6 Sensational West Virginia Food Festivals
West Virginia is known for being one of the most scenic states in the country, full of breathtaking natural landscapes and gorgeous architecture. But they also have a long list of curious and delicious food festivals that are worth putting on your must-see list. Here are a few of our favorite West Virginia food festivals get you started.
West Virginia Blackberry Festival
Nutter Fort
Arts and crafts, games and activities, and loads of blackberry-themed treats, dishes, and drinks are just a few of the things you can enjoy at the West Virginia Blackberry Festival. This three-day festival has been running for more than 20 years and includes everything from a 5k run to a fun-filled firework show to conclude the celebration. If you want to up the ante a little, you can even participate in the baking contest to show off your blackberry skills.
Black Walnut Festival
Spencer
Whether you want to wave and cheer at the parade, pick up a few wares at the craft show, or stop and smell the roses at the flower show, the Black Walnut Festival has everything you could want in an agricultural celebration. There’s even a nut run, a quilt show and live music. But the star of the show is the humble West Virginia Black Walnut, which is the featured prominently in cake form during the baking contest.
West Virginia Hot Dog Festival
Huntington
If you’ve never been to a festival dedicated exclusively to hot dogs, now is your chance. The West Virginia Hot Dog Festival is a unique event that celebrates all the restaurants in Huntington that feature hot dogs on the menu. The festival includes contests and competitions, live music and demonstrations, a local farmer’s market, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sample all kinds of hot dogs in one fell swoop. Can it really get any better than that?
Preston County Buckwheat Festival
Preston County
The Preston County Buckwheat Festival has been running for more than 75 years and has been named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events. Considering this festival features everything from parades and pageant competitions to arts and crafts and a seemingly never-ending stack of buckwheat cakes, it’s really no surprise it continues to be a must-visit for locals and tourists alike. And if you’ve never tasted buckwheat cakes before, you’re in for a treat. They resemble pancakes and are often served with butter, syrup or applesauce.
West Virginia Pumpkin Festival
Milton
The West Virginia Pumpkin Festival began in 1986 and has grown in popularity each and every year. Although the event was originally designed to help farmers raise and sell their pumpkins, it’s now one of the largest festivals in the state and attracts more than 50,000 people every season.
If you enjoy all things autumn and artisan, you’re going to love this event. In addition to participating in the traditional pumpkin-inspired activities, you can peruse the more than 100 artisans and craftsmen booths and watch demonstrations on everything from blacksmithing and quilting to woodworking and pottery making.
Pickens Maple Syrup Festival
Pickens
The time-honored tradition of harvesting and producing maple syrup runs deep in the heritage of West Virginia, which is why the Pickens Maple Syrup Festival is a must for anyone looking for unique food festivals to attend. You can enjoy a long-running pancake feast and purchase maple syrup candies at this one-of-a-kind event before perusing the craft sale, quilt show and wood chopping exhibition. You can also spend some time watching live musical performances and tasting a few of the finest wines from local wineries.