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

Berkeley Springs is awash in the sights, smells and sounds of spring. There are redbud along the roads and music in the air with two weekend activities -- the second Redbud Weekend and a Gospel Music Weekend.

Let's start with the music as befits a town just voted #7 art destination in America among small cities (beating out such notables as Boulder, Aspen and Sarasota.) This is Berkeley Springs' seventh year on the list and the honor is earned by activities like the yearlong Back to Our Roots and the Smithsonian exhibit of "New Harmonies" currently at the Ice House, open to the pubic for viewing Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 5pm. The sound of roots music is resonating from the exhibit all over town. On Friday evening, the popular Possum Holler band sings for your supper at the Country Inn accompanied by a down home dinner of fried chicken with all the trimmings from 7 to 9pm. The roots are a bit deeper than the alternative country sound of Possum Holler at the Ice House on Friday from 7-9pm when the drumming and dancing circle creates music and welcomes beginners to join in.

The big music event is gospel and it happens in Saturday and Sunday under the inspired direction of Gospel Master Eric Byrd. On Saturday, there are four different classes at the Ice House beginning at 9am and continuing in two hour chunks through 4pm aimed at teaching singers and musicians how to sing, accompany and direct traditional black gospel music styles. Anyone can attend although pre-registration is necessary and can be done online through the Morgan Arts Council. On Sunday, the public is invited to Berkeley Springs High School auditorium at 3pm to hear Byrd and his McDaniel College Gospel Choir perform along with attendees of the Saturday workshops. Everyone will experience how uplifting -- and fun -- traditional black gospel music can be. Our friends at Morgan Sanitation are sponsoring all this musical fun.

There is local music in abundance also including Wednesday night jam at Earth Dog Cafe and Thursday night at Tari's Cafe where Jonathan McBee hosts and Chef Devin prepares prime rib specials.

The second installment of Redbud Weekend promises many more redbud in bloom inviting a drive all over the county -- maybe even following the footsteps of our first president on the Washington Heritage Trail. A full schedule and maps of all Redbud activities can be picked up at Nature Niche. There are several rare experiences as part of this weekend beginning with a pubic star party at the Morgan County Observatory on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30pm. The other rare treat is a visit to the spectacular scenery of the Eidolon Nature Preserve with its four miles of hiking trails open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, nearby ay 10:30am on Saturday, naturalist Charles Sullivan guides a hike through the area at Panorama Overlook. Conveniently, a fine lunch is then available at the Panorama-at-the-Peak restaurant which also serves dinner.

Other nature focused events of the weekend include activities at the Nature Center and hiking on trails at Cacapon State Park both days. On Saturday from noon to 2pm Wind Dance Farm hosts those interested in bio-intensive farming and Sunday from 1 to 4pm it's pond ecology and edible wild plants at Cabin by O'Brien. Two other Sunday events are a nature meditation and walk at Sleepy Creek Retreat at 10:30am and all afternoon learning about being a Certified Wildlife Habitat from Joe Gentile. for a gentle meditation using the elements of nature then enjoy a beautiful self-guided nature walk.

Rumor has it that the springs lend a potent magic to the town around them and Berkeley Springs offers a peek at that magic this weekend when star and card readers Joyce Morningstar and Jeanne Mozier set up at the Star Theatre on Saturday from noon to 4pm for mini-readings. You can sign up on the door for a 20 minute peek at your past, present or future. Evenings at the Star remain the domain of the magic of Hollywood, this weekend's film being Duplicity starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owens. Showtime is 8pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Since we're talking about the springs, let's remind you about the reason we all are here -- and you come visit: the famed warm mineral waters of Berkeley Springs. Today, those historic waters provide more than an opportunity to bathe in them and drink them -- they also are the core of a noted spa industry. Choose the services at Berkeley Springs State Park, the Country Inn's Five Sense Spa, Atasia Spa, the Bath House Day Spa, Awakenings or individual practitioners like Michael Pushkin and Have Table Will Travel for a wide range of therapeutic, health-enhancing or simply relaxing body work treatments from a dozen different kinds of massage to acupuncture, reflexology, facials, rubs, scrubs and lots more. Check the spa page for a full menu of all that is available -- you may need some work after your first spring hike.

Should you choose to bring your dog this weekend, we have excellent news. First, there are many places to stay that will welcome your canine companion. And second, Saturday morning at 10am at Cacapon State Park is the first annual Mutt Strut and Canine Contest.

We want you to enjoy all the pleasures of the weekend and invite you to stay a night or two -- or three or more. This may be the ideal weekend to choose a countryside location at Cacapon State Park and through Berkeley Cottage Rentals or Sleepy Creek Inn or Sunset Mountain Farm or Mountain Morning or....you get the idea -- there are lost of choices. And you can always choose to stay in town at the Country Inn or B&Bs like Highlawn Inn, Manor Inn or Maria's Garden. Check the extensive list of pillows and pleasures including who welcomes your pets -- and pick one.