Scores of community ramp dinners and festivals are hosted across West Virginia in March, April, and May. Most are small affairs, while others feed more than 1,000. Ramps are integral to state history. After a long winter, settlers welcomed the wild leek, or “ramp,” one of the first edible plants to ripen in spring.
2026 Schedule of Ramp Dinners and Festivals
The following dinners are being hosted by nonprofit and beneficial organizations. Businesses that would like to advertise for-profit events may call 304-923-5141.
New River Gorge Historical Society
April 4 (Saturday)
Ansted, West Virginia
Fayette County
The inaugural ramp fundraiser at Hawks Nest State Park will benefit historical society projects and feature a mini-fair and speakers’ series. A traditional dinner will feature ramps, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, pinto beans, collard greens, and corn bread. Speakers will include Doug Wood, who at 1 p.m. will present a program on historical trails; Jodi French-Burr, who at 2 p.m. will present a program about railroad history; and David Sibray, who at 3 p.m. will present a program on historical sites. Tickets are $15 per plate for adults, $10 for children ages 6 to 12, and children 5 and younger eat for free. Call 304-923-4077 for more information.
Upshur Library Ramp Dinner
April 17 (Friday)
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Upshur County
The 31st annual dinner will be held at the library at 1150 WV-20 South Road from 5 to 8 p.m. It will include deviled eggs with pickled ramps, potato & ramp chowder, ramp & vegetable strata, spinach salad with bacon ramp vinaigrette, baked ham, asparagus, baby carrots and sugar snap peas, roasted spring potatoes, focaccia with ramps, and strawberry shortcake. Tickets are $28 per adult and $14 for children 6-12; children 5 and younger are admitted free. Dine-in and curbside pickup are available. Advanced reservations are required and accepted through April 15 at 10 a.m. via this link. Call 304-473-4219 for more information.
Camp Creek Lumberjack & Ramp Feast
April 18 (Saturday)
Camp Creek, West Virginia
Mercer County
The Camp Creek Lumberjack Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (and ramps will be served until they run out). Vendors and flea open at 8 a.m. The menu at Camp Creek State Park includes ramp casserole, nachos, and hot dogs. The $15-per-plate dinner will raise funds for the Camp Creek State Park & Forest Foundation. For more information, call 304-425-9481.
Feast of the Ramson
April 18 (Saturday)
Richwood, West Virginia
Nicholas County
In its 87th year, the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. festival at the Richwood Academic Center (the former armory) includes crafts, live music, and a 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until sold out) dinner featuring traditional ramp fare and sassafras tea. Tickets are $25 per adult guest and $15 per child younger than 15. Tickets can be pre-purchased or purchased at the door. For more information, call 304-846-6790 or visit the website.
Doddridge County Ramp Dinner
April 18 (Saturday)
West Union, West Virginia
Doddridge County
The dinner will be held at Doddridge County Park from noon to 4 p.m. with a menu of ramps & potatoes, ham, green beans, applesauce, dessert, and drinks. The cost is $10 per person for eat-in or carry-out dinners. For more information, call Tracy Bonnell at 304-266-4994.
Brothers-of-the-Wheel Kanawha Valley
April 18 (Saturday)
Rand, West Virginia
Kanawha County
Hosted by the Kanawha Valley Chapter of the Brothers of the Wheel, this all-you-can-eat dinner, which will be from noon until sold out, will be served at 5105 Midland Drive and includes a traditional menu of ramps, fried potatoes with ramps, scrambled eggs with ramps, fried ramps, and a variety of salads and desserts. $15 per person. Call Chapter President Herb Johnson at 304-545-2029 with any questions.
Pickens Ramp Dinner
April 18 (Saturday)
Pickens, West Virginia
Randolph County
From noon to 6 p.m., the annual Pickens dinner will feature ham, brown beans, ramps, coleslaw, cornbread, fried potatoes, applesauce, and dessert. Both takeout and eat-in meals with social distancing are available. Sponsored by Pickens Post 122 of the American Legion, admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12; children ages 5 and younger are free with a paying adult. Call 304-924-5813 for more information.
