Upcoming Events

“Art in Motion: Carroll County New River Driftwood Mobiles” is coming to Hillsville for a mobile-filled Summer Solstice Celebration at the Hale-Wilkinsin-Carter Home on Friday, June 20 starting at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.   Ten Carroll County New River Driftwood mobiles created by Fries resident Saul Chase will be on display on the expansive front porch of the Hale-Wilkinson-Carter Home and in The Gallery.

Mr. Chase will construct mobiles on the Hale-Wilkinson-Carter Home’s porch on Saturday, June 21 from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and on Sunday, June 22 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.   Each visitor will receive a gift package containing two Carroll County New River driftwood sticks, colorful beads, and sturdy nylon twine. The Raffle Drawing for the Carroll County New River Driftwood mobiles on display will take place on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

Mr. Chase considers it a wonderful blessing that he, with his wife, Nan, moved to Fries from Asheville in 2019 to find friendly people, beautiful scenery, and plentiful driftwood on the shores of the New River, the oldest river in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Chase serves as one of the five Virginia representatives on the Board of Directors of The New River Conservancy.

TALL TALES & TOADS

July 11 & 12 at 7pm and July 13 at 2pm
The Galax Theatre Guild Outdoor Stage
(behind the Galax Public Library)

An Evening of Fantastical Stories and Off-Kilter Humor

Come join us at the Galax Theatre Guild’s Outdoor Theater for some wonderfully offbeat stories told by some of the area’s most talented performers. Storytelling by Wayne Jordan and Patrick Butler’s performance of his original story, “Cat Eye” start off the show, followed by a far-fetched, yet very funny, look at a most unusual cafe that only serves one dish (Raw Toads). Sit in the shade of towering trees, bring a picnic, lawn chairs, and blankets. The Galax Theatre Guild Outdoor Theatre is located behind the Galax Public Library, where we suggest you park. Admission is by donation. You don’t want to miss this enchanting show!

A GARDEN PARTY WITH A TWIST – August 17, 2025

The spectacular “Garden Party With A Twist” returns to Dream Rock Silo & Suites in Independence on Sunday, August 17th (2pm – 4pm).  You are invited to an informal, country-chic garden party featuring live music, delicious appetizers, and sweet treats.  Guests will be able to tour the Dream Rock gardens throughout the afternoon and have the opportunity to take their chances on several fun raffles!  The afternoon is hosted by Arts Council Board Members with the gracious support of Karen and Bill Simpson.  Karen and Bill are the owners Dream Rock Silo & Suites, an idyllic get-away located in the heart of Grayson County.  Tickets for the Arts Council’s “Garden Party with a Twist” are $25/person – gentlemen and ladies are both welcome!  To RSVP, please call The Arts Council at 276-238-1217.   Cash, Checks and Credit Cards will be accepted at the door.

STORIES OF THE STITCH 2025 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th from 11am to 3pm

This year’s festivities will showcase a wide variety of disciplines within the world of traditional fiber arts. Live demonstrations include quilting, weaving, spinning, and felting along with celebrating the Matthews LHFM Heritage Day!  Admission to the day’s activities is free, though donations are gratefully accepted.  In addition to the celebrated judged Quilt Show, we’ll have local musicians, arts & craft vendors, food & drinks, and entertainment for the whole family. 

Admission to the day’s activities is free, though donations are gratefully accepted.  In addition to the celebrated judged Quilt Show, we’ll have local musicians, arts & craft vendors, food & drinks, and entertainment for the whole family.

Quilters are welcome to enter their creations the day of the event in the following categories: Hand-Pieced & Hand-Quilted, Half & Half (Hand & Machine Worked), Machine-Pieced & Machine-Quilted, Appliquéd (Hand or Machine), Foundation Paper Piecing, Other (art, clothing, pillows, etc.), Classic Quilts (created before 1940), Youth (for quilters under 20), Best Story or ‘Quilt Tale’, People’s Choice.  Quilts may be offered for sale. Quilts should not be mass-produced, manufactured or store-bought. We do ask that winning quilts from previous Stories of the Stitch shows not be entered.

Each quilt may be accompanied by a story or “quilt tale” (optional). The story should be pinned to the quilt front, but not reveal your name and should be typed if possible. Stories may be about the history of the quilt, the pattern, the personal significance of the quilt, the quilt-maker, or a tall tale. A ribbon will be awarded for the best story.

There is no limit on how many quilts a family may pre-enter, as long as there is a person to hang each quilt before 11:00am. Quilts must remain hanging until 3:00pm, weather permitting. Bring enough clothes pins to secure the quilt to the line and remember to pin your name to the back of each quilt.  Quilters are reminded that this is an outdoor event. The Arts Council & Matthews Farm are not responsible for damage by mother nature or her creatures. If rain is imminent the judging will conclude in the pavilion.

Directions to Stories of the Stitch/Matthews Farm from Galax: take US 58 West toward Independence. Turn left onto Meadow Creek Road (1/2 mile after the blinking light at W. Stuart Drive). Continue on Meadow Creek Road 1.5 miles & turn right onto White Pine Road. The Farm is .3 miles on your right.

