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.
Would-be pets are among the victims of decline in the coalfields of southern West Virginia, but one community in Mingo County has managed to spearhead a rescue effort that’s off to a remarkable start. Gilbert Happy Tails, to host its first “Fur Ball” fundraiser this month in Gilbert, West Virginia, has already received support from … Read more
This weekend’s Wizard Weekend in Fayetteville, West Virginia, seems ideally suited to the character of the whimsical town on the rim of the New River Gorge, organizers say. Beginning Thursday, the first annual community festival will see many of the town’s shops, restaurants, and attractions transformed into magical venues—wand shops, potion distilleries, and feast halls … Read more
Spring skiing, free concerts, and a vibrant nightlife have conspired to make the annual Ballhooter Festival at Snowshoe Mountain popular with visitors from across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and the Midwest. Snowshoe Mountain has announced the lineup of free village concerts for its eighth annual Ballhooter Festival, scheduled March 13-15, 2020, according to resort spokesman Shawn … Read more
Events that celebrate the arrival of spring in West Virginia are expected to be bigger and more popular than ever, according to the publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine. Ramp dinners, wildflower walks, and maple-syrup festivals are all drawing more tourists to the Mountain State, says David Sibray, who says he expects the trend will … Read more
A historic village of lavish homes in a remote corner of West Virginia is adding a new landmark to its annual Christmas tour, hosted every second Saturday in December. Residents of Bramwell, West Virginia, once reputedly home to more millionaires than any other community its size, will open their doors to guests from 5-8 p.m., … Read more
To accommodate a larger attendance, the inaugural gathering of Native Americans for song and dance on the Cheat River on October 5-6 has been moved to a larger venue. The “We Are Still Here” pow-wow—celebrating the native history of West Virginia—has been moved to the Five River Campground at Parsons, in Tucker County, which will … Read more
Perhaps one of the most frightening aspects of the “Nightmare on the Gorge” haunted house attraction near Oak Hill, West Virginia, is that a serial killer had really stalked the hills in the early 1960s and may have lived less than a mile away. But the team who brought the Mad Butcher to life at … Read more
West Virginia’s annual celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days is returning to Stonewall Jackson Resort State Park on Sept. 21-22, 2019 according to state officials. While many of the popular attractions are back, outdoor enthusiasts can expect the Mountain State’s largest hunting and fishing show to sound a little different this year. In addition … Read more
Makers of all ages will compete for cash prizes and bragging rights Oct. 4 during West Virginia’s largest maker festival on the Huntington campus of Marshall University. The sixth annual “West Virginia Makes Festival,” hosted by the Robert C. Byrd Institute, is a celebration of creativity and ingenuity in all their forms, according to organizers. … Read more
(NOTE: The time of the movie on September 20 has been changed to 7 p.m. and the final event, storytelling with Adam Booth and Diane Macklin, has been changed to September 27.) Shepherd University’s 24th-annual Appalachian Heritage Festival will take place during the week of September 20-28 and features the work of Affrilachian poet and … Read more
