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West Virginia culture is a captivating blend of rich Appalachian traditions and vibrant high culture infused with the jazz of surrounding U.S. cities like Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. The state is renowned for its deep-rooted Appalachian heritage, which is showcased through folk music, storytelling, and traditional crafts such as quilting and woodcarving. Visitors can experience this authentic culture at local festivals and heritage museums throughout the Mountain State. At the same time, West Virginia also embraces high culture, with world-class performances at the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, acclaimed theater productions at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, and art exhibitions at the Huntington Museum of Art. This unique mix of mountain traditions and refined artistic offerings makes West Virginia a true cultural gem in the heart of Appalachia.

isitors examine artwork at a previous West Virginia University Mountaineer Week arts and crafts fair. The annual celebration of Appalachian heritage returns November 9–15, 2026. (WVU photo)
Culture

WVU Mountaineer Week celebrates traditions of West Virginia’s early mountain settlers

by Clyde Craig

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Appalachia’s customs and traditions will take center stage at West Virginia University next week as the 79th annual Mountaineer Week brings traditional crafts, mountain music, storytelling, and regional foods to the Morgantown campus. The celebration, scheduled for November 9–15, will include demonstrations of weaving, quilting, woodworking, and other traditional skills, along with … Read more

Artist's illustration of Mothman with outstretched wings and glowing red eyes against a dramatic sunset sky near Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
Culture

60 years of Mothman: How a West Virginia ‘monster’ became an American legend

by Clyde Craig

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Sixty years after two young couples reported encountering a mysterious winged creature near Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Ohio State University is commemorating the sightings that gave rise to the Mothman legend. The university’s Center for Folklore Studies has organized three November events examining the creature and its place in American folklore. … Read more

Orange sunlight breaks through dark clouds above a silhouetted forest beneath a nearly black sky.
Culture

Before trick-or-treating, Halloween was already causing trouble in West Virginia

by David Sibray

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — By 1899, Halloween had become such a troublesome occasion in Huntington that one resident demanded special police protection, warning that drunken revelers and vandals might provoke a deadly confrontation with homeowners. In a letter published in the Huntington Advertiser on October 31, the writer complained that Halloween celebrations had deteriorated into an … Read more

U.S. Rep. Harley O. Staggers Sr. of West Virginia smiles while seated at his congressional desk, with American flags behind him.
Culture

When a 35-mile trip to West Virginia meant changing your watch seven times

by David Sibray

MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Before 1966, a traveler making the 35-mile journey between Steubenville, Ohio, and Moundsville, West Virginia, could encounter seven time changes. Some communities observed daylight saving time while others remained on standard time, creating a patchwork of conflicting schedules. The confusion became an example cited in Congress by U.S. Rep. Harley O. Staggers … Read more

Dark, deserted road illuminated by headlights, with a stop sign at an intersection surrounded by darkness.
Culture

What is the scariest story ever written about West Virginia? One book makes a compelling case

by Bianca Bosworth

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Of the many frightening stories associated with West Virginia, one book has a strong claim to being the scariest ever written. Published in 1975, The Mothman Prophecies by journalist John A. Keel recounts disturbing events along the Ohio River that preceded one of America’s deadliest bridge disasters. The book covers reports … Read more

WVU professor Elizabeth Cohen smiles beside a Ghostface mask outdoors on campus.
Culture

Why do we love scary movies? WVU expert explains the psychology of fear

by David Sibray

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Why do people willingly watch movies filled with murder, monsters, and terrifying situations? A West Virginia University professor says the attraction has much to do with human curiosity about danger, particularly the disturbing things we would rather avoid in real life. Elizabeth Cohen, a professor of communication studies in WVU’s Eberly College … Read more

Forests stretch across the mountains of West Virginia, which ranked second nationally in a new study of potential Bigfoot sightings. Approximately 78 percent of the state is forested.
Culture

West Virginia ranks No. 2 in America for spotting Bigfoot, study finds

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginians searching for Bigfoot may have better luck than almost anyone else in America, according to a new national ranking that places the Mountain State second for potential Sasquatch encounters. Only Washington ranked higher in the study, which considered historical Bigfoot reports, forest coverage, and climate conditions. West Virginia finished ahead … Read more