"You Caught Me Dancing" by Bernard Sabath August 22, 23 and 24, 2025
2025-08-22 19:00 - 2025-08-24 14:00 (America/New_York) | The Rex Stephenson Theatre – Schoolfield Hall, 215 Ferrum Mountain Rd, Ferrum, VA, 24088-2611, United States

Black & Gold Open House
2025-09-12 08:30 - 14:00 | VA
We’re thrilled to invite you to Ferrum College for our Black & Gold Open House — a special event designed just for prospective students! Spend the day exploring campus, sitting in on a class, taking a guided tour, and learning what life at Ferrum is all about. You’ll even have the opportunity to apply and receive an admission decision on the spot. Plus, enjoy a complimentary lunch in our award-winning dining hall.
Click here to register for our Black & Gold Open House.

Sports Hall of Fame 2025
2025-09-13 | VA

Auditions - Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
2025-09-24 18:00 - 19:30 | VA
Audition Information:
Auditions and interviews for actors, musicians, puppeteers, and crew will take place on September 24th, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to join us in the Rex Stephenson Theatre, first floor, Schoolfield Hall, Ferrum College.

Actors, singers, and instrumentalists should prepare a favorite holiday song. Bring sheet music in the appropriate key; accompaniment will be provided.
The rehearsal schedule depends upon performer availability. Performance dates are December 5-14th.
Email ebtucker@ferrum.edu with questions or for more information.
About the show:
It’s three days before Christmas, and Mayor Fox has just announced a Christmas talent contest with a grand prize of fifty dollars! Meanwhile, times are tough for Ma and Emmet Otter since Pa passed away, and winning that prize money would allow them to secretly buy each other a Christmas gift. Emmet considers forming a jug-band with his friends, but in order to do that, he’ll have to put a hole in Ma’s washtub. The problem is, Ma earns money by doing other folks’ laundry in the washtub. Ma thinks about hocking Pa’s old toolbox so she can make a costume for the contest, but Emmet uses those tools to do odd jobs. As Christmas Eve and the talent contest quickly approach, will Ma and Emmet sacrifice what little they have, or will their Christmas wishes come true?
Your new Franklin County holiday tradition is here! Coming back for our third year, this family favorite is sure to please with new surprises!​

Homecoming 2025
2025-10-10 - 2025-10-12 | VA
Click here for complete Homecoming Weekend schedule and registration link.
If you have been a Jack Tale Player, click here to register for special 50th anniversary activities.

Jack Tale Players 50th Anniversary Celebration! Fri. Oct. 10, Sat. Oct. 11, Sun. Oct. 12
2025-10-10 19:00 - 2025-10-12 14:00 | The Sale Theatre – Schoolfield Hall, 215 Ferrum Mountain Rd, Ferrum, Virginia, 24088-2611
Beloved by generations of audiences, The Jack Tale Players are a treat for the whole family. In this very special anniversary celebration, the current company of The Jack Tale Players is joined onstage by veteran performers spanning five decades of the troupe’s history to perform Rex Stephenson’s dramatized Appalachian folktales and foot-stomping music.
There will be an optional meal served before the show on Saturday and Sunday. Join us! Visit www.ferrum.edu/theatre-tickets for your tickets!

October 10 at 7 PM
October 11, meal at 5:30, show at 7 PM
October 12, meal at 12:30, show at 2 PM

