— — It has been a year full of lingering magic, country music stars and even a few ghostly encounters. During 2011, the two Virginias played host to several pop culture events, some which brought record-breaking crowds. Not to be left out of national events, local residents came together to celebrate the final chapter of a beloved series, watch a royal wedding and build up two tourist destinations in Bluefield. In case you missed out, here are the local top 10 pop culture stories for 2011.



10. Royal wedding part II

According to Nielsen Media Research, 22.8 million U.S. viewers and 18.6 million households watched the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011, despite the 6 a.m., wake-up time. More households watched this 2011 wedding than the 1981 wedding between Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Many local residents opted to watch the ceremony via the Internet, an option not available for the first royal wedding. Mothers, who watched the first wedding in 1981, encouraged their daughters to watch the 2011 wedding. Many criticized the wedding, but it isn’t often a bride becomes a princess.



9. Author celebrates Appalachia

Best-selling author Jeannette Walls returned to Bluefield College in November of 2011. Walls — a native of McDowell County — wrote the book “The Glass Castle.” Based on her childhood, the book describes a life of poverty in southern West Virginia. She left at age 16 and became a well-known journalist, author and TV personality. However, she kept her past a secret. The memoir exposed all in 2005. Since then, she was written “Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel.”



8. Local ghost hunter group

appears on national TV

A Princeton ghost hunting group, Appalachee Paranormal, appeared on a Travel Channel reality TV show on July 29, 2011. The group learned about “Paranormal Challenge” through Twitter. In the episode, Appalachee Paranormal investigated the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, competing against another group, G.A.L.S. Paranormal. The group won the challenge. The series ended in September. The six-member group performs free paranormal investigations in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee.



7. Boy wizards turns in his wand

The magic can only be found in DVDs now and of course, books. The Harry Potter series officially ended in 2011, with the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” It was bittersweet for movie goers. Many had started reading the book as children, and celebrated each new movie debut with parties. Some residents read the eighth book again in anticipation of the film. The Princeton Public Library and the Craft Memorial Library held week-long Harry Potter events during the week of July 15th. The film series began in 2001 and by the summer of 2011 garnered more than $6.3 billion. Local movie theaters offered midnight showings of the movie.



6. Fourth of July celebration

Nothing says summer like apple pie, hot dogs and Chicory Square. The Bluefield Daily Telegraph held a special summer concert on July 1, 2011, in honor of the nation’s holiday. The Chicory Square concert series is held every Friday at noon during the summer. In 2011, organizers wanted to add a bit more red, white and blue to the event. Free hot dogs, apple pies, popcorn and American flags were handed out to residents. Bill Archer and Karl Miller performed patriotic songs for the crowd. More residents attended the Fourth of July celebration than any other noon concert throughout the summer. Local businesses helped support the event as well.



5. Let the lights shine

The city of Bluefield is known for free lemonade in the summer, but it is the Holiday of Lights that brings visitors near and far. On Thanksgiving night, Nov. 24, organizers flipped the switch, lighting up Lotito Park in Bluefield. For local residents, the glow of lights turns the two Virginias into a Christmas wonderland. It also brings about visitors — some as far as Bristol, Va., and Christiansburg, Va. — to the area. In 2011, organizers replaced more than 15,000 bulbs and added four new displays. The Holiday of Lights is quickly becoming a hot spot for tourists, not to mention a place for wedding proposals.



4. The Greenbrier Classic

For the second time, one of the Mountain State’s most luxurious resorts opened the doors for the PGA golf tournament. The Greenbrier Classic was held in July of 2011 in Greenbrier County. Residents from Mercer and surrounding countries traveled to watch pro golfers Tom Watson and Phil Mickelson during the day. By night, music fans attended concerts featuring Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert and The Black Eyed Peas. The event — an extra boost for the local economy — provided entertainment for thousands of local residents.

3. The little train that could

After a fight to save the Ridge Runner, the inaugural season at Lotito Park wowed children and adults. Organizers said records show that 15,317 riders rode the little train. Some of those riders included out-of-town visitors. Effort to save the train and put it back on track began in 2009. Lecia Smith and Bea Paine, co-chairs of the committee, along with Lori Mills, helped raise money. In May, riders climbed on board. The train is undergoing maintenance over the winter, but will return in April to the delight of local children.



2. West Virginia native

wins talent show

Reality TV shows are on every channel. However, the NBC show “America’s Got Talent” caught the eye of hundreds of local residents. Logan County native Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., won the talent show in June 2011. And in November 2011, the Chuck Mathena Center announced a performance with the talent show winner. The concert quickly sold out and a second concert was scheduled to meet demands. Murphy also signed autographs at the Historic Bank Lobby in Bluefield prior to both shows. Fans were able to meet and greet a reality TV star with ties to home. His CD was also released in December of 2011.



1. Rockin’ the two Virginias

The biggest pop culture event of the year in the two Virginias attracted the biggest crowd in Bluefield history. The Second Chance Rocks the Two Virginias concert at Mitchell Stadium attracted 18,000 or more music lovers on July 16, 2011. The brainchild of Tazewell natives Billy Wagner and Erik Robinson, the concert helped more than 50 non-profit agencies in two Virginias. Country music stars Craig Morgan, Brantley Gilbert, Dierks Bentley, Montgomery Gentry, Justin Moore and Easton Corbin performed for the crowd. The concert started at 1 p.m., and went on for hours. A second concert is already planned for June 30, 2012, and will feature Brantley Gilbert, Josh Thompson, Rodney Atkins and Eric Church.



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The Spike TV show “Coal” made the BDT’s top 10 stories of the year. The list was published in the Dec. 31, 2011 edition of the BDT.