Join us in 2025!
Keep reading to learn about all of the programs on offer throughout 2025. Links to registration and more information can be found below.
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Spring Sing: April 10-13, 2025
Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, WV
Can’t wait for summer to get your Augusta vocal fix? Welcome to the Spring Sing! Join our Spring Sing hosts Ginny Hawker, Val Mindel, and Emily Miller plus this year’s special guests Robin and Linda Williams for an unforgettable singing experience. Located at Blackwater Falls State Park, there couldn’t be a more picturesque landscape to accompany beautiful harmonies. Study with masters of old-time, bluegrass, and classic country in an intimate and personal setting.
Summer Heritage Workshops: July 2025
Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, WV
Blind Faith Registrations for all of our Summer 2025 Workshops will open soon!
Augusta’s programming on Davis & Elkins College campus attracts participants from across the world who want to immerse themselves in traditional music, dance, art and culture. Each theme week features a different cultural genre and participants can pick classes from all of the offered genres that week. Dig deep into one style or choose from everything that is on offer while you are on campus.
Jump to… Cajun & Creole | Classic Country | Bluegrass | Vocal | Blues | Old-Time | Folk Arts for Kids | Craft
Cajun & Creole Week: July 6-11, 2025
Advisor: Jane Vidrine
Learn fiddle, accordion, guitar or cooking all day; dance, jam, eat and soak in Cajun & Creole culture all night.
The Augusta Heritage Center’s Cajun & Creole Week is a vibrant, week-long celebration of the rich cultural traditions of Louisiana, focusing on its iconic music, dance and, of course, food. This event offers an immersive experience with workshops all day in Cajun and Creole music, including fiddling, accordion, singing, guitar and cooking, followed by evening dances where you can learn the Cajun two-step and waltz. Participants also enjoy cultural presentations, live performances by renowned Cajun and Creole musicians, and casual gatherings around the simmering black pot, creating a lively and welcoming environment that connects attendees to the heart of Cajun and Creole heritage.
Registrations will be open soon!
Classic Country Week: July 6-11, 2025
Advisor: Ginny Hawker
Do you love Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynn? Well then, you’ll fit right in at Classic Country Week!
The Augusta Heritage Center’s Classic Country Week is a celebration of traditional country music, offering an immersive experience in the roots and history of the genre. This event features workshops focused on classic country instruments such as electric and acoustic guitar, fiddle and pedal steel alongside lead and harmony singing. Participants also learn about being in a band, charting out songs, and how to dance to the music! With live performances from skilled musicians and opportunities to connect with fellow country music enthusiasts, Classic Country Week brings the sounds and spirit of classic country music to life, preserving its legacy and sharing it with a new generation. Dancing, jamming and a whole lot of laughing round out the week.
Registrations will be open soon!
Bluegrass Week: July 13-18, 2025
Advisor: Ira Gitlin
IBMA’s Event of the Year in 2019!
Augusta Heritage Center’s Bluegrass Week is an electrifying, week-long celebration of bluegrass music, set in the stunning Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. Each summer, this immersive event brings together top-tier instructors and performers with passionate students for a dynamic fusion of learning, jamming, gathering and soaking in great bluegrass music. Participants of all skill levels dive deep into bluegrass through hands-on classes, workshops, and informal jam sessions, surrounded by a vibrant community of pickers. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a budding enthusiast, Bluegrass Week promises an unforgettable musical experience.
Registrations will be open soon!
Vocal Week: July 13-18, 2025
Advisor: Val Mindel
Whether it’s the rich harmonies of the all-group sings, the intricate stylings of solo singing learned in a class, or a serendipitous collaboration with a new singing buddy in a jam, Vocal Week offers a diverse range of musical delights for singers of all interests.
Augusta Heritage Center’s Vocal Week is an exciting, immersive experience for singers of all levels. During this week, participants explore a diverse range of vocal styles, from traditional Appalachian and bluegrass to gospel, blues, and contemporary folk, under the guidance of accomplished instructors and performers. Through daily classes, group singing sessions, and informal jams, attendees refine their technique, learn about vocal health, and develop their own unique sound. The evenings are a mix of staff-led jams, concerts, dances and lots of spontaneous singing. Augusta’s Vocal Week is celebrated for its outstanding instruction and welcoming atmosphere.
Registrations will be open soon!
Blues Week: July 20-25, 2025
Advisor: Justin Golden
Celebrate the quintessential American music!
