Scores of community ramp dinners and full-scale festivals are hosted throughout West Virginia in April and May. Most are small affairs that welcome fewer than a hundred guests, while others feed more than 1,000.
Most function as fundraisers for churches and other non-profits, notably volunteer fire departments, so the events are celebrated with even more than usual zeal, and travelers are always welcomed. Ramps are integral to state history. After a long winter, settlers hungrily welcomed the appearance of the wild leek or ramp, one of the first edible plants to ripen in spring. It became the focus of a tradition of community feasts that has long lingered in rural Appalachia.
2024 Schedule of Ramp Dinners and Festivals
Non-profit and beneficent organizations are hosting the following dinners. Businesses that would like to advertise for-profit events may call 304-923-5141.
American Legion Post 177 Ramp Dinner
March 14 (Thursday)
Barboursville, West Virginia
Cabell County
Held from 5 p.m. to 8p.m. at 6024 US Route 60 E in Barboursville, this ramp dinner features simple yet delicious fare: ramps, bacon, fried potatoes, and cornbread. Each plate costs $7. All proceeds will fund the Easter Egg Hunt, and any leftover money will be donated to the Honor Guard. For more information, call 304-733-0177.
Doddridge County Ramp Dinner
March 22 (Friday)
West Union, West Virginia
Doddridge County
The dinner will be held at the West Union Lions Club from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a menu of ramps & potatoes, ham, green beans, apple sauce, dessert, and a drink. The cost is $10 per person and for eat-in or carry-out dinners. For more information, call Tracy Bonnell at 304-266-4994.
Upshur County Library Ramp Dinner
April 12 (Friday)
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Upshur County
The 29th annual dinner will be held at the Event Center at Brushy Fork at 929 Brushy Fork Road. The dinner prepared by Fish Hawk Acres will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will include deviled eggs with pickled ramps, potato & ramp chowder, ramp & vegetable strata, spinach salad with bacon ramp vinaigrette, Fish Hawk Acres signature baked ham, asparagus, baby carrots & sugar snap peas, roasted spring potatoes, focaccia with ramps, and strawberry shortcake. Tickets are $28 per adult. All proceeds benefit the Upshur County Public Library. Dine-in, as well as curbside pickup, are available. Advanced reservations are required and accepted through April 8th at 10 a.m. (include with or without ramp selections when making your reservations) via this link. Call 304-473-4219, for more information.
Camp Creek Lumberjack & Ramp Feast
April 13 (Saturday)
Camp Creek, West Virginia
Mercer County
The Lumberjack Festival will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring craft vendors and a flea market. The dinner will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until the food runs out. The menu includes ramp casserole, brown beans, cornbread, coleslaw, nachos, hot dogs, and dessert at Camp Creek State Park. The $15 per plate price will raise funds for the Camp Creek State Park & Forest Foundation. For more information, call 304-425-9481.
Gracepoint Ramp Dinner
April 13 (Saturday)
Beckley, West Virginia
Raleigh County
Hosted by Gracepoint Fellowship Church at 3674 Harper Road from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., this all-you-can-eat dinner will have ramp casserole, scrambled eggs with ramps, fried potatoes, pinto beans, cornbread, ramp salad, desserts, and a drink for $15. To-go dinners are available at $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.
Feast of the Ramson
April 13 (Saturday)
Richwood, West Virginia
Nicholas County
In its 85th year, the 9 a.m.-to-4 p.m. festival at a new location at the Richwood Community Center (the former armory) includes crafts, live music, and a 10:30 a.m.-to-3 p.m. (or until sold out) dinner with traditional ramp fare and sassafras tea. There will be a charge of $20 per adult guest and $15 per child younger than 12 years old. Tickets can be pre-purchased or purchased at the door. For more information, call 304-846-6790 or visit the website.
Shortline Ramp Festival
April 13 (Saturday)
Pine Grove, West Virginia
Wetzel County
Held in a new location approximately 10 minutes from the former site in the field behind the Short Line School in Reader. A 5k run will start at 9 a.m., while the festival will kick off at 10 a.m. A full ramp dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until the food runs out) in the school cafeteria beside the field. 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. Call 304-455-3825 or visit its Facebook page.
Sutton Moose Lodge Ramp Dinner
April 13 (Saturday)
Sutton, West Virginia
Braxton County
This dinner will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to the public. It will include ramps, fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, brown beans, drinks, and desserts. The price is $15 for adults, $8 for kids 6 to 12, and kids five and younger are admitted free. Visit the lodge's Facebook page for more information.
Berea Ramp Dinner
April 20 (Saturday)
Berea, West Virginia
Ritchie County
Held at South Fork Grange, the dinner will start at 2 p.m. and continue until sold out with a menu of ramps, ham, potatoes, soup beans, ramp salad, cornbread, applesauce, horseradish pickles, cake and coffee or iced tea. Adult meals are $20 and children under 10 are $10. Carryout meals will NOT be available. They will have horseradish pickles available for sale.
Brothers of the Wheel Kanawha Valley
April 20 (Saturday)
Rand, West Virginia
Kanawha County
This is the 20th annual ramp dinner hosted by the Kanawha Valley Chapter of the BOTW MC. The all-you-can-eat dinner, which will be from 12PM until sold out, will be held at 5105 Midland Drive Charleston (Corner of Bluefield Avenue and Old Rt 60 in Rand) and includes a traditional menu of ramps, fried potatoes with ramps, scrambled eggs with ramps, just plain fried ramps, 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 20 (Saturday)
Pickens, West Virginia
Randolph County
From 1 to 5 p.m., the annual Pickens Ramp 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 6 to 12, children five and younger are free with a paying adult. Call 304-924-5813 for more information.
