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.
The 2018 Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival will awaken musical magic again in the Pipestem highlands near Athens in southern West Virginia Sept. 6-9. As many as a thousand fans of world music and the arts are expected to attend the 15th annual festival being celebrated at the Appalachian South Folklife Center near Pipestem Resort … Read more
The W.Va. Irish Road Bowling Association will host the ancient sport’s regional championship August 3-5 at Blackwater Falls State Park, attracting more highly rated players than have ever before been assembled in the U.S. Clubs from Boston, New York City, and West Virginia compete each year, after which the winning team advances to the All-Ireland … Read more
To raise money for a March 31 children’s egg hunt, organizers in Fayetteville, West Virginia, will host a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt for adults on March 24. Given the community’s penchant for the uncoventional, the event should be an enormous success, and 100 participants as well as spectators are already expected, says Tabitha Stover, executive director … Read more
The annual Jackson’s Mill Jubilee at historic Jackson’s Mill, West Virginia, will feature a new layout in 2018, a spokesman for the organization announced, also addressing rumors that the event had been cancelled. The festival, which attracts 10,000 visitors to historic Jackson’s Mill near Weston, in Lewis County, is one of three celebrations that bring … Read more
PARKERSBURG, W.Va.—For two nights in October visitors to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park can experience the candle-lit world of 1805 and attend a period-accurate party during the park’s popular Mansion-by-Candlelight event. On Oct. 13-14, the event will capture the magic of the island’s historic setting with hundreds of candles lighting the way to the its … Read more
The 55th annual Mountain State Art & Craft Fair—recently selected among America’s best 100 craft fairs—has been scheduled Sept. 15-17 at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center near Ripley, West Virginia. More than 100 artisans and 20 food and drink vendors attend the celebration of art, food, music and culture—an event that is actually five fairs … Read more
Three Rivers Avian Center will present its popular “Wings of Wonder – Birds of Prey” program at 12 West Virginia state parks in summer 2017, introducing audiences across the Mountain State to live birds of prey. The avian center’s programs have been park favorites for more than 20 years, said Sissie Summers of the Parks and Recreation Section of … Read more
An estimated 25,000 are expected to turn out this weekend to celebrate regional culture at the West Virginia capitol during the 41st annual Vandalia Gathering in Charleston. The Mountain State’s annual celebration of traditional arts, the free festival’s blend of ethnic and mountain heritage has earned it a reputation as one of the region’s hallmark events. … Read more
Set for June 10, the Celebrate Princeton! Street Fair in Princeton, West Virginia, continues to grow in attendance, attracting thousands of visitors to the community’s historic Mercer Street district annually, according to organizer Lori McKinney. This year the 10 a.m.-5 p.m. event presented by the Princeton Renaissance Project will feature performances by the Cirque-de-Vol Aerial … Read more
Coming off its successful first year, Greater Huntington launches its second season of weekday family festivities during “Funington” in June and July. The region-wide program provides discounts and specific scheduling to help area families arrange family-fun events, according to Anna Adkins, spokesman for the Cabell-Huntington Convention and Visitors Bureau. Adkins said the program was so … Read more