Are you a Jack Tale Player who wants to join us as a performer? Click here to register for Jack Tale reunion activities.
About Us:
An optional dinner or lunch is served by the actors in Franklin Hall next door before the show in the tradition of The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre. Franklin Hall and Schoolfield Hall, where our performances are held, are handicapped accessible. We offer alternative meals for those with food allergies when given advance notice: please note dietary and mobility restrictions in the comments at checkout.
Meal ticket sales often end before the show dates, and may not be available at the door. Unless sold out, most shows will have show-only tickets available at the door.
Tours of Schoolfield Hall and its archival displays will also be offered during Homecoming Weekend, on Saturday, October 11 between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 12 between 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Visitors will be able to peek behind the scenes at the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre, learn a bit of Ferrum College trivia, and perhaps hear a ghost story or two. Homecoming Weekend schedule and registration at https://www.ferrum.edu/homecoming-weekend.
“Faith of Our Father” is a free performance on Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon, telling the story of the first hundred years of Schoolfield Hall through narration, music, and historical dramatization.
Email us at theatre@ferrum.edu or call the box office at (540) 365-4355. Please leave a message at the box office phone number, and we will make every effort to respond as quickly as possible.

Black & Gold Open House
2025-10-11 08:30 - 14:00 | VA
Discover what Ferrum College has to offer at our Black & Gold Open House! Explore campus on a guided tour, connect with faculty, staff, and students, and enjoy a meal in Franklin Hall. Plus, stick around for some Homecoming game day excitement as the Panthers take on Barton College at 2:00 PM in Adams Stadium!
Click here to register for our Black & Gold Open House.

Faith of Our Fathers - by R. Rex Stephenson
2025-10-12 11:00 - 12:00 | The Sale Theatre – Schoolfield Hall, 215 Ferrum Mountain Rd, Ferrum, Virginia, 24088-2611
A musical celebration of a century in Schoolfield Hall, written by R. Rex Stephenson. Look back on the rich history of one of the most iconic buildings on the Ferrum College campus.
Tickets are free, but we suggest reserving your ticket on our website https://www.ferrum.edu/theatre-tickets
About Us:
Schoolfield Hall, where our performances are held, is handicapped accessible. Please note mobility restrictions in the comments at checkout for this free event.
Email us at theatre@ferrum.edu or call the box office at- (540)365-4355. Please leave a message at the box office phone number, and we will make every effort to respond as quickly as possible.

Inquiring Minds: "Don't Be So Past Tense"
2025-10-22 11:30 - 12:30 | Ferrum College
All are welcome at Scout Lynch’s Inquiring Minds presentation, “Don’t Be So Past Tense,” which will address some myths about the English Language. Her linguistics professor, Dr. Tina Hanlon, will participate in the discussion. As an English major, Scout finds it important to not punish people for using problematically labeled “substandard” forms of English. The English language functions through mutual understanding, so there is no need to shame anyone for using slang or features of their own dialects. Scout will discuss prejudices about language that are so imprinted on us, such as the need to use “proper” English. Scout is passionate about encouraging accessible language for speakers of English. Senior English Major Scout Lynch has been editor-in-chief of “Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine” for over two years.
Come to Inquiring Minds on Oct. 22, in the LEaP Studio on the main floor of Stanley Library, to learn some of the real story of the English language and how it works, discuss some of your favorite expressions, and get some tips about using standard English in your work while having fun with informal varieties of language when you aren’t at work. No admission charge. Read more about it at https://www.ferrum.edu/news/ferrum-college-senior-scout-lynch-to-present-inquiring-minds-talk-on-language-varieties-dont-be-so-past-tense.

Inquiring Minds: “Worlds Gone Wrong—What Is Dystopian Literature and Why Should You Know About It?”
2025-10-29 11:30 - 12:30 | Stanley Library, 150 Wiley Drive, Ferrum, 24088, United States
On Wednesday, October 29, Ferrum College’s Inquiring Minds series will feature “Worlds Gone Wrong: What Is Dystopian Literature and Why Should You Know About It?” Professor of English Lana A. Whited will lead a discussion of the increasing popularity of literature about terrible fictional places and her new English course on The Dystopian Tradition. The program is free and open to the public.
Inquiring Minds offers lively, informal presentations and activities on various interesting topics for the entire community. Stanley Library at Ferrum College presents the series on most Wednesdays during the academic year, in the LEaP Studio on the library’s main floor during the campus’s community hour from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Whited’s presentation will ask the audience to consider what they would do if the world seemed to be falling apart. “For over 100 years, writers and filmmakers have imagined catastrophes of various types (political, medical, etc.) and how to survive them,” wrote Whited. Imaginative works created by these artists are labelled dystopian, and “dystopia” literally means “bad place” because a dystopian world is no place you’d want to live.
Read more about it at https://www.ferrum.edu/news/ferrum-college-inquiring-minds-series-presents-worlds-gone-wrong-what-is-dystopian-literature-on-october-29.

