EVENT: Serenity Now Outfitter’s 10 Year Anniversary Party w/ Lewisburg Palooza!
WHEN: Friday, September 27, 2013
WHERE: Greenspace/Fountain (US60/US219), Downtown Lewisburg, WV

Serenity Now Outfitters, located in historic downtown Lewisburg, will be holding a 10 year anniversary party on Friday, September 27th. The event will take place on the downtown Greenspace area, which is conveniently situated on the corner of US60 and US219. Things get started at 5:30PM, continuing on until 8:30PM.

John Lively and Grant Bennett from the Half Bad Bluegrass Band will be performing with a slew of instruments reflecting some good, old-fashioned picking and singing. John, a Greenbrier County native, will be featured on the banjo, while Grant will be strumming everything from the guitar to the dobro.

Beth White and Challey Erb will be wandering around the crowd, making people smile while dressed up in stilts and full clown attire. Members of the Trillium Performing Arts Collective in Lewisburg, Beth and Challey perform throughout Appalachia at many festivals, fairs, hospitals and schools.

Sarah Elkins, also a member of the Trillium Performing Arts Collective, will be reciting original poetry throughout the night. Sarah will be accompanied by Robert Wilson on clarinet during her closing recital, which will be highlighted by a fan favorite short story. Sarah lives in Greenbrier County, and is an inspiring writer and poet whose passion and energy is second to none. Sarah’s poetry reading will be newly hatched material, particularly inspired by the evening’s event.

Patrick O’Flaherty is a talented multi-instrumentalist singing in both traditional Gaelic in Celtic, and will be taking the stage early in the evening. Raised in Galway’s Gaeltacht, on the Rugged West Coast of Ireland, Patrick is part of a select group of people whose native language is Gaelic. Wonderfully engaging and well-travelled, Patrick can also be seen on most nights at the Irish Pub on Washington Street

The Greenbrier Valley Theatre (GVT) will be stopping by for a brief presentation of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Friday marks the opening night of their curtain call for this calender event. GVT is a live-performance theatre, and is involved in all aspects of the arts and humanities, with people of all ages.

Poi artists, such as Emily Benedict Coleman, will be on hand as well demonstrating their craft. As a performance art, poi involves swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns. Poi can be made from various materials with different handles, weights, and effects (such as fire, LED, or simply “socks”). Poi originated with the Māori people of New Zealand, where it is still practiced today. Captivating audiences of all ages and sizes, the poi group is especially well received by the young children in attendance.

As a representative of Serenity Now Outfitters, I will be doing fly fishing demonstrations later in the evening. Using the gel from broken glow sticks, the casting demonstrations prove to be colorful and full of light.

Catering will be provided by The Bakery on Court Street. Operated by Sandy and Lisa, the eatery specializes in bagels, breakfast pastries, daily lunch specials, deli meats and cheeses, wedding cakes, and catering events. Be sure to check out their food stand at this year’s TOOT festival, where they will feature their popular pizza squares and mini cokes.

The event is free, and proves to shape up to be an action packed and diverse array of performers and attendents. Some have already referred to the event as a sort of “Lewisburgpalooza”. Serenity Now Outfitters, located at 207 W Washington Street, would like to thank everyone who helped make the last ten years a memorable and successful one, and looks forward to the future in this eclectic and flourishing area we call home. For more info on Serenity Now Outfitters, please visit them on facebook or at serenitynowoutfitters.com

In case of unpleasant weather conditions, the alternative location for the event will be inside the Irish Pub. For directions, visit: irishpubonwashingtonstreet.com

– Craig Miller, LBSPY #42. (Sept 23-Oct 7, 2013)