By Anastasia Simonenko, arts, culture and sports reporter
Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole perform native Creole music for the community at the Center for the Arts in Blacksburg, Va. on Sept. 11, 2026. (Anastasia Simonenko, The News Feed NRV)
The Center for the Arts in Blacksburg, Va., hosted its annual free-to-the-public event featuring South Louisiana music by four-time Grammy nominee Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole.
The Center for the Arts is a leading hub for all artistic performances in Blacksburg. It hosts a variety of events from art galleries, professional presentations and touring musical performances.
According to their mission statement, the center seeks to “transform lives through exploration and engagement with the arts and creative process.”
While art galleries are always free, most of the center’s events require a paid ticket, varying in price depending on the event.
Once a year, the center hosts one outdoor event that is free to the public to encourage community bonding.
This year, it was a musical performance by Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole for a night of music on Sept. 11.
Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy nominee and one of the most prominent musicians in Cajun, Creole and zydeco (a traditional Louisiana Creole music genre) music today. His musical talent is seen in a variety of forms — he is known as a fiddler, singer, accordionist and songwriter.
This distinctive style of music traveled from South Louisiana to Blacksburg to give the town a performance it had never seen before.
The performance was a high-energy dance style with a unique touch of accordion to the traditional band.
Katie Gehrt, director of Marketing and Communications for the center, works to reach community members and leads engagement.
Preparing for large events at the center is a process involving a team of directors, with bookings of musical acts starting months in advance.
Once a performance is booked, Gehrt takes over by getting the word out to the community.
“We’re in a unique position to be able to bring the campus and community together, and this event is the perfect kind of place to do that,” Gehrt said.
The performance center has hosted anyone from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to notable touring Broadway shows such as “Chicago” and “TINA – The Tina Turner Musical.”
According to Gehrt, close to 48,000 people attended some type of activity presented by the center.
“We want to bring in artists that show people things they may not have been able to experience to allow them to see things in new ways,” Gehrt said.
Originally the event was planned to be held outside, but with rain in the forecast, the center made an executive decision to move it inside the Anne and Ellen Fife Theater.
Concertgoers of all ages from the Blacksburg community gathered to enjoy a night of music and dance.
Families gather to dance to southern Louisiana music by Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole at the Center for the Arts in Blacksburg, Va. on Sept. 11, 2026. (Anastasia Simonenko, NewsfeedNRV)
Kacy McAllister, professor of communication at Virginia Tech and a Blacksburg mom, brought her four-year-old son to the performance. She mentioned that seeing new instruments like the accordion was a first for him.
“I’m thrilled that he has an experience to be exposed to things that might otherwise only be available in a more urban setting, it enriches our culture and our exposure to music,” McAllister said.
McAllister formerly worked for the center and mentioned that it continues to make an impact in her life as she now gets to bring her students to exhibitions for class.
The center offered an opportunity for the audience to feel the music by leaving the front of the theater as a dance floor. Children held hands with their grandparents to dance right in front of the band.
“I’m pleased to see people across all different generations be able to get up and dance to the music, it’s heartwarming,” McAllister said.
Dozens of students also attended the performance on their Friday night, dancing their way into the theater once the music was heard from the open doors.
Virginia Tech graduate student Lainey Bradley attended the concert with her roommates.
“Getting to hear a new, different type of music and take the time to learn a little bit more about the history afterwards was so exciting,” Bradley said. “I think the event was a total success.”
Bradley makes a point to attend events when she is available, and she wishes students knew about the events happening on campus more often.
“I think students don’t take advantage of the Center for the Arts enough, it is here to give us the opportunity to see something new, something different,” Bradley said.
This year, the center is hoping to pique more student interest in attending events through advertising and better communication to student organizations.
They have been testing new marketing strategies and reorganizing their website to make information more accessible, Gehrt said.
“I want students on this campus to be aware of the one time in life that you are going to have access to these kinds of experiences,” Gehrt said. “You have an opportunity to see performances that you may not be familiar with, and that’s what college is all about.”