"Chrysalis" to Host Halloween Coffee House at Ferrum College on October 30
2025-10-30 20:00 - 22:00 | Panthers Den
A Halloween coffee house for the campus and community will be held on Thursday, October 30 in the Panthers Den at Ferrum College, beginning at 8 p.m. “Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine” invites students, faculty, and staff to read original poems and short stories, sing, or present other talents.
“Chrysalis” and other student groups host open-mic coffee houses held several times throughout the academic year. Anyone is welcome to attend and participate without signing up in advance. Free cookies and coffee will be served.
If you wear a Halloween costume, you could win a prize. Senior Scout Lynch has been seen working with a massive ball of yarn to crochet her costume called Lord of the Strings. Suspense is building as her friends and professors are eager to see her newest original creation. English professors who attended last year’s Halloween coffee house are shown in the photograph.

The editor of “Chrysalis” is Scout Lynch and the faculty advisor is Professor of English Katherine Grimes. Past issues of “Chrysalis” can be read online and the Fall 2025 issue will be revealed on November 20 at 7 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall.
The Panthers Den is located on the ground floor of Franklin Hall. For additional information, contact Dr. Katherine Grimes at kgrimes@ferrum.edu.

Biblical Scholar and Social Media Influencer Dan McClellan to Speak at Ferrum College
2025-11-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Vaughn Chapel, Ferrum College, Rt. 40, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Ferrum College will host Dr. Dan McClellan, biblical scholar, social media influencer, and New York Times best-selling author of The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues, for an engaging evening lecture on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Vaughn Chapel on the Ferrum College campus. The event is free and open to the public.
McClellan’s presentation will examine the ways misinformation about the Bible circulates in contemporary culture and how rigorous, evidence-based scholarship can help correct it. His work centers on bridging the gap between academic research and public understanding, translating complex ideas into accessible insights. Through his widely followed TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channels, as well as his award-winning podcast with Dan Beecher, Data Over Dogma, McClellan engages diverse audiences in informed dialogue about scripture and religious traditions.

Veterans Day Program
2025-11-11 11:30 - 12:30 | Vaughn Chapel, Ferrum College, Rt. 40, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
The Veterans Day Program on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 11:30 AM in Vaughn Chapel, will feature Professor Emeritus Melvin Macklin speaking about the importance of veterans in today’s uncertain world. Dr. Macklin served as an Army Sergeant and Radio Communications Specialist from 1965 to 1969, in Germany and in Vietnam during the TET Offensive.
Dr. Macklin’s teaching and research over the past fifty years have focused on Holocaust studies and American literature, especially African American literature and slave narratives. He has taught in the English Department at Ferrum College since 2008.
This program is a special opportunity to recognize and show our gratitude to the men and women who have served in our armed forces. All members of the local and college community are encouraged to join the college in this meaningful event.

Black and Gold Transfer Scholarship Day
2025-11-12 08:30 - 14:00 | VA
Ferrum College’s Scholarship Day is an exclusive, invite-only event for admitted students with strong academic achievement. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the Boone Honors Program, connect with faculty and current students, explore educational opportunities, and much more. For details, please get in touch with the Office of Admissions at admissions@ferrum.edu.