Camp Caesar Ramp Dinner
April 27 (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 paying adult. Table service is provided. For more information, call 304-226-3888.
Helvetia Ramp Dinner
April 27 (Saturday)
Helvetia, West Virginia
Randolph County
The Helvetia Farm Women and the Helvetia Community Hall Association will host the community's annual ramp dinner on April 27. Food will be served from 2 until 6 p.m., or until the food runs out. This year's dinner will be different in that you will receive generous take-out portions instead of the usual eat-in dinner, but you are welcome to relax and eat at one of the tables provided both inside and outside the building. The menu will include ham, cornbread, ramps (prepared with bacon), beans, fried potatoes, coleslaw, applesauce, dessert, coffee, and lemonade. Plates will be $20 per adult and $10 per child. For more information, visit their website.
Leivasy Ramp Dinner
April 27 (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 $15 for adults and $8 for children. All To-Go plates are $15. Call 304-846-9147 for more information.
Mason-Dixon Historical Park Ramp Festival
April 27 (Saturday)
Core, West Virginia
Monongalia County
Held at the Red Barn (79 Buckeye Road in Core), the festival will also have craft vendors and a flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and Free for kids 5 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 27 (Saturday)
Philippi, West Virginia
Barbour County
The Mount Liberty Community Ramp Dinner will run from 11 a.m.-5 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 and drinks, and Mount Liberty's homemade apple butter. Pricing to be announced. Mount Liberty's famous apple butter will be for sale on a first come basis. Quarts are $10, and pints are $6. The location address is 389 Jonestown-Mt Liberty Road, Phillippi. Call Sherry at 304-614-6332 for directions or questions.
Ramp Fest at Mountain Table
March 14 (Thursday)
Renick, West Virginia
Greenbrier County
This old-fashioned ramp supper is a collaboration between A Taste of Eggcellence and Mountain Table with a menu of brown beans & ham, fried potatoes, cornbread muffins, coleslaw, ramperoni rolls, pound cake, sweet tea, lemonade, craft beer, wine and cocktails. Dinner will be served from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. with live music from Lloyd Murray from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dine-in and carry-out will be available but be sure to RSVP to guarantee a plate. Prices vary from $12 to $16. For additional information or to RSVP, call 304-646-8400.
Ramp-&-Rails Festival
April 27 (Saturday)
Elkins, West Virginia
Randolph County
The 14th annual festival is held next to the Elkins Depot, the FREE 10 a.m.-to-4 p.m. festival includes crafts, live entertainment, and a favorite ramp-dish contest. Vendors have designed delicious ramp-themed foods such as ramp chili, ramp burgers, ramperoni rolls, and ramp risotto with shrimp. For more information, call 304-635-7803 or visit the Elkins welcome center website. The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad will run train rides with the festival.
Stinkfest
April 27 (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 which includes ramp cornbread, ham, fried potatoes, fried ramps, potatoes 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 Street West (Central City Antiques District), Huntington. For the most up-to-date information, check out the events calendar on the Wild Ramp website or follow The Wild Ramp on Facebook or Instagram or call 304-523-7267.
Erbacon Ramp Dinner
May 4 (Saturday)
Cowen, West Virginia
Webster County
This all-you-can-eat dinner will last from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with ramps, fried potatoes, cornbread, desserts, and drinks. Tickets are $14 per adult, 10 for kids 7 to 12, and kids six and younger eat free with a paying adult. Call 304-226-5711 for more information.
Quick Community Ramp Dinner
May 4 (Saturday)
Quick, West Virginia
Kanawha County
A fundraiser to benefit the Quick Community Center from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (or until sold out), admission for dinner is $15 per person. This includes a traditional menu of ramps with bacon, ham, pinto beans, fried potatoes, cooked cabbage with smoked sausage, scrambled eggs, a variety of dessert choices, and a drink (Pepsi products, water or sassafras tea.) Weather permitting, there will be live music. They now accept credit cards along with cash and checks. The address is 23 Lucy Lane in Quick, six miles past the Pinch-Quick intersection. Call 304-965-9008 for more information.
Weaver Church of the Nazarene Ramp Dinner
May 4 (Saturday)
Bellington, West Virginia
Barbour County
Hosted by the Men's & Women's Ministry, all proceeds will benefit the outreaches for the children of the community. Food will be served from noon until 5 p.m. or 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 $14, and tickets for children 12 and younger are $7. Take-out orders are welcomed. The dinner address is 11 N. Weaver Road, Call 330-451-9917 for more information.
Frametown Ramp Dinner
May 5 (Sunday)
Frametown, West Virginia
Braxton County
Hosted by Frametown Fire Department at the Fire Department building, this dinner will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until they have sold out. The menu includes ramps, fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, brown or white beans, drinks, and homemade desserts. Adults are $15, Kids ages 6 to 12 are $8 and 5 and under are free. For additional information call 304-644-1993.
Do you know of West Virginia ramp feasts we need to include?
Please contact the offices of West Virginia Explorer at 304-923-5141 or use our request for ramp festival information to inform us of 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 stand in March, April, and May, allowing motorists to grab a bag or bundle.
