West Virginia boasts some beautiful Christmas towns, many of which feature iconic scenes straight out of something warm and homey like a Norman Rockwell painting. And one of the best, for the last weekend in November and the first weekend of December at least, is the town of Beckley. That’s because the ever-popular Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, which is typically closed for the winter season, reopens. And not only does it reopen, it reopens transformed by the magic of Christmas — Appalachian Coal Town Christmas, to be precise.
Over 20 years. That’s how long the Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum in Beckley, West Virginia has been hosting the Appalachian Coal Town Christmas.
Visit Southern West Virginia / Facebook This magical festival is even the star of its very own HGTV Christmas Special! It’s that amazing.
In fact, this coal town experience is so amazing and so real and all-American that, if Norman Rockwell were here for it, we’re absolutely certain he would immediately pull out his paintbrushes and get to work on a painting or two.
Youth Museum of Southern WV / Facebook
He loved hard-working, down-to-earth families, didn’t he? And holiday scenes.
Norman Rockwell - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikipedia
Can’t you just see him featuring this cozy room in one of his iconic artworks? He would fill it with West Virginians, of course!
Ed Kennedy / Flickr
Or how about this snap of the popular horse-drawn carriage ride? Definitely Norman Rockwell worthy!
Beckley-Raleigh County CVB
Caroling in the church, a coal miner whistling a Christmas tune, a young man buying homemade fudge from the gift shop for his sweetheart, ice skaters on the skating rink. These are EXACTLY the types of scenes you can expect to see at Appalachian Coal Town Christmas, and they are EXACTLY the type of scenes that make this unique West Virginia Christmas town straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
Ed Kennedy / Flickr
Appalachian Coal Town Christmas features underground mine tours, above-ground activities (like carriage rides and ice skating), and festive decorations everywhere you look. It typically occurs the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December, and there is a small fee for admission that’s well worth the price to see the Beckley Exhibition Coal town transformed into a holiday wonderland!
City of Beckley, WV
Plus, in addition to the two-weekend Appalachian Coal Town Christmas festival, the town of Beckley as a whole sponsors several other fun Christmas events for the season: a Christmas parade. Beautifully decorated city parks. Festive menus. Shopping opportunities galore.
Ed Kennedy / Flickr
For more information on the 2022 Appalachian Coal Town Christmas, click through to the Visit Southern West Virginia website. Will we see you there?
Visit Southern West Virginia / Facebook
This magical festival is even the star of its very own HGTV Christmas Special! It’s that amazing.
Youth Museum of Southern WV / Facebook
Norman Rockwell - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikipedia
Ed Kennedy / Flickr
Beckley-Raleigh County CVB
City of Beckley, WV
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Address: Exhibition Mine, Beckley, WV 25801, USA