5K Color Walk/Run Benefiting Stepping Stone Mission
2025-11-15 08:15 - 11:00 | Main campus near Schoolfield Hall, 150 Wiley Drive, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Ferrum College’s Nursing, Social Work, and Teacher Education programs are teaming up to host a 5K Color Walk/Run on Saturday, November 15, 2025, raising awareness of hunger in the community while bringing students, faculty, staff, and neighbors together for a fun and meaningful cause. Check-in and registration will take place from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. in front of Schoolfield Hall on campus. The link to register in advance is below.
The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome from Ferrum College President Mirta Martin, followed by remarks at 8:40 a.m. from Staci Moles of Stepping Stone Mission of Franklin County. A pre-race group photo will be taken on the steps of Schoolfield at 8:45 a.m., and the race will officially begin at 9:00 a.m. A post-race group photo and celebration will conclude the event.
For more information, see the following articles
“Color for a Cause” by student editor Grace Weaver.
Ferrum College website article

Chrysalis Literary & Arts Magazine Reveal Fall 2025
2025-11-20 20:00 - 21:30 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
The reveal of the Fall 2025 issue of Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine is November 20 in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 8 p.m. Free and open to the public and campus community. Refreshments will be served.
Prizes for writing and visual arts will be awarded. Contributors to the fall issue will talk about their work and read some excerpts.
The editor is senior Scout Lynch, who will graduate the following day.
The photographs show the staff and contributors and cover of the Spring 2025 issue.
See digital copies of back issues here: https://www.ferrum.edu/…/student-publications-and…/
For further information, contact the advisor, Dr. Katherine Grimes, kgrimes@ferrum.edu.

Ferrum College Fall Commencement 2025
2025-11-21 15:00 - 16:00 | VA
Ferrum College’s Fall Commencement will be held on Friday, November 21, at 3:00 PM in Vaughn Chapel. The ceremony will last approximately one hour, with President Dr. Martin delivering the keynote address.
Following Commencement, guests are invited to enjoy a meal in the Franklin Hall cafeteria from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. The cost is $12.50 per person.
Click here to watch the ceremony online.

Grand Ole Ferrum Opry
2025-11-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Vaughn Chapel, Ferrum College, Rt. 40, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
The Grand Ole Ferrum Opry returns in a pre-Christmas edition that will honor Bobby Radford. Performers will include Orchestra Appalachia, the Panther Singers, guests Remington and Christian Davis, and more.
Free and open to the public in Vaughn Chapel on the Ferrum College campus.
For more information, contact Emily Blankenship-Tucker, program coordinator for Music & Theatre at Ferrum College, ebtucker@ferrum.edu.

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas Dec 5-14, 2025
2025-12-05 19:00 - 2025-12-14 14:00 | VA
It’s three days before Christmas, and Mayor Fox has just announced a Christmas talent contest with a grand prize of fifty dollars! Meanwhile, times are tough for Ma and Emmet Otter since Pa passed away, and winning that prize money would allow them to buy each other a secret Christmas gift. Emmet considers forming a jug-band with his friends, but in order to do that he’ll have to put a hole in Ma’s washtub. The problem is, Ma earns money by doing other folks’ laundry in the washtub. Ma thinks about hocking Pa’s old toolbox so she can make a costume for the contest, but Emmet uses those tools to do odd jobs. As Christmas Eve and the talent contest quickly approach, will Ma and Emmet sacrifice what little they have, or will their Christmas wishes come true?
Coming back to Ferrum College for our third year, this family favorite is sure to please with new surprises!
About Us:
An optional dinner or lunch is served before the show in Franklin Hall next door, and is served by the actors in the tradition of The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre. Both Franklin Hall and Schoolfield Hall, where our performances are held, are handicapped accessible. We offer alternative meals for those with food allergies when given advance notice: please note dietary and mobility restrictions in the comments at checkout.
Meal ticket sales often end before the show dates, and may not be available at the door. Purchase tickets at www.ferrum.edu/theatre-tickets.
Email us at theatre@ferrum.edu or call the box office at (540) 365-4355. Please leave a message at the box office phone number, and we will make every effort to respond as quickly as possible.
Read more about the 2023 production and the creation of many puppet characters here: https://cardinalnews.org/2023/12/07/ferrum-brings-a-much-loved-puppet-christmas-to-the-stage

