There’s no denying Morgantown becomes much quieter in the summer. With public schools out and most university students gone for the summer, the city almost seems like it’s gone into hibernation. On the contrary — in many ways, it’s just waking up.
With Memorial Day marking the unofficial start of summer, we thought we’d remind readers that there are fun opportunities abound in the Greater Morgantown Area throughout the next few months.
If you want to splash around, Marilla and Krepps pools are officially open and will be every day from noon-6 p.m., with select Fridays hosting evening swims until 8 p.m. The Aquatic Center at Mylan Park is open Monday-Friday 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., though you’ll want to check its website for a more detailed schedule.
If you want to listen to live music, there will be ample opportunity. The yearly Ruby Summer Concert Series kicked off this past Friday and will offer a free performance every Friday night through Aug. 25. Go to https://rubyampwv.com/ruby-summer-concert-series/ for details. In addition, BOPARC is hosting Sounds of Summer, which will bring live music through a rotation of local parks. The first show is today at Marilla Park from 3-6 p.m., featuring Curtis Johnson Quartet and Lily Abreu Brazilian Jazz. For the full schedule, visit boparc.org.
Now, if farmers markets are your jam (pun intended), there are a variety to choose from. The Morgantown Farmers Market is up and running and just waiting for you to crawl out of bed on Saturday morning and head downtown to the Morgantown Marketplace. It runs all summer long from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Duda’s Farm runs a stand in Westover open daily, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. You can find them in the parking lot of the old Shop ‘n Save.
If you like the idea of farm-fresh produce, locally sourced items and small-business baked goods but don’t like getting up early, never fear — there are farmers markets for you, too. The Star City Farmer’s Market is moving to Thursdays instead of Fridays this year and will go from 3-6 p.m. at Edith Barill Riverfront Park. The first market is July 13, with 35 vendors already signed up. And if you live a little south and east of Morgantown, the Grafton Road Farmers Market has you covered. You find it at the Community UMC (1966 Grafton Road) also on Thursday from 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
Then there’s Morgantown’s arts scene, which flourishes in the summer months. Once a month, most of downtown is transformed into an oasis of arts and crafts, handmade pottery and jewelry, vintage clothes, fantastic food and more as the Arts Walk takes over High Street and its adjoining roads. The next Arts Walk will be Saturday, June 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. For the remaining dates and times, visit https://downtownmorgantown.com/events/arts-walk/. The Moonlight Market is also artisan based, but with a different flavor. It’s held every third Wednesday from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. through November.
The town might be quieter and less crowded in summer, but there’s still tons to do throughout the Greater Morgantown Area. You just have to look.
