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.
🔥 Fire & Fern Glass Studio Announces Valentine’s Season Glassblowing Lineup for February
BEREA, Ky. — Looking for a Valentine’s plan that isn’t dinner-and-a-movie? Fire & Fern Glass Studio is leaning into the season with a slate of hands-on experiences designed for couples, friends, and anyone who’d rather make something memorable than buy it. The studio’s February schedule features two offerings available throughout the month—plus a special event…
🦁❄️ Little Lions, Big Snow Queens: Spotlight Acting School Announces Spring Youth Productions
BEREA, Ky. — Two of Disney’s biggest titles are headed to a Berea stage this spring—performed by local kids and teens through Spotlight Acting School, with family-friendly runs of Disney’s The Lion King KIDS beginning Feb. 20 and Disney’s Frozen JR. following in late March at The Spotlight Playhouse. For parents and grandparents, these are…
🎵 Berea College Spring 2026 Music Calendar is Out — A “Save the Dates” Guide for the Season
BEREA, Ky. — If you’ve been waiting for a single, reliable roadmap to Berea’s spring concert season, Music @ Berea has released its Spring 2026 event schedule, laying out a full semester of performances across campus venues—from choir concerts and bluegrass to mariachi, percussion, and even an “Atrium Jam.” For readers planning weekends in town…
🦁 Pride Lands in Berea: Spotlight Acting School Announces Two-Cast Run of The Lion King KIDS (Feb. 20–Mar. 1)
BEREA, Ky. — Berea’s spring arts calendar is about to tilt family-friendly in a big way: Spotlight Acting School is bringing Disney’s The Lion King KIDS to the stage with two casts of young performers, giving more children the chance to perform—and giving local families two separate weekends to catch the show. 🎭 Two Casts,…
🎶 “Our Time”: A Berea Duo Marks 30 Years Together in Music—and Invites the Town into the Story
BEREA, Ky. — Thirty years is a long time to do anything side-by-side—long enough for life to change keys a few times, long enough for a town’s soundtrack to gain new verses. On Saturday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m., Berea College is putting that kind of longevity on stage with a faculty recital titled “Our…
🎭 “Finally” Is Back: A Broadway Revue Returns to Spotlight with Big Songs and Local Voices
Berea doesn’t need a trip to New York to get a night of showtunes. “Finally: A Broadway Revue” is back at The Spotlight Playhouse for a run Feb. 20–28, presented by The Bluegrass Players. 🌟 What a “Broadway Revue” Means (and Why It Works Here) Unlike a book musical (where one story runs from curtain…
🕵️♂️ Dinner, Drama, and a Desert Tomb: Spotlight’s Valentine Weekend Mystery Drops Audiences into “1999 Egypt”
Berea’s Valentine weekend calendar is getting a twist of suspense this year — and it comes with dinner. The Spotlight Playhouse will stage “The Tomb,” a murder mystery dinner show presented by The Bluegrass Players, running Feb. 13–15, 2026 at the Playhouse on 214 Richmond Road. 🏺 The Setup: Pure Escapism The story drops the…
🌶️ Chili, Music, and a Good Cause: Berea Arts Council Brings “A Chili Night Out” to Churchill’s Feb. 21
BEREA, Ky. — Berea’s winter calendar has no shortage of ways to get out of the house, but some nights do double duty—fun for you, and meaningful for the town. One of the biggest is coming up on Saturday, Feb. 21: the Berea Arts Council is bringing back “A Chili Night Out,” a benefit concert…
🌲 Nature Meets Art at the Pinnacles: A Free “Creativity in the Woods” Saturday in Berea
If winter has you itching to do something that isn’t another errand or another screen, the Berea College Forestry Outreach Center has a solid answer: a full Saturday of free programs at the Pinnacles area on Saturday, Feb. 7—including guided quiet time, outdoor art, and a group hike. 🗓️ A Feb. 7 Schedule You Can…
🎭 Update: “Lil Willy’s Panto-Loons” January Dates Pulled; Spring Run Promoted at Pearl Buchanan Theatre
If you were planning to catch “Lil Willy’s Panto-Loons” in Richmond on the originally advertised Jan. 23–24 weekend, the key change is this:the show is no longer listed on the EKU Center for the Arts’ main public events calendar/show listings. (Several readers have also reported the same after checking the EKU Center site directly.) At…