The Arts & Cultural Council of the Twin Counties is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts throughout the Twin Counties.  The Arts Council is funded in part by area individuals and businesses, local municipalities, The Twin County Community Foundation, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.  For more information call the office at 276-238-1217.

2025 SOTS Entry Forms – Download your quilt entry forms here!  2025 SOTS Entry Forms

WINTER CONCERT SERIES 2025

Keep your eyes open for upcoming concert dates at the Historic 1908 Courthouse in Independence!  As always, these concerts are on Sundays at 3pm with Admission by Donation.

Local Musical Prodigy, Madelyn Pemberton Returns the 1908

Sunday, May 4th

TIME CHANGE:  6:30pm  

The Arts Council of the Twin Counties is so excited to announce the return of Madelyn “Mimi” Pemberton for our Sunday, May 4th Winter Concert at the Historic 1908 Courthouse in Independence.   Madelyn who has just completed her graduate studies at UNCSA, is a “local girl made good.”  A graduate of James Madison University, academically and musically gifted, Madelyn will continue post-graduate studies at UNCSA  where she will earn a Professional Artist Certificate in Performance and Pedagogy.  A reception will follow the performance, and admission to the concert is free of charge, though donations are gratefully accepted at the door.

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING GUITARIST, REDD VOLKAERT

JOIN US FOR THE CONCERT OF THE YEAR at the HISTORIC 1908 COURTHOUSE

SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH at 3pm

From country and western swing to jazz and rock, Redd Volkaert is considered a true giant of country music and the Telecaster guitar. Redd is a Grammy-winner and a guitar-playing legend who is renowned throughout the country music world and beyond.  Volkaert played in Merle Haggard’s backing band The Strangers in the spot previously staffed by Roy Nichols. In addition, he has recorded and performed with a who’s who of country music stars such as George Jones, Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens, Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, and many more. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Redd spent more than a decade in Nashville, playing with the likes of Ray Price, The Statler Brothers and eventually behind Merle Haggard.

Redd is considered an icon on the Telecaster with numerous guitar models named after him. In addition to his seamless ability to conjure up a vast array of complex guitar styles, Redd is beloved for his trademark wit and sense of humor.  Redd won a Grammy for his own work in 2009, after making an international name for himself as lead guitarist for Merle Haggard. His interpretation of the classic Roy Nichols guitar style led to a quote in Guitar Player magazine by Merle: “When I close my eyes, I sometimes hear Roy Nichols playing over there, and that has never happened before.”

He has released five CDs on his own and recorded and/or played guitar live with a host of world-class artists.  Redd now lives in Galax, Virginia, and performs internationally in addition to his residency at The Floyd Country Store in Floyd, Virginia.

A Rollicking Comedy directed by Stephannie Dees, this is yet another hilarious comedy by the stellar writing team responsible for previous Arts Council HIT PRODUCTIONS of THE DIXIE SIM CLUB and THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY!  In this hilarious comedic romp, four friends have sworn to keep the promise they made on the night of their Senior Prom: to be in each other’s weddings…no matter what. More than thirty years later, these Southern friends-for-life are still making “the long walk” for each other, determined to honor that vow. Libby Ruth, the hopeful romantic with the perfect marriage, believes—in spite of all evidence to the contrary—that her friends can find the very same happiness. Headstrong Deedra’s “rock-solid” union hangs by a thread when she discovers her husband of many years not only has a wandering eye, but the hands to match. Monette, flashy, high-spirited and self-involved, continues to test her friends’ love and patience with all-too-frequent trips down the aisle. And salt-of-the-earth, tree-hugging Charlie discovers—the hard way—that marital bliss is not the end of her rainbow and panics in outrageous style when the opportunity presents itself. Hop on this marriage-go-round for a laugh-out-loud journey with these beleaguered bridesmaids as they navigate the choppy waters of love and matrimony. Libby Ruth, Deedra, Monette and Charlie are committed to the notion that careers, waistlines and even marriages may disappear, but real friendships last a lifetime. Forsaking all others, in sickness and in health, they repeatedly struggle to stage the perfect wedding in spite of fistfights at the altar, runaway brides and the mistaken, and unfortunate, release of a flock of white doves on the first day of hunting season. ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID is the rollicking tale of four loyal and determined women who definitively answer the question, “Just how far are you willing to go to keep a promise to a friend?” If you’ve ever elbowed a stranger out of the way to catch a bride’s bouquet, seriously questioned the mental stability of the duo saying “I do” or been forced to wear the world’s ugliest bridesmaid dress, this deliriously funny JONES HOPE WOOTEN COMEDY is definitely for you…and your dearly beloved!

Auditions:  February 9th and 10th at 7pm at the Rex Theatre – perusal scripts are available at the Arts Council, call us at 276-238-1217 or email us at info@artsculturalcouncil.org for a script!  We’re looking for 6 women of various ages and a willingness to do what it takes to catch that bouquet!

Performances: April 24 – April 27, 2025 at The Rex Theatre in Galax