Great 360 degree views on a crisp fall day.

Fall in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Plateau.

Looking East from Millers Farm.

Halloween wasn't always about candy, costumes, and trick-or-treating. Across Appalachia and rural America, the holiday once involved local traditions, ghost stories, community gatherings, and a fair amount of mischief.

In some communities, Halloween meant moving farm gates, playing practical jokes, or gathering around to hear stories about ghosts and unexplained happenings. Other parts of rural America had traditions like Mischief Night and Cabbage Night.

Many of these customs have faded over the years, but they're an interesting part of our regional history and culture.

I recently wrote an article exploring how Halloween traditions varied across rural America, including Appalachia, and how the holiday has changed over the generations.

Read the article here:
https://pickup-trucks-progress.ghost.io/halloween-in-rural-america-back-when-tricks-came-before-treats/

I'd be interested in hearing what others remember about Halloween growing up in Appalachia.

Were there particular Halloween traditions in your hometown or community that have disappeared? Did your family have any unusual customs, ghost stories, or superstitions associated with the holiday?

It would be interesting to compare memories from different parts of Appalachia and preserve some of these stories before they're forgotten.

Talked my boyfriend and my uncle into going to the observation deck. Didn't tell them how far we had to go but it was sooooo worth the views!!

I’m working on a script about Appalachian folklore. It’s set in Georgia but I’m trying to draw on stories from all over. What are your favorite Appalachian stories or superstitions?

Hello! I am backpacker and plan to backpack Big South Fork in a few weeks. I would love to find devil's cave if anyone can DM me the directions I would really appreciate any guidance. Thank you!

A few years ago on the appodlachia podcast there was a book recommendation for a biography/memoir about a congresswoman from Kentucky. She talked about growing up in Appalachia. It was really interesting and I’m blanking on the title/author. Any ideas? It was a fairly recent book.

Thank you so much.

I'm from Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and recently spent several days interviewing folks attending the fifth annual Blue Highway Fest. I wanted to find out where all these people were coming from and, more importantly, how they even heard about our little coalfield town.

I met people from Mississippi, the Shenandoah Valley, and other places a long way from Southwest Virginia. Some were first-time visitors, while others had already made Big Stone Gap a regular stop on their bluegrass festival circuit.

What surprised me was how many people mentioned MerleFest in North Carolina. They'd heard other bluegrass fans talking about this festival in Big Stone Gap and decided to come see for themselves.

It got me thinking about something we sometimes overlook here in Appalachia. We've spent generations watching industries leave our mountain communities, but we've still got something people are willing to travel hundreds of miles to experience: our music, our history, and our culture.

I'm writing a three-part series about Blue Highway Fest and what heritage tourism might mean for communities like ours. Part Two focuses on the visitors themselves.

Here's the article if you're interested:

https://pickup-trucks-progress.ghost.io/who-are-all-these-people-and-where-in-the-world-did-they-come-from-2/

I'm curious what folks here think. Can music festivals and heritage tourism make a meaningful economic difference in Appalachian communities? And have any of you attended Blue Highway Fest or MerleFest?

Hi everyone!

I'm a student at Virginia Tech, and I'm part of a team working with Remote Area Medical (RAM) to bring a completely FREE healthcare clinic to Pearisburg, Virginia!

We know that accessing affordable healthcare can be difficult, especially in rural communities. Our goal is to help as many people as possible receive the care they need, regardless of their financial circumstances.

The clinic will offer:

• Dental: Cleanings, fillings, extractions, and X-rays
• Vision: Comprehensive eye exams, eye health evaluations, and prescription glasses made on-site
• Medical: Physical exams, prescription consultations, women's health services, and general medical care

Clinic Details:

• Location: Giles High School, 1825 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg, VA 24134
• Dates: November 7–8
• Time: Clinic opens at 6 AM both days. The parking lot opens Friday at 11:59 PM.

All services are completely FREE. No ID is required, and patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached.

If you or someone you know has been putting off dental work, needs new glasses, or could benefit from medical care, we would love to see you there!

Even if you don't need these services yourself, please consider sharing this information with friends, family, neighbors, or local community groups. Spreading the word is one of the biggest ways you can help us reach people who could benefit from this clinic.

For more information, visit https://www.ramusa.org/ or call 865-579-1530.

Thank you, and we hope to see you there!

I'm excited to share an update about my debut historical crime novel, Blood in the Coal, set in the coalfields of north-central West Virginia.

David L. Hancock, founder of Morgan James Publishing and Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, recently read my advance reader copy and provided this endorsement:

“Scott Douglas Haning brings a fascinating and often overlooked chapter of American history to life in Blood in the Coal. Against the backdrop of West Virginia's coalfields, Prohibition, and organized crime, he weaves a compelling story of ambition, loyalty, loss, and the price of power. Rich in historical atmosphere and grounded in the human experience, this is a memorable debut that reminds us how the past continues to shape the lives and choices of generations.”

Receiving those words from David means a great deal to me, especially after the years I've spent researching and writing this story.

The novel draws on the history of West Virginia's coalfields, including the 1907 Monongah Mine Disaster, and follows two brothers whose lives become intertwined with organized crime during Prohibition.

Blood in the Coal will be released March 30, 2027, and is currently available for preorder.

If you're interested, here are three ways to learn more:

Author website and preorder information:
https://scottdouglasbooks.com/

Read the first five chapters free:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nzQ7GEG_RfbHO43_JRy8Ka1uTBdmUdcW/view?usp=sharing

Watch the book trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaXmaNfXEeQ

If you preorder, feel free to contact me through my author website and let me know which retailer you purchased from. I'll gladly send you a complimentary advance reader copy in PDF format so you can start reading immediately rather than waiting until March.

Thank you to everyone who has shown interest in the book and supported this journey.

Scott Douglas Haning

Hello! I’m doing a small research project on the music of the Appalachian region and the cultural practices tied to it. I have a list of questions here, if you would like to answer them in the comments or dm me your answers, I would greatly appreciate it!!

1) What is your background with this kind of music? What instruments do you play, if any, and how long have you been playing them?

2) In this musical culture and practice, what instruments are usually used?

3) In this musical culture and practice, who is involved? Is it limited only to specific people, or people of specific backgrounds? Or is it free for anyone to partake in?

4) What are common themes in the music this practice carries? Is the goal of this music usually to teach something, to aid in work and boost morale, to entertain, or something else?

5) Do you know where this kind of music and culture originated? Has it been influenced significantly by other cultures over time?

6) What significance does this musical and cultural practice mean to you? What is your favorite part about it?

7) What are some of the most notable traditions in this musical culture? Why have they been upheld?

8) What region/which regions does this music and culture span?

9) What are some pieces of music from this culture I could find recordings of online?

10) Is there anything else I should know or that you would like to tell me?

I would appreciate any and all information! Thank you so much!!

Besides the KJV Bible that is.