FAIRS & FESTIVALS in Summersville and Surrounding Areas
MARCH
St. Patrick’s Day Parade • March 14
Celebrate Irish heritage with the grand parade, great food, prizes and Irish beer. Like us on Facebook.
APRIL
Feast of the Ramson • April 18
Celebrate WV’s oldest Ramp Festival in Richwood with a huge ramp dinner, mountain music, a pageant, and an
Appalachian Arts & Crafts Show.
richwoodchamberofcommerce.org
MAY
Gospel Bluegrass Convention • May 15–16
WV Mountain State Gospel Singers Corporation, Mt. Nebo, 304-872-1977.
No admission. Donations appreciated. Concessions available. All Gospel Bluegrass groups welcome, all singers welcome.
JUNE
Music at the Pavilion Fridays • June – mid-August
6:30pm-8:30pm at the City Pavilion in downtown Summersville.
Free to the public. Bring your lawn chair.
Gather in the Garden • June–August
Free concerts in the Sterling Spencer Sculpture Garden, Main St., Richwood, 7-9:00pm. Music, food and fun for the family.
WV Quilt Festival • June 18–20
Held every year at the Summersville Arena & Conference Center. You won’t want to miss seeing the finest quilts in the region! Vendors and classes throughout the entire festival. Concessions also available.
wvquilters.org
Summersville Lake Lighthouse 7th Birthday Celebration • June 20
Please join us as we celebrate the 7th Birthday of the Summersville Lake Lighthouse, along with the 157th birthday of the state of West Virginia. Live Entertainment, Car Show, Appalachian Food and Craft Vendors, Raffles, Live Snake Exhibit, K9 Demonstrations, Meet and Greet Booth with a WSAZ Representative and 2020 Lighthouse Festival Royalty, along with Smoky the Bear and Bobber the Water Dog and much more. First 50 vehicles receive a bag filled with local business incentives and trophies awarded at 5pm.
JULY
Fourth of July Fireworks held every year at Northside.
Sponsored by the City of Summersville and the Summersville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Scenic Mountain Triathlon • July 12
Compete in one of WV’s most challenging triathlons as you swim, run, and bike in the Monongahela National Forest near Richwood.
richwoodchamberofcommerce.org
Nicholas County Fair • Check CVB website for updated information.
Amusement rides, food, entertainment, games and activities. Held at the Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park.
70th Annual Gospel State Convention • July 24–25
WV Mountain State Gospel Singers Corporation, Mt. Nebo, 304-872-1977
No admission. Donations appreciated. Concessions available. All singers welcome.
Cherry River Festival • July 26–August 1
Come enjoy music, rides, pageants and events throughout the week in Richwood as well as some great food and games.
The Fireman’s Parade on Friday night starts off the weekend fun followed by the Grand Parade, 5K &10K run and Craft Show on Saturday.
cherryriverfestival.org
AUGUST
Summersville Lake Retreat Lighthouse Festival • Aug. 20
Join us for the 7th Annual Summersville Lake Lighthouse Festival & Car Show from 10am to 6pm at the Summersville Lake Retreat. TV3 News Anchor Taylor Eaton will be here to Meet & Greet along with our 2020 Lighthouse Festival Royalty. Artisans and crafters from throughout the state will be showcasing their skills along with live Appalachian music, great food, and entertainment. Live Snake Exhibit, K9 Demonstrations, Smokey the Bear and Bobber the Water Dog will be roaming the festival throughout the day. Nicholas County Animal Shelter will have Free Adoptions for their puppies and kittens until 1pm. First 100 vehicles registered in Car Show receives a bag filled with local business incentives. Trophies awarded at 5pm.
Mountain Mama Hospice Regatta #9 • August 14-16
The “Mama” isn’t just for sailors, it’s for all those that wish to be part of a greater effort! It’s a time for family, good food and fun on and in the clear waters of Summersville Lake. Consider joining at Battle Run Beach.
Wally’s Squadron R/C Fly In • Aug. 12–15
Butler Field; Phillips Run Rd. North of Summersville. Remote controlled Model aircraft of all types Vendors, Raffles.
wallys-squadron.com
SEPTEMBER
Nicholas County Potato Festival • Sept. 11–12
Downtown Summersville.
Celebrating friends, fun and potatoes! Plenty of games, entertainment, amusement rides, pet pageant, mashed potato, tater tot and hot wing eating contests, potato decorating, food, craft vendors, Grand Parade, tractor and car shows, 5K race, spud hunt and sack race, potato exhibit and auction. Firemen’s Parade and Potato Idol Contest.
nicholascountypotatofestival.com
National Grandparents Day Celebration • Sept. 13
Held in Richwood, many of the 15 McQuade children return every year to the town where they were raised to celebrate with us. Marion McQuade founded the day to celebrate grandparents.
richwoodchamberofcommerce.org
Special September Gospel Sing • Sept. 25–26
WV Mountain State Gospel Singers Corporation, Mt. Nebo 304-872-1977.
No admission. Donations appreciated. Concessions available. All singers welcome.
Grape Stompin’ Festival • Sept. 19–20
Sponsored by Kirkwood Winery.
Entertainment, wine tasting and tours, food, games and activities. Special grape stomping contest.
kirkwood-wine.com
Gauley Fest • Sept. 17–20
Sponsored by the American Whitewater Association, this festival celebrates whitewater rafting. Activities include entertainment, vendors, food and high adventure on the Gauley River. Held at the Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park.
Cranberry Shindig • Sept. 27
One day celebration of Appalachian culture set against a backdrop of color. Entertainment, artisan demonstrations, food and fun. 11am-4pm
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center Website
Craigsville Fall Festival
Parades, arts and crafts, food, entertainment, Queen’s Pageant, Children’s Pageant and more.
OCTOBER
Fenwick Mountain Old Time Community Festival • Oct. 3
Tractors, blacksmiths, apple butter, games, food, friends and more. There will be various demonstrations including
making apple butter. Auction at 2pm. Check out the Facebook Event Page for more info.
Mountain Color Art Show • Oct. 4
The opening reception and awards ceremony is on Sunday, Oct. 4 2pm-4pm. This is free to the public - exhibition includes work from award-winning artists from Nicholas and surrounding counties as well as from across the state. Following the opening day celebrations, the art can also be viewed throughout the week 5pm-8pm each evening.
Mountain Heritage Day • Oct. 10
Artists and Crafters demonstrate their craft at Richwood City Hall parking lot.
Mountain Arts Festival • Oct. 12
As part of the weeklong celebration of art, artisans and crafters will demonstrate their special skills and craftsmanship 10am–4pm. Most of their art will be for sale. Contact Carl O’Dell at 304-846-6782.
NOVEMBER
Holiday Craft Extravaganza • Nov. 20–21
Summersville Arena & Conference
Center Huge craft show extravaganza with over 100 craft vendors.
DECEMBER
Hometown Holiday Marketplace • Dec. 12
An old-fashioned Christmas shopping experience as you shop storefronts along Richwood’s Historic Main Street and other surrounding locations from 10am-3:30pm. It will be a full day of shopping with artisans and crafters selling unique homemade items—along with music, food, buggy rides, shuttle stops at each location and, of course, Santa Claus.