The following information is from the Travel Berkeley Springs office:

In Berkeley Springs, Memorial Day is spelled A-R-T! plus strawberries, an iris garden in bloom and a Memorial Day-Homecoming parade in Paw Paw on Saturday.

The biggest event is the Spring Studio Tour featuring 13 studios, the Ice House Gallery and the work of 22 artists in glass, metal, pottery, textiles, jewelry, wood, paint and ink. Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10am to 5pm, you can travel the alluringly lush and green backroads of Morgan County to visit artists in their natural habitat. Ice House Gallery hours match the Studio Tour hours including being open on Monday. An added attraction at the Ice House Gallery on Saturday is a book signing featuring local author, Jeanne Mozier and her new coffee table book: West Virginia Beauty.

On Sunday, the Ice House is really hopping with the first-ever all-live auction of the Yard Square Quilts. There are 42 available. They've been hanging all over town for the past six weeks and now are ready to find permanent homes. The auction starts at 2pm. Come early and see the full annual Delectable Mountains Quilt Show and Sale hanging in the gallery, additional room and halls. Just in case a yard-square won't cover your bed or that blank space on the wall, you can buy spectacular full-size quilts as well as lots of other small fun items.

Let's finish with the art -- in this case, music -- before we move on to SPAS and FOOD. Thursday at 8pm, Tomas Rowe hosts the long-running Jam Nite at Tari's Cafe. Saturday has a couple music choices including our favorite retro band -- The Flashbacks -- playing at the Troubadour Lounge starting at 9pm. At Fairfax Coffee House on Saturday starting at 8pm are the Appalachian and Celtic sounds of the Scones. Another entree into late night fun is the Star Theatre showing the action-comedy, "The Losers" Friday through Sunday night at 8pm.

Get a skin care or pedicure service at the Bath House Day Spa this weekend and they'll give you a complimentary Paraffin Dip. They're taking appointments up to 7pm on Saturday and featuring couples massage all weekend. The other spas have exciting packages as well and the Roman Baths are open daily in Berkeley Springs State Park for the authentic centuries-old "taking the waters" health treatment. Both the outdoor pool in Berkeley Springs State Park and the sand beach lake at Cacapon State Park open this weekend for kids and family fun.

Now.. for food starting with Panorama at the Peak's Strawberry Feast featuring strawberries being harvested this weekend here in Morgan County. They'll be serving strawberry and burgundy soup, homemade strawberry ice cream and bread pudding. At their Sunday brunch, the Belgian waffle on the menu is strawberry. Other folks in town also have a Sunday brunch including the Country Inn and Temptations Cafe. Barbeque ribs are another hot item in town. It all started with Angus and Ale, then Earth Dog. Mountainside makes them a special on Thursday and has them on the menu all weeklong. Tari's Cafe just launched their summer menu and it features sticky apple butter barbecue ribs. The choice new location for outdoor dining and drinking is Ambrae House's cool new deck. Also this Saturday night is the silver service dinner offered by Highlawn Inn. Reservations are a must.

More strawberry news before we close with a good night's sleep. Sunday's Farmers Market features local strawberries, lettuce, hydroponic tomatoes, herbs and much more including outstanding gourmet "street food" from Lot 12 and local musicians.

Cruise the shops offering everything from antiques and books to nature items and books. With this being a holiday weekend, its guaranteed that backyards and garages will be filled with impromptu sales.

When we urge you to stay the night -- we're thinking of your pleasure. There's so MUCH to do, no one day has enough hours. There are elegant B&Bs, an historic inn, in-town suites and fully equipped mountainside vacation homes. There are cabins and a lodge at Cacapon State Park which also comes with a golf course. Check the lodging page and explore for the pillow of your choice.

Memorial Day is traditionally the start of the summer season. We invite you to make Berkeley Springs the place you come to launch the season. We'll make it worth your while.