As 2025 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on a year full of unforgettable experiences at Tamarack Marketplace. From the first gallery opening to the final holiday celebration, 2025 was packed with unforgettable experiences and it wouldn’t have been possible without your support!
In 2025, a total of 38 artists were juried into Tamarack Marketplace through our extensive Jury Process. We had potters, sculptors, quilters, photographers, furniture makers, and everything in between!
We had a total of 7 gallery exhibitions, showcasing the work of our artists. Our first of the year was “Chromotosis” that brough vibrant colors into the new year! This was followed by “Appalachian Artistry”, celebrating the region’s heritage in each piece. “Impressions of Spring” ushered in a new season with flowers and landscapes. By May, our gallery was ready for The Best of West Virginia exhibition, the only one that offers space for our non-juried artists and a chance to win awards. Our winners were Jamie Lester in first place with ‘Poseidon’, Vernon Howell in second place with ‘Out, In, and Around’, and finally, taking third place with his piece ‘First’ was Michael Teel. In July, our gallery exhibition Bright Lights in the City celebrated cityscapes in art. Our gallery was hung for the fall season, with Simple Folk, highlighting folklore and magic in our state. Our final exhibition of 2025 was ‘Small Packages’, where small pieces make a big impact and a favorite for holiday shopping!
The incredible Conference Center hosted and planned a total of 403 events that include meetings, weddings, conferences, remembrance luncheons, birthday celebrations, baby showers, Christmas soirees, Easter Brunch, Summerfest and Fallfest and everything in between.
We hosted Dueling Pianos presented by renowned entertainers of Pianos to Go, which kept the music and laughter going with yummy hors d’oeuvres to eat. Thrill-seekers and amateur detectives joined us for two Murder Mystery Dinner events, enjoying suspenseful and interactive evenings, with delicious food!
Some of our incredible culinary events were Easter Brunch and Thanksgiving To Go. Spring brought our Easter Brunch, which welcomed families to feast in our Conference Center and little ones to meet the Easter Bunny and have an egg hunt. While Thanksgiving To Go wrapped up the cozy fall season with a way to take home a meal from Tamarack Marketplace and serve it for the whole family!
Artist Demos and Book Signings kicked back off in the spring, offering intimate glimpses into the creative process. We also hosted some events that allowed creativity to flow! Guests were able to explore Hand-Spinning with a class by Kate McCommas, discovering the beauty of traditional Appalachian crafts. Sip & Gogh lead by Suzanne Wiseman offered a creative way to have fun!
Connecting with our community is always important. West Virginia is always celebrated at Tamarack Marketplace, so West Virginia Day was no different. We had some great performances by Jonah Caren and the Lincoln County Cloggers. We also gave away homemade pepperoni rolls straight from our kitchen! In fall, families enjoyed the spooky fun of Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat. We moved into the Christmas season early with Wonderland of Trees, in partnership with United Way, bringing holiday magic and charitable giving. Small Business Saturday inspired holiday shopping, local and handmade. Children met Santa, creating lasting memories throughout the holiday season.
Our festivals and music events are some of the largest we host!
On June 14, our annual Summerfest brought music, food, and fun! The David Mayfield Parade was our amazing headliner. We started with music on two stages, kicking off live music with Nothing Nobel & Jonah Carden. The day continued with Randy Gilkey, Dalchord, Nathan Soldomridge, Sasha Collette and the Magnolias, and Tom Bachleor Band. Our day finished with Matt Mullins & The Bringdowns. We had local food trucks, including Fire N’ Ice, Pucker Shuckers, Beckley Sno Biz / Herb’s Redneck Hibachi, The Twist and Best Friend Coffee Co. Artists demonstrating their work included Jimmy Woods, Gayle Rancer, Wild Mountain Soap, Angela Carpenter, Bev Hall, Carol Dameron, Andrew Mullins, Lesia Angel, Tim Gump, Allen Hamrick, and Lewis Johnson. There were activities for the kids too, like face painting by Dezi’s Doodles.
Our Courtyard Concerts filled warm summer Saturdays with live entertainment. We had incredible local talents by Randy Gilkey, Jonah Carden, Matt Mullins, and Untrained Professionals. We held these free concerts every other Saturday throughout the summer.
Fallfest celebrated the coming autumn season with art, live music, and eats. West Virginia legend John Ellison was our incredible headliner, supported by the talented Carpenter Ants! We started with music on two stages, kicking off live music at 12 PM with Nothing Noble and Chloe Painter. We continued the day with Lily Comer, Randy Gilkey, Jonah Carden, Thomas Jude, Jordan Dyer Trio, Sasha Colette and the Magnolias, Matt Mullins & The Bringdowns, and The David Mayfield Parade. We had local food from inside our kitchen and food trucks, including Mad Concessions – Paradise Treats, WV Pickle Guy, Pucker Shuckers, New River Slices, Coal Camp BBQ & Best Friend Coffee Co. Artists demonstrating their work included Shari O’Day, Julie Gray, Bev Hall, Angela Carpenter, Wild Mountain Soap, Misty Murray-Walkup, Lola Smith, Becky and Jeff Morehead, Ashlea Jones, Shannon Arbogast, Donna Myles, Lori Midkiff.We had face painting by Face Painting by For His Glory Face Painting and 9 Hole Mini Golf by ParTee Rental.
Thank You! From all of us at Tamarack Marketplace, we are deeply grateful for all of our staff, every visitor, artist, and community partner who made 2025 so special. We can’t wait to welcome you back in 2026 for more creativity, culture, and celebration!