CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Summer 2022 issue of GOLDENSEAL magazine is now available. Since 1975, GOLDENSEAL has been West Virginia’s Magazine of Traditional Life. Attached is a list of retailers where GOLDENSEAL magazine is available.

This issue has a distinct summertime feel to it. The cover story is about what the Appalachian String Band Music Festival (better known as “Clifftop”) in Fayette County means to its devoted attendees from around the world. Rebecca Kimmons writes about Clifftop’s mysterious “Spirit Jam,” and former GOLDENSEAL editor contributes a poem about Clifftop.

In other articles, Michael Evans Snyder recalls a memorable day of trout fishing in Pendleton County; K. D. Bradshaw reflects on the “heaviness of memory;” Virgil L. Smith looks back at farm life on Panther Fork in Gilmer County; Travis Vandal takes readers on a photographic tour of our state parks and forests; Ostie Mathisen pays tribute to the late Carolin Harris and her former steakhouse in Point Pleasant; Carl E. Feather visits the annual Pickin’ in Parsons bluegrass festival in Tucker County; David Fryson tells the story of Ebony & the Greek—a 1970s integrated funk band from the Charleston area; Ed Garten remembers Camp Brookside in Summers County; C. R. Thomas writes about sneaking into a drive-in theater in Bridgeport in Harrison County when he was a teenager; and Pete Ottaviano looks at an unusual drive-in that once operated in Lewisburg.

In addition, this edition profiles traditional music venues in Morgantown and at Ashby’s Fort in Mineral County, introduces new state folklorist Jennie Williams, and says goodbye to some of the magazine’s authors and subjects who have passed away.

GOLDENSEAL is published quarterly by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. You can order subscriptions from GOLDENSEAL’s online store or individual copies by calling 304-558-0220, ext. 134. Issues are $5.95/issue + $1.00 shipping, or you can order subscriptions for one year ($20), two years ($36), or three years ($50). GOLDENSEAL subscriptions also make great gifts, especially for friends and family who may no longer live in the Mountain State. https://wvculture.org/discover/publications/goldenseal/ 

GOLDENSEAL Magazine can be purchased at the following retail outlets:

Brushy Ridge Farm, Augusta, Hampshire County

Four Seasons Books, Shepherdstown, Jefferson County

State Museum Gift Shop, Culture Center, Charleston, Kanawha County

Taylor Books, Charleston, Kanawha County

West Virginia Market Place at Capitol Market, Charleston, Kanawha County

Appalachian Glass, Weston, Lewis County

Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex, Moundsville, Marshall County

Railroad Depot, Bramwell, Mercer County

Book Exchange, Morgantown, Monongalia County

Ruby Memorial Hospital Gift Shop, Morgantown, Monongalia County

The Monroe Watchman Newspaper, Monroe County

Cacapon Resort State Park, Morgan County

Nicholas Chronicle Newspaper, Summersville, Nicholas County

West Virginia Independence Hall, Wheeling, Ohio County

Wheeling Artisan Center, Wheeling, Ohio County

Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia, Raleigh County

Pipestem Resort State Park, Summers/Mercer County

Tygart Lake State Park, Taylor County

Blackwater Falls State Park, Tucker County

Galaxy Foods, Middlebourne, Tyler County

Peoples News, Parkersburg, Wood County

Twin Falls State Park, Wyoming County


Photo credit: Cover Photo by Brennish Thomson