Augusta Heritage Center’s Blues Week is a vibrant, week-long celebration of the rich traditions and soulful sounds of blues music, set against the stunning backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains. This immersive event brings together aspiring blues musicians and seasoned players for a deep dive into the genre, featuring world-class instructors who teach everything from guitar, piano and harmonica techniques to vocal styling and songwriting. The daily workshops are followed by jam sessions, concerts, dances and social gatherings. Known for its high-quality instruction and inclusive atmosphere, Augusta’s Blues Week offers an unforgettable opportunity to learn, connect, and experience the transformative power of the blues.
Registrations will be open soon!
Old-Time Week: July 20-25, 2025
Advisor: Becky Hill
Old-Time Week is the perfect place to learn not only your next favorite tune AND some new techniques to work on for the coming year, but to connect with other musicians who want to learn the tunes and the history of this rich musical style. This event is a captivating, week-long celebration of traditional Appalachian music and dance, set right in those mountains. Through hands-on workshops, jam sessions, captivating concerts and nightly dances, participants not only deepen their musical skills but also immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of the region. Dancing and singing are both big parts of this week, alongside instrument classes in fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass and more.
Registrations will be open soon!
Folk Arts for Kids: July 6-11; July 13-18, and July 20-25, 2025
Teen Augusta: July 20-25, 2025
Augusta Folk Arts for Kids participants (ages 5-11) explore visual arts, dance and crafts through the creation of a variety of artworks and explorative experiences. Participants will paint, sketch, dance, sing, weave, bind, mold, sew, experiment and more as they learn about how crafts are connected historically and to the world today. Each week will have a different focus and set of lessons to engage participants that may enroll for a single week or for multiple weeks. Teen Augusta participants (ages 12-15) take these same ideas to the next level. Teen Week is a great option for a young teen who likes to try new things and has varied interests.
Registrations will be open soon!
Traditional Craft and Visual Arts: July 6-11; July 13-18 and July 20-25, 2025
Traditional craft classes at Augusta offer a way to be immersed in all of the Augusta music and dance activities on campus during the week while engaging your creative side through visual art workshops. Specific classes will be announced soon!
Registrations will be open soon!
October Old-Time Retreat: October 15-19, 2025
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Cass, WV
Join us for Augusta’s October Old-Time Retreat at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Cass, WV. The event will take place in this authentic West Virginian timber town which has been turned into a beautiful WV State Park. Stay in newly renovated houses that were once homes to the many workers and tradesfolk that lived in this area during its bustling heyday. Classrooms include the company house living rooms, mayor’s office and the company store. Share meals in the old Masonic lodge, dance in the community hall, enjoy the train whistle echoing through the hollers, and jam on the many front porches overlooking the Greenbrier River.
Registrations will be open soon!
Augusta Irish Retreat: November 6-9, 2025
Downtown Elkins, WV
At the Augusta Irish Retreat, you will choose from many dynamic sessions centered around learning Irish tunes, songs and traditions. This year’s retreat will be hosted at the newly renovated (and historic!) Tygart Hotel in Elkins, WV. You’ll be treated to learning sessions and authentic Irish music played by master artists of the genre. Celebrate the culture you love with good friends, great music, and incredible instructors.
The concept of this weekend was dreamed up by Augusta Irish Week founder Mick Moloney along with Emily Miller and Seth Young, just before Mick departed this world too soon. The vision is being carried forward brilliantly by Brenda Castles and the Augusta team.
Register today to secure your enrollment. Once enrolled, you may call the Tygart Hotel at (304) 246-5022 for accommodations at the hotel itself or find lodging elsewhere in Elkins. Tell the Tygart you are with Augusta when you call!
Augusta offers students the option to purchase a guest pass for a spouse or friend. This pass, which may be purchased at registration, allows a spouse to attend all non-class activities (after lunch).
Registrations will be open soon!
Local Community Programs
Elkins, WV
Monthly Square Dances
Lift Your Voice Choir (all ages community choir). Director: Emily Miller
Voices of Augusta Choir (Children’s Choir for grades 1 through 6). Directors: Kaitlin Exline and Olivia Perske
Augusta Strings Program (weekly classes in fiddle, banjo and guitar for 4th through 12th grades). Teachers: Jesse Milnes, Seth Maynard and Adam Casseday
Foodways Classes Series (monthly cooking classes)