WVU celebrates Appalachian traditions during 79th annual Mountaineer Week

West Virginia University’s 79th annual Mountaineer Week runs Monday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Nov. 15, celebrating Appalachian heritage with cultural demonstrations, music, storytelling, food and crafts. The week’s opening event is the Beard Growing Contest at noon on Nov. 9 in the Mountainlair Food Court, where six students compete for the title of “best beard on campus.” The contest—first held in 1949 and the oldest continuously run event during Mountaineer Week—includes professional shaves courtesy of Classic Cutz and cash prizes plus a shaving kit for the top three finishers. Throughout the week, participants can join weaving demonstrations with Kathryn Robinson (Nov. 9-11) and printmaking sessions led by Blaire Phillips (Nov. 9-10). New this year are a lumberjack demonstration by the WVU Forestry Club outside the Mountainlair on Nov. 11, and a fly-tying workshop by Natives Fly Fishing on Nov. 12 in Percival Hall’s Natural History Museum. Storytelling “Out of the Woods: Echoes, Mimics, and the Unknown” is set for 6 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Mountainlair Gluck Theater, followed by arts and craft events Nov. 13-15, including the Arts and Craft Fair and Quilt Show.