Plan Your Visit

Special Events

Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights • July 27 - August 7, 2010 • Barter Stage II • The A.F.P.P. is produced by Barter and designed to discover and encourage the talent of Appalachian playwrights and Appalachian themed plays. Barter invites you to take part in the development of winning plays by engaging in a discussion panel after viewing a staged reading.

Astronaut Week at Barter Theatre • June 14 - June 19, 2010 • Join us for a week-long celebration around the opening of The Blue-Sky Boys. Astronaut and former senator, Harrison "Jack" Schmitt will be involved in several special events.

Barter Night • Wednesday, June 2, 2010 • Barter Theatre celebrates its heritage by bringing non-perishable food items for the price of admission. On this night, patrons are invited to Barter their way in. All food collected will be donated to The Second Harvest Food Bank, Appalachian Branch. No live animals, please.

Virginia Highlands Festival • July 24 - August 8, 2010 • 800.435.3440 • New Location: Now on Remsburg Drive

The summer’s best festival has celebrated the cultural arts in Historic Abingdon for over 60 years. Enjoy antiques, fine crafts, visual & performing arts, living history, home & garden tours, youth activities, literary events, and outdoor excursions.

Mistletoe Market • November 4 - 7, 2010

Grand Hall Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center • I-81 Exit 14, Abingdon, VA • 276.628.5005

Mistletoe Market is a holiday gift mart featuring retail merchants from across the Southeast. The season's premier shopping event, Mistletoe is held annually in November in the Grand Hall of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon (Interstate 81 at Exit 14).

Barter Nights and Pay What You Can Performances

A few times a year, Barter holds Barter Nights in the celebration of the history of Barter and to assist the Second Harvest Food Bank— Appalachian Branch. This organization needs everyone’s help. Rally up your friends, bring what you can, and enjoy a Barter production as a bonus. Even if you cannot attend the show, all donations are still welcome. If you are unable to attend Barter Night, The Second Harvest Food Bank is always happy to accept donations.

As many people already know, Barter Theatre got its name through the practice of bartering. Robert Porterfield brought a team of actors to Abingdon during the Great Depression. These actors were starving in New York while the farming people of Southwestern Virginia had an abundance of food they could not sell.

So, Porterfield gave these Virginians something valuable to spend their spoiling vegetables on—a good laugh. Now you can experience part of the rich history of Barter Theatre by bartering your own admission. More importantly, you can help your community.

For more information on how you can donate food to The Second Harvest Food Bank – Appalachian Branch, call 276.628.9266.

Barter also offers Pay What You Can performances. The second Sunday of each production patrons may do just that – Pay what you can for admission.

Look for the Barter Nights symbol on our calendar to find out how your can enjoy great theatre while helping to feed the hungry. For more information on Barter Theatre, Barter Nights or Pay What You Can performances call 276.628.3991.