Appalachian Oddities

06/25/2026

Don't forget to check out UFO day in Buckhannon on the 27th. Our friends from Dr. Jekyll's Institute of Monster Studies will be there with their incredible pop-up museum!

06/23/2026

TLDR: These people are awesome!

Let me introduce you to some of the most incredible people you'll ever meet.

In this picture, you'll find myself, Mikel Brown of The Mountain Phoenix LLC, and Melissa Toothman of Appalachia Spark LLC. Together, we make up the Appalachian Arts Council.

This is the first year we've had an official name, and we're working to become more organized as a group. Our goal is simple: create events that support creatives, encourage people to chase their dreams, bring new experiences to our communities, and then give back whenever and wherever we can. We all live in different places. We all run different businesses. But we're working toward the same thing.

I want to take a minute to brag on these two.

Mikel wears his heart on his sleeve. He genuinely cares about people, and that compassion shows in everything he does from making jam, to applying a band aid, or being a bird dad... If someone needs help, he's usually the first person to step up. And he stepped up in a big way this year for Hallowspring.

Melissa is one of the sharpest people I've ever worked with. During Hallowspring planning, she was constantly spotting potential problems before they happened. Time and time again, she'd bring up something the rest of us hadn't considered, and together we'd make a plan. Because of that, our vendors, entertainers, and guests had a safer and smoother experience. Her thoughtfullness and consideration for others is unmatched.

This year wasn't always easy. We faced setbacks, last-minute changes, and plenty of unexpected challenges. Through all of it, these two showed up, stayed positive, and kept moving forward. They never let frustration become the focus. They just got to work and kicked so much ass!!!

I love you both very much, and I am so grateful to be on this journey with you. Thank you for trusting me, for believing in this vision, and for helping build something that has the potential to make a real difference. I love our team and I can't wait to see what we accomplish over the next year.

Here's to many more years of planning, creating, and dreaming together.

Stay tuned. The Appalachian Arts Council is just getting started.

06/23/2026

After much deliberation, the Appalachian Arts Council decided to donate the Hallowspring admission fees and proceeds from the Coffin Raffle to the Louis Bennett Public Library to help support their Summer Reading Program.

Creativity starts in the imagination, and the library helps nourish young minds as they develop their dreams, aspirations, and sense of possibility. Through books and storytelling, children are encouraged to explore new ideas, ask questions, and discover who they can become.

We are proud to contribute $300 to support the library's ongoing mission and grateful to everyone who attended Hallowspring and helped make this donation possible.

06/21/2026

Happy Father's day!

06/20/2026

06/20/2026

Happy West Virginia Day! 💙💛

Today we're celebrating the Mountain State the best way we know how: with cryptids, pepperoni rolls, mountain views, and a healthy appreciation for all things wonderfully weird.

Whether you believe in Mothman, keep an eye out for Bigfoot, or just enjoy calling these hills home, we're proud to be part of a state filled with stories, legends, and some of the best people you'll ever meet.

Here's to wild places, strange tales, small-town magic, and the spirit that makes West Virginia one of a kind.

Almost Heaven? We think so. 🖤

Happy West Virginia Day!

06/20/2026

The longest day.

The sun at its highest point, the light stretched thin across the mountains. Everything in full bloom before it starts to lean back toward the dark.

We notice these things here. The turning. The balance. The moment before the wheel shifts.

Happy Solstice, especially to the ones who are paying attention. 🌿

06/19/2026

Still no claim to this awesome raffle prize. A new ticket will be drawn every day at 5pm until a winner steps forward. Check your tickets!

06/19/2026

June 19th.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved Black people in Texas were finally told they were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

That is a painful truth to sit with.

It is also a day to honor strength, survival, freedom, and the generations who carried hope forward when the world gave them every reason not to.

At Appalachian Oddities, “All are welcome” means all.

Today, we honor Juneteenth with respect, care, and an open heart.