FestivALL Charleston 2013 will have a distinct West Virginia flavor this year as the event overlaps with West Virginia’s Sesquicentennial celebration in June. Of the many programs and projects that will be part of West Virginia’s 150^th birthday celebration, several will be co-productions of the West Virginia Sesquicentennial Committee and FestivALL:

Charleston Light Opera Guild will perform “The Civil War,” a musical play centered around three very different perspectives of the war and all that was at stake, with six performances over four days (June 20-23) in the Culture Center Theater.

FestivALL’s annual Art Parade will combine with the West Virginia Sesquicentennial Parade on Saturday, June 22 along Kanawha Boulevard from downtown to the Capitol Complex.

The annual Smoke on the Water Chili Cook-Off supporting Hospice Care will move to the Capitol Complex on Saturday, June 22 with FestivALL and the State teaming up for live entertainment throughout the cookoff and beyond.

In addition to the co-productions surrounding the Sesquicentennial, FestivALL’s 2013 West Virginia theme will also be played out through:

Kathy Mattea headlining the Moses Automotive Group Live on the Levee on the Schoenbaum Stage at Haddad Riverfront Park on her birthday, June 21.

The Dance Gala, sponsored by Aqua-Clear, on Wednesday, June 26 with Special Guests from the Martha Graham Dance Company performing “Appalachian Spring Suite” along with home-grown talent from the Charleston Ballet and River City Youth Ballet Ensemble at the Culture Center.

“Bricktop and Comstock,” the staged reading of a play about one of West Virginia’s most interesting and colorful figures, Parisian restaurateur and singer Ada “Bricktop” Smith, on Saturday, June 29 at the Clay Center’s Walker Theater;

“The History of the Civic War in Story, Song and Dance,” performed by musician/historian Bobby Horton who has created music for many of Ken Burns’ documentaries including “The Civil War” co-produced by FOOTMAD (with support from the WV Humanities Foundation and Sesquicentennial Commission) including students from the West Virginia Military Academy and Lizzie Cabell Finishing School dancing in period costumes at The Scottish Rite Auditorium.

The Contemporary Youth Arts Company’s premier production of “Holly Grove,” which commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the mine wars along Cabin Creek and Paint Creek, with performances both weekends in the WVSU Capitol Center Theater.

Find out about all the Sesquicentennial Commission special events at their website, www.wv150.com.