💫 Reflections on the Downtown Countdown to 2025
While the world outside is covered in ice and snow, we're looking back with gratitude for such a special night at The Downtown Countdown. A huge thank you to everyone who rang in the New Year with us—and all those who helped make it possible. A big shoutout to Eric Proffit, who captured the magic beautifully in this recap video. 🎥💫
Let's carry that joy and spirit of community connection into 2025 and beyond! 🌟
Countdown to 2025 in the Grassroots District!
The Mercer Street Grassroots District is a happening place to be this New Year’s Eve. 🪩 Ring in 2025 with a magical celebration at the 12th Annual Downtown Countdown! 🎶💃 With six venues of live music, circus performances, ice sculptors, a gaming theater, crafts, poetry, a dance party, a scavenger hunt, an early bird countdown...and of course— the ball drop and fireworks at midnight. THIS will be a night to remember. 🥳 ✨
🎉Find details at downtowncountdown.org.
Jingle Bell Jubilee! 2024 Princeton Christmas Parade
🎄✨ Get ready, Princeton! Join us this Tuesday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m. for a magical evening filled with Christmas cheer at the City of Princeton's Christmas parade, Jingle Bell Jubilee! 🎶
🎅From dazzling floats to festive music, downtown will sparkle with the joy of the season. Can’t make it in person? Don’t worry! 🎥 Warm up some cocoa, settle in, and catch the magic live-streamed right here on Facebook with your hosts Joshua Bolden and Candace Vassallo-Wilson!
Let’s make this a holiday memory to treasure—see you there (or online)! ❤️💚
✨Mercer Street Magic... 'Tis the Season to Support Local! 💙
💛 This Thanksgiving, we’re reflecting on the incredible community we’re so grateful to call home--the people who make our neighborhood colorful, creative, and full of life.
🎬 Please enjoy this ode to Mercer Street and the magic of this season. ✨
’Tis the season to support local! Every visit, purchase, and moment spent here helps dreams thrive and keeps our community vibrant. 💙
💛 Happy Thanksgiving from Mercer Street Grassroots District!
#GrassrootsDistrict #SupportSmallBusiness #MercerStreetMagic ##shoplocal
Mercer Monster Mash 2024 Recap
🖤 Twelve years ago, when Mercer Street was a quiet shadow of its former self, a group of dedicated volunteers who LOVE Halloween created Mercer Monster Mash – events for the whole family to help bring it back from the grave! 🪦
And now, look at us. Mercer Street.... it's ALIIIIIIVE! 🧟♂️✨
🧛♂️ A huge thanks to everyone who went all out with your amazing costumes! To our sponsors, local businesses, artists, production team, and MCs – thank you for making this another spooktacular night to remember.
🎥Shout out to Eric Proffit for capturing the magic. ✨
Culturefest Comes to the Grassroots District Sept. 5-8!
🥳The 21st annual Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival is FREE to attend, and will take place in the Mercer Street Grassroots District! 💃With over 25 music & dance performances, artisan vendors, delicious food, workshops, kids activities, healing arts 🧘 and so much more, this is a party for the whole family and we hope you'll join us! 🎶
🌍Find a detailed schedule at culturefestwv.com.
We Need to Talk: Johnny, by Derian Blane
🎬Johnny, by Derian Blane, is the fourth in the series, "We Need to Talk," a project using music videos and docushorts to uplift stories, build bridges and stoke community dialogue.
🚨Trigger Warning: This video contains themes of sexual violence which may be distressing or triggering for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
📺 Watch an in-depth interview with the artist on WOAY's Community Forum Sunday, June 9th, and WVVA's "In Focus" on Sunday, June 16th .
🗣Join us for a community conversation and premiere of the docushort this August. Stay tuned for the date and find out more at theriffraff.net/weneedtotalk
We Need to Talk: Johnny, by Derian Blane, out May 29
🎬 The next music video in the We Need to Talk series, "Johnny," by Derian Blane, launches online May 29, right here on Facebook.
📺 Watch the video and an in-depth interview with the artist on WOAY's Community Forum Sunday, June 9th, and WVVA's "In Focus" on Sunday, June 16th .
🗣️Join us for a community conversation and premiere of the docushort this August at Stages Music School, Date TBA. We'll watch the videos, enjoy complimentary coffee and snacks from local businesses, and explore our relationships and responsibilities to each other as a community. We'll open conversation to an important subject that is difficult to talk about, but needs to be addressed.
🌐 Find out more at theriffraff.net/weneedtotalk.
Celebrate Princeton!
🥳 Celebrate Princeton Street Fair returns! ✨
🎪 Saturday, June 8th from 10am-5pm in the Grassroots District, the event will feature 🎸live music, 🤹♂️ dance & circus performances, a 🚗 Classic Car Show, 🥨 tons of vendors, 🎡 a ferris wheel & waterslides, 🎨 creative experiences & fun for the family!
🎭 With performances by Fluidity Performance Troupe, Aristotle Jones, Into The Fog, James Hart & Old Soul Renuion, Jon Bolt, Strings of Green, and many more! 🎶
🖌️Live art mashup with Shine Time Studios, Emlee 100, and more!
🎉Let's celebrate our community together! Find details at celebrateprinceton.com. 🍧
All Together Arts Week 2024
🎭 All Together Arts Week is back May 3-10! 🎨 Join us in celebrating the vibrant creative community around Mercer County! 🎼 Explore creative venues, meet creators, discover opportunities, make new friends, and find out how YOU can get involved and express yourself. 💃
🚎Enjoy gallery hops, 🩰 concerts, art shows,🎙️open mic, poetry, workshops, special tours, and the beloved All Together Arts Parade & Day of Merriment.🐲
💜Visit alltogetherarts.com for details & a full schedule of events.
💔 It’s hard to find words to describe the legend that is Bill Griffith. Our hearts go out to all who love him and have spent their lives making memories with him.
🕊️ Appalachian South Folklife Center, which means so much to so many, will never be the same… yet one thing resonates as we say goodbye:
☮️ Billy Griffith is someone whose absence will be felt as strong as the energy of his magnetic presence. When anyone who knows and loves Billy walks onto the Folklife Center grounds, sits beneath the pear tree, rocks in a rocker on the cabin porch, or dances under stars… his presence will be felt, the memories and laughter will flow, and a gaping hole the size of the most dapperly dressed dancer in Folklife History will be deeply felt.
🙏 Sending all our love to all those who love Billy Griffith. Hope you enjoy these reflections upon sweet moments in time on that magical mountaintop.
☮️🎩✌️🎶🕺💔
2024 Downtown Countdown Magic in Video
✨We continue to flow with gratitude in the afterglow of the 11th Annual Downtown Countdown --the beginning of a new chapter for us to write together. Enjoy this video reflection of the special night by the amazing Billy Morgan. We're so grateful for the talented creators we're fortunate to work with and be surrounded by, weaving together this radiant tapestry of community.
💗Thank you so much to all those who participate, support directly or from a distance, co-create, and cheer us on in these endeavors. Here's to creating many, many more memories together. Once again, happy new year. 🎉
Inspiring and empowering the arts and creativity in downtown Princeton, West Virginia and beyond.
