After a long winter, settlers in West Virginia 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.
Scores of community ramp dinners and full-scale festivals are hosted throughout the state beginning in April and continuing through May. Most are small affairs that welcome fewer than a hundred guests, while others feed more than 1,000.
Most ramp feasts function as fundraisers for churches, libraries, and volunteer fire departments, and so the events are welcomed with even more than usual zeal, and travelers are always welcomed.
2023 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 304-575-7390.
Marlinton Presbyterian Church Ramp Dinner
March 25 (Saturday)
Marlinton, West Virginia
Pocahontas County
The ramp dinner, which benefits the Pocahontas Youth Golf, will run from 1 to 6 p.m. The menu includes ramps, fried potatoes, ham, brown beans, cornbread, drinks, and dessert Admission is $15 per person. Children five and younger are admitted free. For more information, call 304-799-6145.
Buckhannon Eagles Dinner
April 1 (Saturday)
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Upshur County
The annual ramp dinner at the Buckhannon Eagles Club 4357 will be held on WV-20 from noon until the food runs out. A charge of $15 per plate. The menu will include raw, cooked, and deep-fried ramps, ham, cornbread, applesauce, pickled eggs, white and brown beans, and fried potatoes with and without ramps. For more information, call 304-472-4858.
Berea Ramp Dinner
April 15 (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.
Camp Creek Lumberjack & Ramp Feast
April 15 (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. A $15 dinner admission will raise funds for the Camp Creek State Park & Forest Foundation. For more information, call 304-425-9481.
Delbert Church Ramp Dinner
April 15 (Saturday)
Naoma, West Virginia
Raleigh County
From noon until 5 p.m., the Delbert Church in Naoma will host a ramp dinner. For $15 per adult and $5 for kids, the dinner includes ramps, fried potatoes, hot dogs, bacon, pinto beans, cornbread, and desserts. The dinner is sponsored by the Delbert Church Ladies Aid. For more information, call 304-673-4356.
Pickens Ramp Dinner
April 15 (Saturday)
Pickens, West Virginia
Randolph County
From 1 to 6 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.
Shortline Ramp Festival
April 15 (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.
Upshur County Library Ramp Dinner
April 21 (Friday)
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Upshur County
The 28th annual dinner will be held at the Event Center at Brushy Fork at 929 Brushy Fork Road. It will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will include baked ham, stir-fried vegetables (with and without ramps), macaroni and cheese (with and without ramps), potato-and-ramp soup, quiche with ramps, garden salad with ramp-and-dill buttermilk dressing (with and without ramps), and dinner rolls with butter and ramp-herb compound butter. Dessert will include rustic apple pie and ginger-molasses cookies. Tickets are $25 per adult and $12.50 per child younger than 12. 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 17th (include with or without ramp selections when making your reservations) via this link. Call 304-473-4219, extension 10 or 14, for more information.
Brothers of the Wheel, Kanawha Valley
April 22 (Saturday)
Charleston, West Virginia
Kanawha County
This is the 19th 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. The price per person is yet to be determined. Call Chapter President Herb Johnson at 304-545-2029 with any questions.
Feast of the Ramson
April 22 (Saturday)
Richwood, West Virginia
Nicholas County
In its 83rd year, the 10 a.m.-to-4 p.m. festival at a new location at the Richwood Community Center (the former armory) includes crafts, live music, a ramp recipe contest, 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 $10 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.
Olde St. John's Ramp Dinner
April 22 (Saturday)
Colliers, West Virginia
Brooke County
Held from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. or until sold out, they will have a meal of potatoes with bacon and ramps, soup beans, cornbread and ham. They will also have add-ons of drinks, desserts, ramp sausage sandwiches, ramp dogs, and ramp tortellini soup. They will have fresh ramps for purchase as long as supplies last. The dinner benefits their outreach programs and operations of the church. Recognized as the oldest Episcopal church in the mountain state, it is a sight to see in itself! For more information call 304-527-4746.
Stinkfest
April 22 (Saturday)
Huntington, West Virginia
Cabell County
As one of The Wild Ramp's signature annual events, Stinkfest is a celebration of the market's namesake, Allium tricoccum, commonly known as a ramp or wild leek. The day-long festival will feature ramp dishes from The Wild Ramp Harvest Kitchen and other local food businesses. 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.
Sutton Moose Lodge Ramp Dinner
April 22 (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, 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.
Weaver Church of the Nazarene Ramp Dinner
April 22 (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 $13, 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.
Camp Caesar Ramp Dinner
April 29 (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 $18 for adults, $12 for children, and children five and younger are admitted free with paying adult. Table service is provided. For more information, call 304-226-3888 or visit the camp website.
Helvetia Ramp Dinner
April 29 (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 29. 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 29 (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 29 (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 and $5 for kids 12 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 29 (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. Call Sherry at 304-614-6332 for directions or questions.
Ramp-&-Rails Festival
April 29 (Saturday)
Elkins, West Virginia
Randolph County
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.
Two Runs Community Ramp Dinner
April 29 (Saturday)
Palestine, West Virginia
Wirt County
The Two Runs Community Building at 9131 Palestine Road in Palestine will host a ramp dinner on April 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The $14 meal will include soup beans, cornbread, ramps, sausage and gravy, fried potatoes, dessert, and a drink. The $6 meal will include soup beans, cornbread, dessert, and a drink. For more information, call 304-834-8182.
Erbacon Ramp Dinner
May 6 (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 $12 per adult, $8 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 6 (Saturday)
Quick, West Virginia
Kanawha County
A fundraiser to benefit the Quick Community Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until sold out), admission for dinner, which includes traditional ramp fare, is $12.50 per person ages seven and older and $6 per child six and younger with a paying adult. 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.
Frametown Ramp Dinner
May 7 (Sunday)
Frametown, West Virginia
Braxton County
Hosted by the 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. Admission is $16 for adults, $8 for kids 6 to 12, and free for kids five and younger. See their Facebook page for more information or call the Fire Chief at 304-644-1993.
Ramp Out Dinner
May 13 (Saturday)
Weston, West Virginia
Lewis County
Formerly held at the Rock Springs Tavern, this year the dinner will be held at the at the Weston Moose Lodge No. 1376. With all proceeds going to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention the dinner will run from 12 p.m. until the food runs out. The menu for $15 per plate includes ramps, beans, taters, cornbread, ham, bacon, and salad, dessert, and a drink (coffee, tea or water). Cold beer and mixed drinks will be available for an additional fee. Takeout will be available. There will also be 50/50, raffles, silent and live auctions. Plenty of parking. 17 N. Main Avenue. For more information, call Julie Chapman at 304-751-2611 or Linda Walker at 304-517-4960.
Upper Laurel 1st Annual Ramp Dinner
May 20 (Saturday)
Sabine, West Virginia
Wyoming County
Held at the Upper Laurel Fire-Rescue Station 500 starting at 11 a.m., this dinner includes ramps, casserole, brown beans, Mexican cornbread, scrambled eggs, and fried potatoes. Each dinner costs $15. 7534 Poplar Gap Road, Sabine, WV. For orders or questions, call 304-294-4402.
Do you know of West Virginia ramp feasts we need to include?
Please contact the offices of West Virginia Explorer at 304-575-7390 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.
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