The following information was disseminated by the Travel Berkeley Springs office:

Spring in Berkeley Springs comes with a musical score as befits a top 10 arts town. This weekend it runs the gamut from local jammers to Ray Charles to sacred chorale.

Let's start with the big show on Saturday night at the Ice House. Noted pianist and vocalist Eric Byrd brings his Brother Ray Band to Berkeley Springs for a knock out tribute concert featuring many of Ray Charles' lesser known songs. The group includes drums, guitar and four horns along with Byrd's piano. Their CD on which the show is based -- Brother Ray -- was released last year to much acclaim and high rankings on various jazz charts. It's a bargain price, starts at 7:30pm -- first come, first seated -- and is part of the Morgan Arts Council's yearlong Back To Our Roots celebration. If you want to brush up on the real Mr. Charles, come on Wednesday for the Roots Film Series showing of "Ray" starring Jamie Foxx. Also at the Ice House, there's a discussion after the 7pm show at the Fairfax Coffee House.

Were Mr. Charles still with us, he probably would have gladly joined in jams that are sprouting up all over Berkeley Springs. On Wednesday nights, it's a jam at Earth Dog Cafe where they serve the best barbecue in town. On Thursday, it's 8pm at Tari's Cafe where Chef Devin has created a special appetizer menu AND offers Prime Rib Night. The jam is hosted this week by Cindy Born with Gator and Rick High. At the Troubadour, home of the WV Country Music Hall of Fame, it's karaoke on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Sunday at 3pm, Living Springs Chorale performs Love Which Transforms Fear: Songs of Sorrow, Songs of Hope at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church across from Berkeley Springs State Park. It is free and open to the public.
Even the movie this weekend has music. The Star Theatre is showing "Slumdog Millionaire", this year's Academy Award, feel-good winner, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8pm.

A little change of pace happens on Friday when starwatchers can take a three hour introductory class at the Morgan County Observatory beginning at 6:30pm and learn: to read a Star Map, identify constellations and their mythology, the life of stars and their composition. You can also use the giant Cassegrain telescope to observe the night sky and explore deep space objects.

Now that you know all the special events, let's direct you to what should be a major purpose this weekend. Spring cleaning -- not your house, but your body and spirit. We're going to talk about spas -- the reason people have been coming to Berkeley Springs since George Washington was a teenager. First task is to "take the waters" of the famed warm mineral springs. The historic experience is at Berkeley Springs State Park Roman Baths where the configuration has not changed since the Roman Bath House was built in 1815. If you don't believe us, go upstairs to the Museum of the Berkeley Springs and check it out. Several downtown spas also have elegant bathing facilities including the Country Inn's Five Sense Spa and Atasia. Of course, since the springs are the town's public water source, every place you bathe within several miles of the park is spring water.

So what do you need to cleanse your body for spring. Where do we start? Scrubs and rubs and wraps and facials and pedicures and massage of a dozen different types. There's acupuncture and reflexology and body adjustments. You can get herbal infusions or homeopathic medical remedies. You can even have a massage therapist come to you if you contact Have Table Will Travel. Don't miss the chance to clear away all that old winter skin and clogged energy with a spa getaway to Berkeley Springs.

Once that's done, you can refill on great food and good wine, shop for adornments for the new you, and revel in the signs of spring throughout the mountains. Find out all this and more roaming through our site. Then move on to the most important part -- choosing a place to stay.

Berkeley Springs has a wide range of lodging choices from cabins surrounded by solitude and spring birds to elegant inn and B&B rooms in the heart of town where every shower is a health-giving experience. Look for spring specials and spa packages at several places including the Country Inn, Highlawn Inn, Bathkeeper's Cottage, Berkeley Springs Cottage Rentals and Best Western among others. Some of the places welcome your pets.

Whether you come for several days, a quickie overnight or a daytrip, Berkeley Springs was America's first planned spa town and it has thrived ever since. How can you pass up a chance to be cleansed for spring in a place that's been doing that for centuries? Berkeley Springs has ancient healing for the 21st century.