Folkways

How Ballroom Culture Arrived In Roanoke, Virginia

For LGBTQ youth in Appalachia, estrangement from their families of origin can be a common and heartbreaking experience. So, some LGBTQ people rely on “chosen family." In Roanoke, Virginia, the culture of ballroom offers the safety and stability of family, along with traditions that are handed down — traditions like vogueing. Mason Adams reported this Folkways story, in collaboration with Brad Kutner and Kelley Libby.

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Celebrating Barbara Grenell’s Mountain Tapestries, Legacy Of Fiber Arts

Through early October, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in North Carolina is hosting an exhibit celebrating one of the region’s most notable fiber artists – Barbara Grennell. The exhibit does more than expose people to great art; it asks people, what makes art, art? Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch reports.

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From The Red River Gorge To The Rockies, Adaptive Climbers Expand Access

This October, the Adaptive Climbers Festival will gather in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge for the fifth year. In 2023, Folkways Reporter Emily Chen-Newton covered the event for Inside Appalachia. Since then, the Adaptive Climbers Festival has grown. Organizers say they’re nearly at capacity, with 300 climbers, caregivers and volunteers. Ahead of the festival, the campground has made accessibility improvements. Volunteers with the ACF have also been sprucing up the trails.

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The Magnetism Of Appalachian Mystery Spot Attractions

Folkways Reporter Andrea “River” Peterson explored how “Gravity House” attractions keep luring new fans with vintage kitsch.

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