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Festivals / Events

Fairs, festivals, and events in West Virginia provide an authentic way to experience the state’s rich Appalachian culture, warm hospitality, and vibrant community spirit, especially as the remote-work revolution brings new residents from big U.S. cities seeking connection and local experiences. From lively music festivals and traditional craft fairs to food and heritage events, West Virginia’s year-round calendar brings people together to celebrate local art, music, food, and history. These gatherings support small businesses, showcase talented local artists and musicians, and create fun, family-friendly entertainment for both longtime residents and newcomers. For remote workers and new residents, attending West Virginia’s fairs and festivals is a wonderful way to meet neighbors, make memories, and feel at home in the Mountain State while enjoying its unique charm and sense of community.

Star trails sweep above Blennerhassett Mansion during Mansion by Candlelight at Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. The annual event returns Oct. 9–10, 2026. (Photo courtesy Greater Parkersburg CVB)
Festivals / Events

West Virginia’s mysterious island will glow by candlelight for two nights this fall

by David Sibray

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — As darkness falls over the Ohio River, a sternwheeler departs from the Ohio shore, carrying passengers toward a West Virginia island lit by hundreds of candles and lanterns. For two nights this October, visitors to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park will step off the Island Belle into a landscape of period music, dancing, … Read more

Historic buildings line German Street in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where Shepherd University will celebrate the 30th Appalachian Heritage Festival Sept. 24-26, 2026. Photo by Acroterion/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Festivals / Events

Near Washington, West Virginia festival marks 30 years of challenging Appalachian stereotypes

by Bianca Bosworth

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — About an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C., a West Virginia university will mark the 30th anniversary of a festival founded to challenge stereotypes about Appalachia and introduce audiences to the region’s cultural traditions. Shepherd University will celebrate its 30th Appalachian Heritage Festival Sept. 24-27 with music, dance, history, workshops, and other events … Read more

Musicians gather in an informal jam session beneath the trees at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival near Clifftop, W.Va. Unlike most music festivals, the heart of the event is found in hundreds of spontaneous circles where participants play together, preserving the traditions of old-time Appalachian music.
Festivals / Events

Why the world’s old-time musicians make a pilgrimage to this West Virginia mountaintop

by David Sibray

CLIFFTOP, W.Va. — Every summer, thousands of musicians carrying fiddles, banjos, guitars, mandolins, and dulcimers wind their way up a narrow mountain road in southern West Virginia. They come from nearly every corner of the United States and from countries as far away as Japan, Australia, England, Germany, and Sweden. Few are household names, and … Read more

Excitement builds as Scouts check in for Scouting America's National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in southern West Virginia. The 10-day event introduces thousands of young people and their families to the Mountain State through outdoor adventure, leadership, and service.
Festivals / Events

Thousands gather in W.Va. for the Jamboree, America’s largest outdoor youth adventure

by David Sibray

MOUNT HOPE, W.Va. — Tens of thousands of scouts, volunteers, leaders, and family members are arriving in southern West Virginia this week as Scouting America’s National Jamboree transforms the mountains of the New River Gorge region into one of the nation’s largest youth adventure camps. Held at the 14,000-acre Summit Bechtel Reserve in Fayette County, … Read more

A smiling child with colorful face paint enjoys a day at the State Fair of West Virginia. Fair officials and community partners are providing complimentary all-day midway ride passes to eligible foster children during this year's event, helping more young people experience one of the state's most cherished summer traditions. (Photo courtesy Jeremiah Lawrence)
Festivals / Events

State Fair of West Virginia, state’s biggest festival, opens its midway to foster children

by David Sibray

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — For many West Virginians, memories of the state fair begin in childhood—first rides on the midway, cotton candy shared with family, prize-winning livestock, and long summer evenings spent beneath the glow of carnival lights. For some children in foster care, those memories have never had the chance to begin. This August, a … Read more