The PopCulteer
September 20, 2024

Usually I do this feature earlier in the week, but things here at PopCult are going to be all up in the air for the next week or two as your humble blogger heads South next week to attend JoeLanta.

We’re going to run some of our previous videos of this cool GI Joe-based toy conventions on Sunday, but this year when we go to Atlanta for the show it’s going to be different.

I’m going as a civilian. In the fifteen years or so that I’ve been able to go to toy conventions, I’ve never been on the floor of one of these shows without a camera. I want to see what it’s like to do that.  Since it seems that half the guests at JoeLanta this year are “content creators” who have their own YouTube channels, my videos won’t be missed. The plan is to attend the Friday night early event without a camera, then return the show Saturday with my still camera to take a few photos for PopCult.

But I’m not shooting any video this time. There will be plenty of time for that the following weekend.

But enough stuff that I’m doing,  here’s STUFF TO DO in the Mountain State for the first weekend of Fall, and it looks like a lot of fun.

The Mothman Festival

It’s that time of year again when folks congregate in Point Pleasant to celebrate WV’s favorite cryptid, Mothman.  There will be Mothies in the street, guest speakers, live music, special tours of The Mothman Museum, Vendors, Ghostbusters, and all sorts of fun centered around the red-eyed winged man in black.

The music line-up for Saturday at The Point Pleasant Riverfront Park is:
12 PM — Highway 7
1:30 PM — Dog Days
​3 PM — Dragons Eye
4:30 PM – Scott James (Kentucky Lap Fiddler)
6 PM — Dalchord
7:30 PM — Nobody’s Fool


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​Sunday  the music at the Park includes: ​
12 PM — PPHS Rock Ensemble
1:30 PM — Thoz Guyz
3 PM — Next Level

It’s going to be loads of fun and you can find more information HERE.

Other STUFF

The Dunbar Fall Festival is also happening this weekend, alas with no cryptids in sight. Check out the graphic…

Kenny’s Surprise Birthday Party happens Friday night. Details are HERE. Don’t tell Kenny.

Saturday sees Train Day in Saint Albans.  The Chesapeke & Ohio Historical Society had this to say on their Facebook Page…

Our largest event of the year in West Virginia is coming September 21: C&OHS at the St. Albans Depot for Train Day Festival!

Organized by the St. Albans Chamber, the brick street of the Saint Albans Train Depot Historic District will be alive with family-friendly fun and entertainment from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

With our O-scale layout running, model trains have successfully returned to the historic City of St. Albans, WV depot. Fueled by our generous C&OHS volunteers and local community support, the progress being made on the operating layout and new interpretive museum has put life back into the city’s one-of-a-kind depot. As trains rumble by, finer details are being added every week to enhance the layout’s scenery that represents St. Albans.

C&O Railway Depot in St. Albans
400 4th Ave, St Albans, WV 25177-2829

Your PopCulteer might be making his way down there if I can carve enough time out of my schedule.

Remember, if you are attending an outdoor event, stay hydrated and please don’t smoke or vape around any humans who might find the associated stank to be offensive. Be mindful of your health and of those near you. Look for and offer to aid people who might seem frail, look like they’re about to pass out, or have had their pagers suddenly explode.  With that bit of a caveat, let me tell you about plenty of STUFF TO DO in Charleston and the surrounding area as we stagger our way toward autumn.

As I have been copying and pasting for some time now, this a good time to remind you that THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST OF EVENTS.  It’s just a starting point, so don’t expect anything comprehensive, and if you feel strongly about me leaving anything out, feel free to mention it in the comments. I won’t be offended if you volunteer to do the work I was too busy working ahead on the blog to do.

Live Music is on tap at Taylor Books. There is no cover charge, and shows start at 7:30 PM.  This week we are back to not knowing who will be performing, but perform they will, by GOD!

The World Famous Empty Glass Cafe has some great stuff this week  to tell you about.  Friday Tim Courts holds down the forts for Happy Hour. Saturday at 10 PM The East End Ghouls return for their monthly Drag/Burlesque show. Check the graphics dump below for more weekend events at The Empty Glass.

Please remember that the pandemic is still not entirely over yet. It’s a going concern with the ‘rona still lurking about all robust and reinvigorated and now with Oxyclean™. Plus there are drought-fueled nasty seasonal allergies, Mothman imitators, cereal killers, Mr and Mrs BoJangles and all the little Jangles and other damned good reasons to be careful. Many people who have very good reasons are still wearing masks, and many of us, understandably, are still nervous about being in crowds, masked or not. Be kind and understanding  while you’re out.

Keep in mind that all shows are subject to change or be cancelled at the last minute.

Here we go, roughly in order…