Plan Your Visit

Special Events

Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights • July 28 - August 9, 2008• 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.

Barter Nite • Wednesday, June 4, 2008 • Barter Theatre celebrate Barter’s 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.

Red Hat Day • Thursday, June 5, 2008 • Barter Theatre • Join Barter Theatre for the Annual Red Hat Day. Special events surround entire day. Call Group Sales at 276.619.5406 for more information.

Barter Bash • Saturday, June 7, 2008 • A community event to celebrate Barter's 75th Anniversary that includes food, games, music and fun for the entire family on Stonewall Square.

Virginia Highlands Festival • First two weeks of August • 800.435.3440 • www.vahighlandsfestival.org • The summer’s best festival has celebrated the cultural arts in Historic Abingdon for 60 years. Enjoy antiques, fine crafts, visual & performing arts, living history, home & garden tours, youth activities, literary events, and outdoor excursions.

Mistletoe Market • Second weekend of November • Grand Hall Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center • I-81 Exit 14, Abingdon, VA • 276.628.5005 • www.wkrac.org • Held annually, this holiday gift mart features retail merchants from across the Southeast. Shop booths filled with seasonal decorations, holiday & gourmet foods, clothing, & accessories, jewelry, books, toys, original art & pottery & more. $5 at the door.

75th Anniversary Events

Barter Bash • Saturday, June 7, 2008 • A community event to celebrate Barter's 75th Anniversary that includes food, games, music and fun for the entire family on Stonewall Square.

Annual Fund Event • November 8, 2008• Tent on Stonewall Square/Barter Theatre • More details to come.

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.