October 24, 2012
FestivALL Fall offers plenty of fun
New gala with HallowEast features new events and FestivALL faves
Lawrence Pierce
The Charleston Light Opera Guild opens its season with "Hello, Dolly!" beginning Friday at the Clay Center. The show, part of FestivALL Fall, stars Debbie Spradling as a meddlesome matchmaker.
Chip Ellis
East End Main Street Director Ric Cavender points out some of the works that are part of HallowEast's annual Artmares horror-themed art show. This year, HallowEast is joining forces with the inaugural FestivALL Fall.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- FestivALL is back for a special fall edition that runs Thursday through Sunday at various venues around Charleston. The festivities include a number of returning FestivALL favorites as well as new events and activities included in East End Main Street's fourth annual HallowEast.

Unless a different address is noted, information about all events can be found at www.festivallcharleston.com.

 

Ticketed entertainment

"HELLO, DOLLY!": The Charleston Light Opera Guild opens its season with this classic musical at the Clay Center. The 10-time Tony winner focuses on a meddlesome widow who plays matchmaker and brings romance to several couples, as well as herself.

The cast includes Debbie Spradling in the title role and Tim Harper as Horace Vandergelder, the man she hopes to marry. Among the other couples matched are Rachel Cox as Irene Malloy and Cameron Vance as Cornelius Hackl, Lindsey Duvall as Minnie Fay and Cameron Burford as Barnaby Tucker and Carly Thaw as Ermengarde Vandergelder and Austin Thomas as Ambrose Kemper.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Nov. 2-3 and 2 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 4. Tickets are $15 and $20. Call 304-561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.

"MOUNTAIN STAGE": At 7 p.m. Sunday, the radio show returns to the Culture Center after some time away with a folk-heavy show featuring Beth Orton, Jesse Harris, David Wax Museum, Lucy Kaplansky and Barnaby Bright.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $25 at the door. Call 800-549-TIXX or visit www.mountainstage.org.

"ANIMAL FARM": Charleston Stage Company closes out its production of "Animal Farm" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Capitol Center Theater, 123 Summers St. The show, based on George Orwell's classic novel, mixes puppets and live actors and features original music by local singer/songwriter Jeff Ellis.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Call 304-343-5272 or visit www.charlestonstagecompany.com.

 

Returning favorites

ART FAIR: The art fair relocates to Capitol Market, running noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. More than 25 artists will sell their wares, which include paintings, photos, mixed media works, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, bath and body products, clothing, pens and more.

BB&T CAPITOL MARKET STAGE: Friday acts are The Modock Rounders at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Bob Shank at noon and 3 p.m. and Robin Kessinger and Robert Shaffer at 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday performers are Bug at 10 a.m., Marium Bria at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Jim Lange and Ryan Kennedy at noon and 2 p.m., the River City Youth Ballet Ensemble at 1 p.m. and the Charleston Ballet at 4 p.m. Also watch for the FestivALL princess (Jude Binder) and stilt walkers Chally Erb and Elizabeth White.

CHILDREN'S ART FAIR: Running concurrent with the regular art fair at Capitol Market on Saturday, the children's art fair has make-and-take art activities, youth art sales and, from 2 to 4 p.m., a zombie makeup workshop by Adam Bryan of the Alban Arts Center. The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame traveling museum will be on hand as well.

SPIRIT OF WEST VIRGINIA CRUISES: Take a one-hour cruise from Haddad Riverfront Park to the 35th Street Bridge and back. Cruises depart at 10:30 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $12.50 for adults, $10 for veterans and seniors and $7.50 for children under 12. Call 304-419-2497 or visit www.wvpaddleboat.com.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE TOURS: Walking tours highlighting the history behind architecture and public art in downtown Charleston were so popular during the summer FestivALL that they're back for this one. They depart at 1 and 1:30 p.m. Saturday from the Lee Street Triangle.

CARRIAGE TRAIL WALK: Also being revived after a successful summer run is the Sunrise Carriage Trail Walk. This one, "Art of Man and Nature," is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. It features music ensembles and artists at work at various points along the .65-mile trial.

MUSICAL EASELS: Local artists paint or draw the scenery while rotating easels in sync with music by street musicians during ArtWalk from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdsay and on the Sunrise Carriage Trail from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

 

New events

TASTE-OF-FALL: Similar to but not the same as the summer event, Taste-of-FALL lets diners sample treats (priced from $2-$7) from various local restaurants, but this time, the goodies are offered on location at the restaurants. Stop by just for a taste or sit down for a meal.

Participants are Ichiban (103 Capitol St.), Ellen's Ice Cream (225 Capitol St.), Savage Sweets (at Ichiban), I Rise Soul Food Café (1599B Washington St. E.), Mission Savvy (202 Hale St.), Vandalia Grille (212 Hale St.), Bluegrass Kitchen (1600 Washington St. E.), Frutcake (1599A Washington St. E.), Tricky Fish (1611 Washington St. E.) and Da' Sweeterie (call 304-542-3611 for location information). Taste-of-FALL runs Thursday through Sunday.

NINA AND PINTA TOURS: Head to Haddad Riverfront Park between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday through Nov. 4 to take a self-guided tour of these sailing museums, which are hand-built re-creations of the Portuguese ships used by Christopher Columbus.

Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for children ages 5-16 and free for children 4 and under. Visit www.thenina.com.

PRESERVATION ROADSHOW: Head to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 301 Piedmont Road, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday to quiz historic preservation experts in the fields of masonry, plaster, windows, historic architecture, historic interiors and structural engineering. If possible, bring photos or easily transportable items along with your questions. Call the Preservation Alliance of WV at 304-345-6005.

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