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City of Somerset, Kentucky

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The Spirit of Southern Kentucky

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The Virginia opens to the community Saturday, June 11

General June 2, 2022

Virginia FeaturedImage 2000

Statewide Media Coverage of The Virginia:

Kentucky Life:

Fox 56: On 100th anniversary, Somerset’s Virginia Theatre reopens ad modern event space

WYMT: City of Somerset prepares to open historic downtown theater

Commonwealth Journal: The Story of the Virginia is still being written, Red carpet gala marks return of Virginia

Public open house will showcase renovation and reintroduce historic building as a live performance venue

SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (June 2, 2022) — The City of Somerset will make history on Saturday, June 11, when officials unveil the newly renovated Virginia Theater to the public.

A free community open house will be from 6 to 8 p.m. June 11 at the venue, located at 214 East Mt. Vernon Street in downtown Somerset. The event marks the first time this facility has been open to the public in a quarter of a century — built in 1922, The Virginia has been vacant since 1994, when an ice storm caused the building’s roof to collapse.

“We are beyond excited to open this beautiful space and share our vision for The Virginia as a live performance venue with residents and visitors,” Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said. “This building has such a rich and significant place in our community’s history. Our team has worked tirelessly to keep the dream alive of bringing The Virginia back to life. We are grateful for the incredible efforts of so many before us, and we are thrilled we could carry those efforts across the finish line to reopen this building. I am proud of the work that’s been done here and eager to celebrate it with the community.”

Those efforts — which include Downtown Somerset Development Corporation’s initial purchase of the building after it closed in 1994, fundraising initiatives, roof repair, and clearing the building of debris — will be recognized during the event.

Virginia Theater Exterior IMG 6264
The Virginia Theater, prior to its renovation in the late 1960s and rebranding as The Virginia Cinema.

People walking through the venue June 11 will be able to experience the building’s renovation while reminiscing about its past as a movie cinema. Somerset firm DECO Architects led project design, and Kentucky contractor D.W. Wilburn completed the renovation, which has been more than a year in the making. Somerset City Council took ownership of the building in September 2020 and voted in April 2021 to renovate the space, with a commitment to open The Virginia for the building’s 100th anniversary in 2022.

Keck said every effort has been made to preserve the integrity of the building while also converting it into a modern, adaptable venue for live music, theater and private events. Doing so was essential to having a strong economic impact, he said — being able to generate revenue through events is key to its operational efficacy.

“This multi-faceted approach makes The Virginia a place for everyone, which is really important to me, but it also ensures the city is not subsidizing this venue into perpetuity,” Keck said. “We have a strong business plan in place to bring live performances downtown, which will fuel our tourism economy and continue our efforts to light up downtown Somerset with arts and entertainment.”

Live music performances at The Virginia begin in July. For more information about The Virginia or to buy tickets, visit https://thevirginiaky.com or follow on Facebook or Instagram @thevirginiaky.

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Somerset - The Spirit of Southern Kentucky
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Contact

City Hall / Energy Center
306 E. Mt. Vernon
Somerset, KY 42501

PO Box 989
Somerset, KY 42502

606-679-6366
[email protected]

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Parking Tickets

Parking tickets may be paid in the Office of the City Clerk at 306 E. Mt. Vernon St. or mailed in the original citation envelope. Checks should be made payable to “City of Somerset.” Failure to comply with the citations within seven (7) days will result in the fine being doubled. Failure to pay within 30 days will result in a citation to Pulaski District Court. If convicted in District Court there will be an additional court cost of up to or more than $100. The registered owner of a vehicle at the time of the violation shall be liable for all fines. Fees subject to change without notice.

Parking Fines

Parking over designated time: $5
Parking on painted curb: $5
Loading zone: $5
Double parking: $5
Blocking driveway: $5
Parking on wrong side of street: $5
Parking in fire lane: $10
Parking on sidewalk: $10
Parking at fire plug: $10
Parking in handicapped space $25