Christmas at the Farm
2025-12-19 16:00 - 19:00 | Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, 20 Museum Dr., Ferrum, VA, 24088
UPDATE: On December 19, the decision was made to move the event indoors at the museum, because of high winds outdoors. Other plans remain the same. Join us around the Christmas tree inside the museum at the address below!
Join us at the 1800 farm museum for our annual traditional Christmas in the Blue Ridge. The 1800 farm at the BRIM will be lit with lanterns and we will have cookies, cider, and a variety of vendors selling their unique items. This annual event is FREE and open to the public and we hope you will share this special time with us.
Photo by Dr. Bob Pohlad

Honoring a Legacy: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2026
2026-01-19 11:15 - 12:00 | Vaughn Chapel, 80 Wiley Dr., Ferrum, United States
On Monday, January 19, 2026 from 11:15 am to noon in Vaughn Chapel, the Ferrum College campus and community will come together to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The keynote speaker for this event, Dr. Melvin Macklin, will talk about “The Making of a Dream.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a National Day of Service and a powerful call to action to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring legacy of justice, equality, and nonviolent service, and to commit ourselves to his vision of the Beloved Community.
Dr. Macklin served in the United States Army as a Sergeant and Radio Communications Specialist from 1965 to 1969, including service in Germany and Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. He later earned his Ph.D. in Literary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2008, becoming the first recipient of the university’s Certificate in Holocaust Studies. He has taught in Ferrum College’s English Department since 2008 and was named professor emeritus in 2021; he continues to teach part-time.
His teaching and scholarship focus on Holocaust studies, African American literature, and slave narratives, and he has authored several works on African American history and culture. Throughout more than fifty years in education, Dr. Macklin has remained dedicated to continual self-improvement and to affirming, in the spirit of Dr. King, the dream and vision of a more just world.
Dr. Macklin will share firsthand experience, educate, and empower every member of our community. Please plan to join us for this insightful program and time of reflection.
Photo of Vaughn Chapel by Dr. Bob Pohlad.

Friday Science Seminar: Horticulturalist Dr. Josh Kardos
2026-01-23 11:30 - 12:30 | Garber Hall 106, 80 Wiley Drive, Ferrum, 24088, United States
Please join us on January 23 at 11:30 AM, in Garber Hall 106, for Friday seminar. The guest speaker will be Dr. Josh Kardos.
Dr. Josh Kardos became interested in horticulture as a young boy while working in his grandmother’s garden. During high school and college, he worked for a garden center, a woody nursery, and an herbaceous greenhouse, and as an undergraduate research assistant in an ornamental plant breeding program. Dr. Kardos obtained his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in horticulture from the University of Georgia. After graduate school he worked as the plant breeder and general manager of a startup ornamental plant breeding company in Georgia. He then moved from Georgia to North Carolina to work for a startup, internationally owned vegetable grafting operation, where he was involved in all aspects of production and management.
Although Dr. Kardos enjoys production horticulture, he realized that training and leading employees brought him the most fulfillment. Therefore, he sought an opportunity to teach horticulture to undergraduates from his years of experience in the green industry. He began teaching horticulture at Virginia Tech as an instructor in 2020. Last fall, he was promoted to Collegiate Assistant Professor with a 75% teaching and 25% scholarship and leadership of teaching appointment. He teaches Indoor Plants, Plant Propagation, Herbaceous Landscape Plants, Greenhouse & CEA Management, Production of Food Crops in CEA, and Ornamental Plant Production & Marketing.

