Mark your calendar using our guide to Huntington’s biggest annual festivals.
By Carter Seaton
HQ 124 | WINTER 2024
Siddharth Katragadda, the Indian American artist, writer, filmmaker, poet and engineer, once said, “The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals.” If that is true, then Huntington is well on its way. With more than 25 festivals throughout the year, the region has a time of celebration for nearly every interest or taste. Whether you love wine, beer, music, film or even stinky ramps, Huntington has you covered. So, mark your 2024 calendars for the following events that we have conveniently listed here in chronological order:
Heritage Farm Spring Festival and Christmas Village
Heritage Farm Museum & Village, at 3300 Harvey Rd., has a festival for every season. While the 19th-century Appalachian village is open year-round, its May 4 Spring Festival marks the opening of its busy season by introducing its newest features and attractions. Also on tap are the summer and fall festivals on July 6 and September 28. And on Dec 6, 7, 13 and 14, the Christmas Village will open to sell-out crowds. For more information or to purchase season passes, visit www.heritagefarmmuseum.com
Banff CENTRE Mountain Film Festival World Tour
The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is the most prestigious mountain festival in the world. Featuring the world’s best mountain sport, culture and environmental films, you can experience the thrill and challenges of the mountain environments that inspire us all. These films explore the mountain world, highlighting new landscapes and remote cultures, and expose audiences to exciting adventures and adrenaline-packed sports. Since 1986, right after the festival, held every fall in Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour starts to travel around the globe, making stops in 40 countries. This year’s tour will stop in Huntington at the Marshall University Rec Center on April 22. To purchase tickets or view the event’s official trailer, visit www.marshall.edu/muartistseries/#/shows/banff_mountain_film_festival.
Stink Fest
Phew! What’s that odor? Stink Fest, held at The Wild Ramp, 555 14th St. W, celebrates local farming of all types but with a special emphasis on ramps, the edible (but smelly) onion-like vegetable that grows wild in our region. This year’s festival includes live music, children’s activities and over 30 vendors who will offer up ramp-related artisan dishes and products. The pungent but popular event will kick off at 11 a.m. on April 27. For more details, check out the Wild Ramp’s Facebook page.
Appalachian Film Festival
The Appalachian Film Festival is coming back after a decade of dormancy. It ran in Huntington from 2003-2013, screening films such as The Last Ride and Winter’s Bone, and celebrated a relaunch in 2023. The event that takes place this year from April 26-28 features films from the contiguous counties that comprise Appalachia. Films will be screened at Foundry Theater, located in the historic Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium in downtown Huntington. This year, there are four categories: student, music video, short and feature length. For more information, visit www.foundrytheater.org.
The Brewgrass Festival
The Brewgrass Festival, sponsored by Taps at Heritage, celebrates the art of handcrafted beers and cider. The event, which raises money for the West Virginia Veterans Home, also features a wine tent, local food and merchandise vendors. On May 25 at Heritage Station, the live music will flow as freely as the beer. Check out all the details at www.facebook.com/BREWGRASSWV.
Old Central City Days
Old Central City Days celebrates the history and culture of the city’s former manufacturing hub. During the weekend street festival, wander through the antique shops along 14th Street West; and enjoy the music, food and activities for kids and collectors of all ages. The 2024 festival is set for June 7-9.Visit www.oldcentralcity.org/old-central-city-days for more information.
Pride Month
Bring your own beverage, brunch and blankets to claim your spot for this year’s “Drag Me to Brunch: Picnic Edition,” scheduled for June 10 at 1 p.m. at The Ritter, Ritter Park’s amphitheater. Decorate your spot at The Ritter as lavishly as you wish before the show begins. This year’s headliners are Miss Heaven Hernandez and Miss Maya Bizness. Later in Pride Month is the Pride Bar Crawl, set for June 22. To find out more about Pride Month activities, visit www.huntingtonpride.org/programs.
Juneteenth Celebration
Celebrate the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. In Huntington, Juneteenth will be celebrated with food, drinks, music and games. Visit www.facebook.com/HuntingtonJuneteenth for more details and updates.
