene. Following them at 7pm will be world class keyboardist and Jazz musician Kevin Howard. At the end of the night the Inner City Blues Band will take the stage at 8:30pm. This high energy blues/R&B group will put on quite a show.

African drummers and dancers will perform twice throughout the weekend. Saturday at 1pm and Sunday at 2:30pm. Focusing primarily on West African dance styles, GOREE is a dynamic group that weaves together the rich diversity and far-ranging experiences. On Sunday afternoon at 3:30pm, internationally acclaimed award winning singer/songwriter Steve Free will perform. He draws his music from his Native American and Appalachian roots. He has won numerous Music Industry Awards including a Platinum Record and a 2016 Grammy nomination. He has charted over 50 songs on The National and International Charts and is one of the most popular Folk/Americana Artist on European and International radio.

Other festival activities available at different times include a free children’s activity center, bushcraft exhibits and demonstrations, a baby care area, WV Ghostbusters, the library bookmobile, cartoon fun with JD Williamson and bubbles by Professor Bubblemaker.

The festival also offers many arts and crafts vendors and food concessions with international fare and diverse cultural offerings. This is a free admission event on June 21-23. More information can be found at www.movmcf.org.

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