Folklife Center announces two major events to kick off the semester

Fairmont State University’s Frank and Jane Gabor Folklife Center will host two major events during the first week of classes on August 24 and August 26.

Emily Reitz, local herb expert and owner of The Ginger Plantsman, will present a lecture on local seasonal plants Thursday, August 24 at 6 p.m. at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center. The event is free and open to all. The Folklife Center is located on Squibb Wilson Blvd. on the campus of Fairmont State University.

“We are excited to welcome back Emily Reitz, who is dedicated to educating the community about locating and using local herbs and plants in our everyday lives,” said Director of the Folklife Center Dr. Lydia Warren.

Reitz graduated from Fairmont State University and has extensive knowledge on regional plants and herbal remedies. Her lecture will focus on seasonal allergy causes and potential herbal treatments. There will be time at the end for a Q&A session. 

On Saturday, August 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Folklife Center will host the Wartz ‘n All Dulcimer Jam.

“At the Folklife Center, we strive to be a barrier-free meeting place where students, community members, and experts can gather and learn, and hosting this dulcimer event is an exciting example of that,” said Warren. “This will help our regional tradition of music-making grow stronger and better, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors!”

After a multi-year hiatus, event co-founder Rob Lackey is excited to bring the event back. Lackey, a member of the acclaimed Kennedy Barn String Band, will be on hand all day to provide lessons in a unique, unstructured format. What makes this event special is the lack of a schedule or formal plan: the day progresses based on what attendees want to do. 

There will be jamming and song swapping as well as time for questions about techniques, tunes, and more. Folks are encouraged to bring their instruments and any questions they have. Beginners are also welcome, and the Folklife Center will provide cardboard dulcimers and beginner instruction for all to use.

For more information, please email Folklife Center Director Lydia Warren at lydia.warren@fairmontstate.edu or call (304) 367-4286.