🎶 “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…
🦉 Citizen Science Saturday: Help Identify Wildlife Observations at Berea’s iNaturalist I.D.-a-thon (Jan. 31) (Rescheduled for Feb 28th)
BEREA, Ky. — If you’ve ever snapped a photo of a strange mushroom, a bird you couldn’t name, or a plant you swear you’ve never seen before, here’s your chance to help turn “What is that?” into real data. The Berea College Forestry Outreach Center is hosting an iNaturalist I.D.-a-thon on Saturday, Jan. 31, from…
📜 From the Archives: When Nashville Called, and a Berea Teen Said “Not Yet”
Originally Published November 1995 | Updated Jan. 27, 2026 BEREA, Ky. — In the spring of 1992, a busload of Madison Southern High School students rolled into Nashville for the Music City Classic, hoping to bring home a trophy. They returned with awards, but one student returned with a life-altering choice. As Berea’s arts community…
🌿 Likin’ Lichen: A Kid-Led Winter Walk Finds the “Green Stuff” Most of Us Walk Past By
BEREA, Ky. — Winter can make the woods look like it hit pause—bare branches, brown leaves, gray skies. But if you know where to look, the forest is still full of color. That’s the idea behind “Family Activity: Likin’ Lichen Walk,” happening today (Sunday, Jan. 25) from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Berea…
🎭 “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…
🎮 Berea’s GameStop Closes as Chain Shrinks — Here’s Where Local Gamers Can Go Next
BEREA, Ky. — Berea’s GameStop at Shops at Berea (222 Brenwood St.) is now closed, according to the company’s store page, which lists the location as closed every day of the week. A photo circulating locally also shows an in-store notice stating the shop would be “closed effective 1.8.2026.” The shutdown appears connected to a…
🌌 Under the Dome This Weekend: Berea College Planetarium Brings “Habitat Earth” to Friday and Sunday Shows
If you’re looking for a winter night out that’s indoors, affordable, and genuinely different, the Berea College Planetarium has a fresh option on deck: “Habitat Earth” is the featured full-dome show for the Jan. 30–Feb. 1 weekend, with performances listed at 7:00–8:00 p.m. Friday (Jan. 30) and 4:00–5:00 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 1). The planetarium plays…
🌦️ Nvidia Open-Sources New AI Weather Models that Run “1,000x Faster” — Insurers Already Using 10,000-Simulation Ensembles
After a stretch of rough winter weather across the U.S., Nvidia dropped a rare piece of genuinely practical “AI good news”: the company says it has released three open-source AI models designed to make weather forecasting faster and cheaper—and, in some cases, competitive with traditional physics-based approaches. Nvidia unveiled the models at the American Meteorological…
❄️ After the Storm: Berea Braces for a Slow Return to Normal as Extreme Cold Lingers
BEREA, Ky. — In the wake of the January 2026 winter storm that blanketed the Commonwealth with snow, ice, and power outages, Kentucky residents have entered a new phase of the weather emergency: the aftermath. While snow and ice have largely moved out of the state, dangerously frigid conditions remain—and returning to a regular schedule…
🕵️♂️ 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…
🧱 Brick by Brick: Berea Library’s LEGO Club+ Turns After-School Time into a “Brick Wall” of Creativity
On winter afternoons when kids have energy to burn and parents are looking for something that doesn’t involve another screen, the Madison County Public Library’s Berea Branch has a simple answer: LEGO Club+. The weekly program meets in the Berea branch Community Room on Thursdays from 4:00–5:00 p.m.—and the library’s pitch is exactly what it…
🎭 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…
🏢 Small Business, Big Vision: Why Berea Companies Still Show Up for Richmond’s Chamber Kickoff
For a lot of Berea businesses, Richmond isn’t “another market” — it’s part of the weekly routine. Insurance agencies write policies on both sides of Madison County. Real estate professionals meet clients wherever the listings are. Contractors, health providers, and service businesses follow the work. That’s why the Richmond Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Chamber Kickoff…
🧤 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…
✨ A New Look for a New Year: Introducing Berea Online’s 2026 Brand Refresh
If Berea Online looks a little different today, that’s intentional. As we head into 2026, BereaOnline.com is unveiling a new logo and visual identity—one designed to better reflect what the site has become and where it’s headed next. The update isn’t about chasing trends or reinventing ourselves for the sake of change. Instead, it’s about…
🎶 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…