Auditions - The Music Man - New Day & Time!
2026-02-06 18:00 - 20:00 | The Rex Stephenson Theatre – Schoolfield Hall, 215 Ferrum Mountain Rd, Ferrum, VA, 24088-2611, United States
The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre at Ferrum College announces open auditions for our mainstage spring musical, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, to be performed March 19-22, 2026​. Auditions are open to all, including non-majors, community members, faculty, staff, and students at Ferrum College.
Updated 1/27/26 after winter weather delays – Auditions are February 6, 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the Rex Stephenson Theatre, in lower Schoolfield Hall on the Ferrum College campus. Performers should prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of the show. Please bring prepared sheet music in the key you wish to sing. Sides will be provided. Come prepared to move! Contact Emily Blankenship-Tucker at ebtucker@ferrum.edu with questions.
Click here for more information about the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre.
Junior Danielle Wilburn, assistant editor of The Iron Blade and a BRDT performer, described the Tony-award-winning play as “a classic Broadway favorite filled with fast-talking charm, big ensemble numbers, and plenty of small-town mischief. The story follows Professor and con-man Harold Hill through River City, Iowa. With its lively music and colorful cast of characters, the show offers multiple opportunities for performers to jump in, have fun, and shine together on stage.”
Click here for photos from last year’s spring musical, Mary Poppins.

Spring Career and Internship Fair
2026-02-12 11:00 - 13:00 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Explore career and internship opportunities and connect with employers at Ferrum College’s Spring 2026 Career and Internship Fair. This event is free to attend.
Location: Blue Ridge Mountain Room, Franklin Hall
Information on academic programs at Ferrum College
Questions: Leslie Holden, Director of Career Development | lholden@ferrum.edu | 540.365.4460

Wrestling Alumni & Friends Gathering & Match Day
2026-02-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Swartz Gym, 435 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Ferrum College Wrestling is entering an exciting new era as we transition to NCAA Division II and Conference Carolinas — and we want YOU to be part of it! Join us Friday, February 13, 2026, for a Wrestling Alumni & Friends Reception at 5:00 p.m. in the Swartz Gymnasium Trophy Room, followed by Ferrum Wrestling vs. Coker at 6:00 p.m. After the match, alumni and friends are invited to continue the evening with a casual gathering at Jose’s Mexican Grill in Ferrum, VA. This night is designed to reconnect teammates and supporters, honor our tradition, and rally around the next era of Ferrum Wrestling. We hope you’ll join us for all or part of the evening.
Click here to register and confirm your attendance today!

Alumni Sweetheart Society Valentine's Event — Open to All!
2026-02-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Dear Panther Family,
Some relationships begin in the classroom, others at the student union, on the field, or during a late-night study session in the library. No matter where your spark first ignited, your story is part of our shared Panther history.
You’re invited to the Alumni Sweetheart Society Valentine’s Event—a festive evening celebrating love, connection, and community at Ferrum College. While the Sweetheart Society honors alumni couples who met on campus, this event is open to everyone who would like to attend. Students are welcome to attend and may use Metz dining dollars.
Whether you’re married, dating, longtime partners, single, alumni, or simply looking for a fun and elegant Valentine’s celebration, we welcome you to join us for a memorable night back on campus.
Event Details
Saturday, February 14, 2026 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Blue Ridge Mountain Room, Franklin Hall
Formal/semi-formal (optional black tie for those who want to go all out!)
Black, gold, red, and white color theme
Registration Rates
Early-bird (expires January 31, 2026)
• $50/couple
• $25/single
Advance Registration (expires February 10, 2026)
• $60/couple
• $30/single
At the Door
• $70/couple
• $35/single
Enjoy an evening of great food, music, selfie photo opportunities, and more as we celebrate love in all its forms. Space is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your spot early.
Click here to register today.

