Welcome to the Top 10 Events in West Virginia
Explore the selection of the top 10 annual events and festivals, fairs and celebrations (listed in calendar priority) across the State of West Virginia, including events in Berkeley Springs and Charleston.Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting
February
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
The award-winning Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting welcomes more than one hundred waters from across the country and around the globe.
Held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, it is the largest water tasting competition in the world.
Municipal waters compete for the coveted honor of best tasting tap water bottled waters, both still and sparkling, and waters in a new category, purified drinking water. The public has an opportunity to vote for the People's Choice award for best packaging.
For more information visit: www.berkeleysprings.com/water/index.html
Vandalia Gathering
May (Memorial Day Weekend)
Charleston, West Virginia
A free celebration of the traditional arts, music, dance, stories, crafts and food of West Virginia held at the Cultural Center and State Capitol grounds, the Vandalia Gathering showcases West Virginia’s traditional mountain culture by showcasing craftspeople and performers.
Through a variety of exhibitions and programs, the festival attracts thousands of visitors from from across the Mountain State and the entire country to celebrate traditions passed from generation to generation.
For more information visit: www.wvculture.org/vandalia/index.html
Strawberry Festival
May
Buckhannon, West Virginia
A unique, traditional celebration to promote the strawberry harvest, the Strawberry Festival offers good, family style entertainment that offers exciting educational and cultural events for everyone.
There is a carnival, arts and craft exhibits, quilt show, photography show, souvenir shop, band competition, car show, strawberry auction, all rounded off with the huge block parties on Friday and Saturday nights.
For more information visit: www.wvstrawberryfestival.com/
FestivALL
June
Charleston, West Virginia
estivALL Charleston was conceived in 2004 and first produced in 2005 with the aim to produce and present high-quality artistic events including all of the arts: music, dance, theater, visual art and film - both national and international artists as well as the best local and regional talent.
Even though all of the events fall under the umbrella of FestivALL, many of them are produced or co-produced by different organizations. Much of the work is done through volunteer committees with help from the City of Charleston and other local institutions and arts groups.
For more information visit: www.festivallcharleston.com
Mountain State Arts & Craft Fair
July
Ripley, West Virginia
The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair has been a West Virginia family tradition since 1963.
Known widely as the “Grandaddy of Art and Craft Fairs” in the region, the fair has served as model for how to execute a professional and successful arts and craft fair event.
Now over 45 years old, the fair introduces attendees to the best of world-class artisan exhibitors and their excellent craftsmanship, as well as entertainers, contests and fine foods.
For more information visit: www.msacf.com
Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival
July
Wheeling, West Virginia
he Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival is the largest Italian Festival in West Virginia and the 2nd largest in the United States! The event attracts more than 175,000 visitors from around the United States and Canada.
As well as food, the festival also offers free entertainment, local Italian folk music and dance, arts and crafts booths and numerous games-of-skill.
For more information visit: www.italyfest.com
West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival
August/September (Labor Day Weekend)
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Pride in the cultural heritage of Italian-Americans in West Virginia gave life to the idea of a Festival in Clarksburg to honor the past, celebrate the present, and preserve rich traditions for future generations.
With each successive year, the festival has grown, and now is rated one of the "Top 100 Events in North America" including Canada and Mexico. Each year, this 3-day street festival brings over 100,000 visitors to Clarksburg.
From the opening ceremonies, when the royal court of Regina Maria (Regina meaning "Queen" and Maria the name of the first queen of Italy), is crowned, to its conclusion with the traditional festival ball, the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival attracts visitors from across the country.
For more information visit: www.wvihf.com
Mountain State Forest Festival
September/October
Elkins, West Virginia
A tradition since 1930, this eight-day event presents a variety of shows, exhibitions, and competitions, many of them related to the forest theme.
Competitions are held in such traditional skills as log stacking, muzzle loading, archery, spear throwing (atlatl), horseshoe pitching, and various logging skills for the title of champion lumberjack.
Several traditional crafts exhibits are displayed, including a juried arts and crafts show.
The two-hour Grand Feature Parade, covering over two miles, includes nearly 20 bands, floats, and special units.
For more information visit: www.forestfestival.com
Bridge Day
October
New River Gorge, West Virginia
Spectators come to the New River Gorge Bridge Day Festival from all over the world!
Bridge Day is the largest extreme sports event in the world with hundreds of BASE jumpers and nearly 80,000 spectators
The New River Gorge Bridge, 876' tall and the world's second longest single arch bridge, serves as the launch point for six hours (9am-3pm EST) of safe, legal BASE jumps.
For more information visit: www.officialbridgeday.com
Winter Festival of Lights
November/December/January
Wheeling, West Virginia
In 1985 a holiday tradition began in Wheeling called the Winter Festival of Lights/City of Lights celebration.
Since then the show has grown into one of the nation's largest, covering more than three hundred acres over a six-mile drive throughout the resort.
The Winter Festival of Lights has been listed on the American Bus Association's Top International Events, was named as a top 100 event by Eventcrazy.com and was recently listed as one of the top 200 events in the country by Discover America.
For more information visit: www.oglebay-resort.com/fol.htm