Dawg Dazzle
Celebrate the Fourth of July by joining your friends at Harris Riverfront Park for an evening of full-blown entertainment. The fireworks show is not to be missed! Get all the details by listening to 93.7 “The Dawg.”
WV Hot Dog Festival
It’s the annual celebration of our year-round favorite food. To pay homage to this delicious meal in a bun, Third Avenue between 9th and 10 Streets and Pullman Square will be filled with hot dog vendors, wiener dog races, all-breed dog races and a pooch parade. Visit the children’s area, enter or watch the eating/drinking contests and enjoy the entertainment on Pullman Square’s stage on Saturday, July 27. Visit www.wvhotdogfestival.com to learn more.
Rails & Ales
Harris Riverfront Park is the site of this end-of-summer celebration of craft beers. Once you snag your ticket, you can party on August 10 to the live music, sample the wide array of beers and grab a bite from one of the local food trucks. For tickets visit www.railsandales.com.
Italiano Festival
The Italiano Festival returns to downtown Huntington after a four-year hiatus. It will be held Aug. 17 on Fourth Avenue, with all proceeds benefiting Facing Hunger Foodbank. In addition to delicious food, entertainment is being planned including Benjamin DeFazio and the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival Dancers. For more information go to www.facinghunger.org/italiano.
Diamond Teeth Mary Blues & Arts Festival
If the blues, jazz and bluegrass are your jam, you don’t want to miss this festival honoring Huntington native and world-renowned blues singer “Diamond Teeth” Mary McClain. Her ashes were spread on the railroad tracks in front of Heritage Station following her death in 2000. Come enjoy great music, good food and artisan booths Aug. 24 at Heritage Station. Visit www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064793345567 for more details.
Fly in Festival
From July 25-27, the Robert Newlon Airpark on Kyle Lane in Huntington is the site of three days of country music, camping and more. For die-hard musicians, the festivities include a fiddle contest and flat-picking guitar workshops. Don’t miss the kayak and canoe float trips down the Ohio River. For tickets, visit www.flyinfestival.com.
Huntington Music & Arts Festival
This weeklong festival offers films, concerts and comedy acts at various venues and Art on the Edge at the West Edge Factory. It culminates with the festival proper: a weekend of music from over 20 bands, food trucks and art at The Ritter. Visit www.hmafestival.com to find out event dates and more.
Funktafest
This one-day festival of arts and music features 16 musical acts playing regional funk, rock and groove music. This September, enjoy funk yoga, visual artists, a kid’s funk corner, craft beers and food at The Ritter. Visit www.funktafest.com for tickets.
Siptacular Wine Festival
This October, Sip Downtown Brasserie invites you to sample nearly 100 wines all in one location. Held on Ninth Street between Third and Fourth Avenues, the festival features live entertainment and local food vendors. For event details, visit www.siptacularwinefestival.com.
Greek Fest
This long-running festival, held at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 701 11th Ave., will celebrate its 41st year Sept. 27-28. Tour the church, learn about Greek culture and dance, have dinner on the grounds — and don’t forget the homemade baklava; it sells out quickly. Visit www.stgeorgehwv.org/festival for details.
WV Pumpkin Festival
The festivities begin with a parade on September 29. Then, Pumpkin Park in Milton opens Oct. 3-6 to celebrate the fall harvests with vendor booths, food stalls, contests and entertainment. Don’t miss seeing the pumpkin judged the state’s largest. Visit www.wvpumpkinpark.com for a full schedule of events.
Chilifest
Some like it hot; others prefer a milder taste. Chilifest offers it all. Cooking teams compete for honors in the West Virginia State Chili Championship, and you can sample them all. Held on Third Avenue between Ninth and Tenth Streets each October, the event features live music and lots of fun. Visit www.chilifestwv.com to learn more.
MU International Festival
West Virginia’s oldest and longest-running international festival features foods from the Tri-State’s best international restaurants, world music, dancing and displays representing many different countries and cultures. Held in October at the MU Memorial Student Center, it’s free and open to the public. Learn more at www.marshall.edu/iss/festival/.
Mark your calendars. The fun has just begun.