Gracepoint Ramp Dinner
April 25 (Saturday)
Beckley, West Virginia
Raleigh County
Hosted by Gracepoint Fellowship Church at 3674 Harper Road from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until the food runs out), this all-you-can-eat dinner will have ramp casserole, scrambled eggs with ramps, fried potatoes, pinto beans, cornbread, ramp salad, desserts, and drinks for $15. To-go dinners are available for $12 each. Kids 6 to 12 are $10, while children 5 and younger eat for free. Call Pastor Tim Brown at 304-255-3697 or Tabatha Brown at 304-237-0293 for more information.
Shortline Ramp Festival
April 25 (Saturday)
Reader, West Virginia
Wetzel County
Held in a new location approximately 10 minutes from the former site in the field behind the Short Line Elementary School in Reader. A 5k run will start at 9 a.m., and the festival will kick off at 10 a.m. The menu includes the usual ramp fixings, smash burgers, and sides, and will be served in the school cafeteria beside the field from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until the food runs out). Outside, there will be crafters and vendors, a ramp-eating contest, live bluegrass music, ramps for sale, children’s games, and a ramp cook-off with ramp foods to sample. Hosted by the Pine Grove Fire Department. Call 304-455-3825 or visit its Facebook page.
Berea Ramp Dinner
April 18 (Saturday)
Berea, West Virginia
Ritchie County
Held at the South Fork Grange, the dinner will start at 2 p.m. and continue until sold out. The menu includes ramps, ham, potatoes, soup beans, ramp salad, cornbread, applesauce, horseradish pickles, cake, and coffee or iced tea. Adult meals are $25, and children under 10 are $15. Carryout meals will NOT be available. Horseradish pickles will be available for sale. T-shirts are available for sale.
(CANCELLED) Weaver Church of the Nazarene Dinner
April 25 (Saturday)
Bellington, West Virginia
Barbour County
(Canceled on account of unforeseen circumstances, the dinner will be rescheduled for 2027.) Hosted by the Men’s & Women’s Ministry, all proceeds will benefit outreach to the community’s children. Food will be served from 11 a.m. until the food runs out. The menu includes ham, fried potatoes (with or without ramps), white and brown beans, cornbread, dessert, and a drink. Tickets for adults are $15, and tickets for children 12 and younger are $10. Take-out orders are welcome. The dinner address is 11 N. Weaver Road, call 330-451-9917 for more information.
Hope Freewill Baptist Ramp Dinner
April 25 (Saturday)
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Wood County
Located at 916 Winding Road in Parkersburg, this traditional ramp dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hope Freewill Baptist youth center. The menu includes ramps, ham, cornbread, fried potatoes, tea, and salad. All items are served with or without ramps. The price is $20 per person. For more information, call Pastor Bud at 304-684-2555.
Camp Caesar Ramp Dinner
April 25 (Saturday)
Cowen, West Virginia
Webster County
Held at the dining hall at Camp Caesar, off WV-20 north of Cowen at Upper Glade, the 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until sold out) dinner will include ramps, eggs, ham & bacon, cornbread, brown beans, fried potatoes, and dessert. Take-out orders are available. The cost is $20 for adults, $10 for children (6-12), and children five and younger are admitted free with a paying adult. Featuring a new community yard sale at Burton Hall. Table service is provided. For more information, call 304-226-3888.
Mason-Dixon Historical Park Ramp Festival
April 25 (Saturday)
Core, West Virginia
Monongalia County
Held at the Red Barn at 79 Buckeye Road, the festival will also have craft vendors and a flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and free for kids five and under with a paying adult. The menu includes ramps, fried potatoes, soup beans, ham, salad, chicken ‘n’ noodles, sausage-gravy biscuits, applesauce, cornbread, deviled eggs, pickled eggs, and cakes. Call 304-879-4101 for more information.
Mount Liberty Community Ramp Dinner
April 25 (Saturday)
Philippi, West Virginia
Barbour County
The Mount Liberty dinner will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature ham, raw and cooked ramps, potatoes fried with and without ramps, brown and white beans, cornbread or rolls, homemade applesauce, dessert, drinks, and Mount Liberty’s homemade apple butter. Its famous apple butter will be available on a first-come, first-served basis: Quarts are $10, and pints are $7. The location address is 389 Jonestown Mt.-Liberty Road. Call Sherry at 304-614-6332 for directions or questions.