Have a special story to share? Click here to tell us your sweetheart story.
We can’t wait to welcome you back to Ferrum for this signature Alumni Engagement event. Let’s celebrate love, laughter, and lasting connections—right where so many memories were made

The Work of Hands and Hearts: An Evening of Poetry and Prose with Aaron Fagan & Patrick Dacey
2026-02-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
“The Work of Hands and Hearts” is an intimate, one-night literary event celebrating the dignity, struggle, and spirit of working people through poetry and fiction. Acclaimed poet Aaron Fagan and award-winning fiction writer Patrick Dacey will share selections from their work that explore labor, class, and the everyday beauty found in persistence. The reading will be followed by a moderated conversation and audience Q & A, offering insight into how each author approaches the lives and language of work in contemporary America.
The Blue Ridge Mountain Room is in the upper level of Franklin Hall. Parking is available along Ferrum Mountain Road (behind Grousbeck Hall or the Panther Grounds campus store) or Wiley Drive (just past Adams Lake and Franklin Hall).

Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk, Feb. 20-22
2026-02-20 19:00 - 2026-02-22 14:00 | The Rex Stephenson Theatre – Schoolfield Hall, 215 Ferrum Mountain Rd, Ferrum, VA, 24088-2611, United States
In 1955, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, a 67-year-old Ohio woman in Keds, carrying her things in a homemade sack, walked the entire Appalachian Trail. She hiked nearly 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine. She was the first woman to complete a solo thru-hike and later did it again twice.
Her story is about grit, stubborn hope, and that deep Appalachian knowing that if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, you’ll get where you’re meant to go. Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk by Catherine Bush brings this true story to the stage. It offers a reminder that it’s never too late to start over, chase freedom, or answer the call of the trail. If these mountains mean something to you, come walk a while with Grandma Gatewood.
Performances February 20 and 21 at 7 p.m., February 22 at 2 p.m. An optional pre-show dinner is served on Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday at 12:30.
Directed by Emily Blankenship-Tucker, with visiting performer Becky Prophet as Grandma Gatewood and Rebecca Crocker performing thirteen supporting roles.
Produced with permission of the playwright.
The play has adult themes and is not intended for children. It is based on a true story, as told in the nonfiction book Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery (2014), and in Gatewood’s diaries and interviews.
www.ferrum.edu/theatre-tickets
Click here to read more about it.

Ferrum College Alumni Engagement - 419 West, Roanoke, VA
2026-03-03 17:00 - 21:00 | VA
Panthers in the Roanoke area, we’re coming to you! Join fellow Ferrum alumni for an evening of connection, conversation, and community at 419 West. This regional stop is all about bringing the Ferrum spirit closer to home—no long drive back to campus required.

Date: March 3, 2026
Time: Registration: 5:00 – 5:30 pm | Meet & Greet 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: 419 West, 3865 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24018

First Round of appetizers on us. Participants are responsible for all subsequent food and beverage orders (including tax and 20% gratuity).
This regional tour is designed to bring the spirit of Ferrum directly to you. It is the perfect opportunity to reconnect, share ideas, and network with fellow Panthers without having to make the long journey back to campus.

To register, click here.

Open Mike Night
2026-03-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Panthers Den
An Open Mike Night for the campus and community will be held on Wednesday, March 11 in Franklin Hall at Ferrum College, beginning at 7 p.m. “Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine“ invites students, faculty, and staff to read original poems and short stories, sing, or present other talents.
“Chrysalis“ and other student groups host open mike coffee houses several times throughout the academic year. Anyone is welcome to attend and participate without signing up in advance. Free refreshments will be served.
The editor of “Chrysalis” is senior Mattie Green (shown reading from her work in the photo) and the faculty advisor is Professor of English Katherine Grimes. The Fall 2025 issue and other past issues of “Chrysalis” can be read online and the Spring 2026 issue will be revealed at the end of the semester. A limited number of free printed copies of the magazine are also available each semester.
“Chrysalis” is both a club and a practicum course for students who submit their own work and earn course credit for compiling, editing, and laying out the magazine each semester. They encourage students, faculty, and staff to submit original work early in each semester and to read from their work and discuss visual artwork at the coffee houses and end-of-semester reveal.
For the Open Mike event, go to the Panthers Den on the ground floor of Franklin Hall. Contact Dr. Katherine Grimes for additional information, at kgrimes@ferrum.edu.
