Photographed by Carla Witt Ford
Here in Grant County, things don’t slow down during those in-between times—in between fall and winter, in between Halloween and Christmas, in between summertime hikes and wintertime skiing.
The Potomac Highlands sees the true potential of November: It’s the best time to get lost wandering the aisles of local businesses with hot cocoa in-hand, then unwind in theater seats as stories play out before your eyes.
Small Businesses, Huge Finds
Whether you’re shopping for the holidays or a late-in-the-year birthday or you’re thinking of treating yourself after a busy summer, you’ll find exactly what you’re after in Grant County. Our local shops aren’t just looking to make a buck—they want you to leave with something you’re going to love.
Browse the shelves at Peddler’s Crossing Country Store for seasonal home goods, candles, artwork, handmade furniture, kitchenware, and accessories. Then head to Smoke Hole Resort Gift Shop and South Side Depot to bring home a little piece of West Virginia, from handcrafted gifts and locally made apple butter to Mountaineer gear, holiday decor, and more.
And every time you look at the one-of-a-kind artwork on your wall or wear your new Monongahela National Forest–themed gear, you’ll remember your time in Grant County with fondness.
Live It Up with Live Performances
Courtesy of Landes Art Center
Landes Art Center has quite a few high notes this month: the November 20 performance by Nothin’ Fancy, a bluegrass band that’s been performing together since the ’90s, and the November 28 performance by Chasing Treble, a band covering hit songs from the ’60s into the 2000s.
It might be the in-between time before the winter holidays, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare. Join the Landes Art Center for a couple of Christmas-themed events. On November 22, put on your coziest pajamas and round up the family for a showing of The Polar Express. Then, on December 1, embrace the holiday spirit fully with the Landes Art Center’s fifth annual Country Christmas with the Arts, complete with Christmas songs, pictures with Santa Claus, and more.
Shopping local, watching live performances—do everything you can to enjoy this time to the fullest. It’ll be the new year before you know it. But Grant County will still be here waiting for you, no matter the season.