Ramp-&-Rails Festival
April 25 (Saturday)
Elkins, West Virginia
Randolph County
Next to the Elkins Depot, the FREE 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. festival features crafts, live entertainment, and a favorite-ramp-dish contest. Vendors have created delicious ramp-themed dishes such as ramp chili, ramp burgers, ramperoni rolls, and shrimp-ramp risotto. The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad will host train rides. For more information, call 304-635-7803 or visit the Elkins Welcome Center website.
Stinkfest
April 25 (Saturday)
Huntington, West Virginia
Cabell County
Held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the festival features a menu prepared by Chef Nick Atkins, including ramp cornbread, ham, fried potatoes, fried ramps, and beans sourced from local farmers. The event will feature art and produce vendors, live music, and kids’ activities. Admission is free. The Wild Ramp is at 555 14th St., West (Central City Antiques District), Huntington. For the most up-to-date information, check out the events calendar on the Wild Ramp website or call 304-523-7267.
Leivasy Ramp Dinner
May 2 (Saturday)
Leivasy, West Virginia
Nicholas County
The annual ramp dinner at The People’s Place Community Center, the former Leivasy Elementary School, is scheduled from noon until 5 p.m. and will include classic ramps fried in bacon grease, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, pinto beans, ham and bacon, cornbread, corn pone, pickled eggs, pop, water, buttermilk, coffee, homemade sassafras tea and desserts. Dinner will be served indoors in the cafeteria and outdoors on the playground. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children. All To-Go plates are $20.
Erbacon Ramp Dinner
May 2 (Saturday)
Cowen, West Virginia
Webster County
This all-you-can-eat dinner will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include ramps, fried potatoes, cornbread, desserts, and drinks. Tickets are $15 per adult, $ 10 for kids ages 7 to 12, and kids ages 6 and younger eat free with a paying adult. Call 304-226-3220 for more information.
Frametown Fire Department Ramp Dinner UNCONFIRMED
May 4 (Sunday)
Frametown, West Virginia
Braxton County
Frametown Fire Department will host the dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu includes ramps, fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, brown or white beans, drinks, and homemade desserts. Adults are $18, children ages 5 to 12 are $10, and those under five are free. For additional information, call 304-644-1993.
Quick Community Ramp Dinner
May 16 (Saturday)
Quick, West Virginia
Kanawha County
A fundraiser to benefit the Quick Community Center will be held from 10:30 a.m. until sold out. Admission for dinner is $17 per adult, children $12.50. It includes a traditional menu of ramps with bacon, ham, pinto beans, fried potatoes, cooked cabbage with smoked sausage, scrambled eggs, dessert, and a drink (Pepsi products, water, or sassafras tea). Weather permitting, there will be live music. The event is at 23 Lucy Lane in Quick, six miles past the Pinch-Quick intersection. Call 304-965-9008 for more information.
Do you know of West Virginia ramp feasts we need to include?
Please contact the offices of West Virginia Explorer at 304-575-7390, or use our request for ramp festival information to let us know about any ramp feasts we’ve not included here.
Ramp Dinner Menus
Traditional ramp dinners usually include ramps fried in bacon grease served alongside ham and fried potatoes, often with cornbread and beans, and eggs scrambled with ramps. Raw ramps are often served as a salad, and dessert selections are usually provided.
In recent years, however, ramp fans have begun experimenting with menus and recipes. Some dinner venues now serve ramp chili, ramp burgers, and “ramp-peroni rolls,” a variation on West Virginia pepperoni rolls. Most dinners also offer ramp-free alternatives and fresh bagged ramps to take home. Some provide take-out service.
Will ramps cause body odor? Chemical compounds in ramps, onions, and garlic eaten in significant quantities can all be exuded in sweat and on the breath. However, ramps consumed in moderation are not likely to have a noticeable effect.
Roadside Ramp Stands
Hundreds of harvesters set up roadside ramp stands in March, April, and May, allowing motorists to grab a bag or bundle.