🧤 Crafting Through Winter: Make Your Own Glass Snowman at Fire & Fern in Berea
If you’ve ever walked past a glowing studio furnace and wondered what it would be like to create something with your own hands, Berea has a winter answer: Fire & Fern Glass Studio’s Glass Snowman Workshop. Listed on the Berea Tourism calendar for Saturday, January 24 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.), the workshop invites participants to design…
🎶 Melody & Mountains: Berea College’s Songwriters Night Invites the Community to Share Original Music
Berea doesn’t just host music — it grows it.On Friday, January 23, Berea College’s Department of Music lists Songwriters Night at 7:30 p.m. at the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center, and the best part is the simplest: it’s free. For locals who’ve never been, Songwriters Night is one of those events that quietly says a lot…
Banjo Nights & Winter Lights: Berea’s Acoustic Scene Warms Up the Season
Berea is set for a warm-up from the winter chill with an evening of unplugged music in the heart of Old Town.Friday, January 23, Top Drawer Gallery hosts “3 Men & A Banjo” from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. as part of the gallery’s ongoing Acoustic Nights series.Admission is free, with donations encouraged. 🎨 Top Drawer…
🎭 Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr. Brings Magic to Berea’s Spotlight Playhouse: January 9–18, 2026
The stage is set for a magical run as Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr. comes to The Spotlight Playhouse in Berea, January 9–18, 2026. This beloved musical brings the classic tale of Pinocchio to life, offering families and theater fans a heartwarming journey filled with memorable songs, colorful characters, and important life lessons. ✨ About…
Red Oaks Art Club Hosts Inclusive Art Event in Berea – January 10, 2026
Celebrate Creativity, Community, and Connection at the Berea College Forestry Outreach Center The Red Oaks Art Club invites the Berea community to an inclusive art event on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Berea College Forestry Outreach Center (2047 Big Hill Road, Berea, KY 40403). This event celebrates creativity, diversity,…
Spotlight Playhouse: The Adventure of the Clutching Claw Runs Jan 9–18
Bluegrass Players Bring Classic Melodrama to the Stage The Bluegrass Players are kicking off 2026 with their new production, The Adventure of the Clutching Claw, running January 9–18 at The Spotlight Playhouse in Berea. This show is a classic melodrama—a theatrical genre known for its exaggerated characters, clear distinction between good and evil, and plenty…
Lil Willy’s Panto-Loons Brings Shakespearean Comedy to EKU Center for the Arts
RICHMOND, KY — Audiences looking for laughter and something delightfully offbeat will find it at the EKU Center for the Arts on January 23 and 24, 2026, as the Appalachian Shakespeare Center at EKU presents “Lil Willy’s Panto-Loons.” This original sketch comedy show takes the stage at 7:30 PM both nights, promising a blend of…
Berea Arts Council Marks 40 Years with Retrospective Members Exhibit
BEREA, KY — The Berea Arts Council will celebrate a major milestone this winter with its 40th Anniversary Retrospective & Members Exhibit. The public is invited to a special reception on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 PM at the Council’s gallery on Chestnut Street. A Legacy of Creativity and Community Founded in 1986, the…
“Break A Leg 5K”: Running for Inclusivity and the Arts in Berea
This coming Sunday, May 5, 2024, Berea Community Park will come alive with the energy and enthusiasm of runners and walkers participating in the 2nd Annual “Break A Leg 5K.” Hosted by the Spotlight Acting School, this event is more than just a race; it’s a celebration of inclusivity, community, and support for the performing…
Step into the Spotlight: The Performing Arts are for Everyone at Berea’s Spotlight Playhouse
Who says the theatre isn’t for everyone? If you’ve ever felt that live performances were beyond your reach, The Spotlight Playhouse in Berea, KY, is set to change that notion this August with their “Pay What You Can” Fridays. Now, experiencing the enchantment of the theatre might cost you as little as a dollar! Kicking…