Category: Arts and Culture
News and features covering theater, music, visual arts, performances, local artists, cultural events, and creative life in Berea and surrounding communities.
⛳ Berea Chamber Annual Golf Tournament Set for June 12 at Battlefield Golf Course
RICHMOND, Ky. — The Berea Chamber of Commerce will host its highly anticipated Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, June 12, at the historic Battlefield Golf Course in Richmond. 🗓 Date: Friday, June 12⏰ Time:8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.📍 Location: Battlefield Golf Course, 524 General Cruft Drive🤝 Focus: Business networking, corporate partnerships, and fundraising The tournament…
⚔️ Macbeth to Close Spotlight Playhouse’s 23rd Season With Large-Cast Shakespeare Production
The Bluegrass Players close The Spotlight Playhouse’s 23rd season with Macbeth, running June 19-28 in Berea. Here is what to know about the large-cast production and why the tragedy still lands.
🎭 Back on Stage, and Grateful for the Theater Family That Makes It Possible
A personal reflection on stepping back on stage in Annie: The Musical, the joy of working with two casts, and why Spotlight Acting School and The Spotlight Playhouse feel like home.
🏛️ Day Trip From Berea: What to See and Do at White Hall This Summer
White Hall makes an easy summer day trip from Berea, and it does not take much planning to make it worthwhile. The historic mansion sits in Richmond and is managed by Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), which keeps it feeling like a close-to-home outing rather than a big production. White Hall was once home to Cassius…
Campfire Forging Workshop Offers Beginner Blacksmithing Project in Berea
BEREA, Ky. — A two-day blacksmithing workshop in Berea will give participants a hands-on opportunity to craft practical, outdoor cooking tools while mastering traditional forging skills. 🗓 Dates: Saturday, June 6 to Sunday, June 7⏰ Time:9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (both days)📍 Location: Berea Makerspace, 116 Spring Circle Drive🧑🏭 Format: Beginner-friendly, hands-on project workshop “Campfire…
Woodcarver Wednesday Brings Craft Demonstrations and Live Music to Berea Welcome Center
BEREA, Ky. — Berea’s long connection to traditional arts will be on display each week through Woodcarver Wednesday, a recurring event at the Berea Welcome Center. 🗓 When: Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.📍 Where:Berea Welcome Center, 3 Artist Circle✅ Upcoming June dates:June 3, 10, 17, and 24 🪚 Living History in Public Spaces The…
Berea Makerspace Hosts Tools and Stools Workshop May 30 and 31
BEREA, Ky. — Berea Makerspace will host a two-day woodworking workshop May 30 and 31 focused on traditional toolmaking and hands-on furniture construction. The class, titled “Tools and Stools with Don Weber,” runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days at the Berea Makerspace facility, located at 116 Spring Circle Drive in Berea. The…
Junebug Festival Brings Drums, Vendors, and Family Activities to Old Town Berea
BEREA, Ky. — Old Town Berea will welcome the start of summer with rhythm, art, food, and family activities during the Junebug Festival on Friday, June 5. 🗓 Date: Friday, June 5⏰ Time:6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.📍 Where: Old Town Berea (centered around Artist Circle and North Broadway)💲 Cost: Free👨👩👧👦 Ages: All ages 🥁 Community…
🌟🎭 Annie KIDS Opens May 29 at The Spotlight Playhouse
BEREA, Ky. — Spotlight Acting School’s youngest division of stage performers will take center stage beginning Friday, May 29 🗓️, as the bright and inspiring Annie KIDS opens for a multi-weekend run at The Spotlight Playhouse in Berea. 🎶👧🐶 The production features a massive lineup of local youth actors ranging from ages 4 to 11…
Creative Arts Camp Brings “New York, New York” Theme to The Spotlight Playhouse June 8 to 12
BEREA, Ky. — Spotlight Acting School will offer an immersive week of summer enrichment for local students from June 8 to 12 with the return of its annual Creative Arts Camp at The Spotlight Playhouse in Berea. 🗓 Dates: June 8 to 12📍 Location: The Spotlight Playhouse, 214 Richmond Road, Berea🎭 Theme: “New York, New…
When AI Drives, Who’s Actually Responsible?
BEREA, Ky. — There’s a snarky headline making the rounds about a Chinese startup building a self-driving system trained on footage from drones, robots—and yes, even vacuum cleaners. Engineers reportedly admit they don’t fully understand how the system actually makes its decisions. And sure, it’s easy to laugh at that. We’re putting our lives in…
Richmond Centre Summer Concert Series Opens May 29 With The Faded Blue Band
RICHMOND, Ky. — Richmond Centre will open its 2026 Summer Concert Music Series on Friday, May 29, with an evening performance by The Faded Blue Band. The series will run every Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. through Aug. 7 at Richmond Centre, located at 2139 Lantern Ridge Dr. in Richmond. The concerts are…
Spotlight Acting School Presents Annie KIDS Beginning May 29
BEREA, Ky. — Spotlight Acting School will bring its youngest students to the stage beginning Friday, May 29, with Annie KIDS at The Spotlight Playhouse. The production features Spotlight Acting School students ages 4 to 11 in a shorter, kid-centered version of the classic musical. Performances are scheduled across two weekends, with the Blue Cast…
Berea Arts Council Garden Tour Returns May 23 After a Year Away
BEREA, Ky. — A local spring tradition is returning this month as the Berea Arts Council hosts its 2026 Garden Tour on Saturday, May 23. The self-guided tour runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and features six private and local garden spaces across the city. The event, which took a year-long hiatus in 2025,…
Paint Your Pet Party Offers a Creative Outing for Berea Animal Lovers May 17
BEREA, Ky. — Berea animal lovers will have a chance to turn a favorite pet photo into a painted keepsake during a Paint Your Pet Paint Party on Sunday, May 17. The event is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at One Eyed Jack’s Social Club, located at 107 Clay Dr. in Berea. The…
Tools and Stools Workshop Brings Traditional Woodworking to Berea Makerspace May 30–31
BEREA, Ky. — A two-day woodworking workshop called Tools and Stools with Don Weber is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, at the Berea Makerspace, located at 116 Spring Circle Drive. The class is built around a hands-on philosophy: participants build a traditional hand tool first, then use that same tool to…
Spotlight Acting School’s Creative Arts Camp Returns June 8–12: A Week of ‘New York, New York’
BEREA, Ky. — Summer break can be a challenge for families who want something more meaningful than another week of screens, but still need a structured, full-day environment for their children. Spotlight Acting School’s Creative Arts Camp is designed to fill that gap. Running Monday through Friday, June 8–12, at The Spotlight Playhouse (214 Richmond…
The Arts Beat: Final Weekend for Two Spotlight Playhouse Productions
BEREA, Ky. — It is a busy week at The Spotlight Playhouse, with two wildly different productions closing out their runs and another major musical just around the corner. For families looking for something positive to do together, this is one of those weekends where local theater is offering more than just a night out.…
Berea Arts Council Plant Sale Helps Grow Gardens and Community Support
BEREA, Ky. — The Berea Arts Council will host its annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 9, giving residents a chance to refresh their gardens while supporting local arts programming. The sale is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Berea Arts Council, located at 444 Chestnut Street. This year’s theme, “Grow Your…
Spotlight’s “Oh, Those Summer Nights” Invites Berea Families to Take the Stage Together
BEREA, Ky. — For families in Berea, summer activities often come with a familiar balancing act: finding something meaningful for the children, manageable for the parents, and flexible enough to fit a packed seasonal calendar. Spotlight Acting School’s new Summer Workshop Intensive, “Oh, Those Summer Nights,” appears built with exactly that challenge in mind. Offering…