Craft Fairs & Farmers Markets in Charleston, West Virginia

Held in downtown Charleston in early July, Charleston Sternwheel Regatta is a four-day waterfront festival centered on historic sternwheel boats, live music, and community programming. The schedule spans boat rides, a BBQ challenge, wiener dog races, a car show, fireworks, and a drone show — alongside headliners and carnival entertainment at Haddad Riverfront Park. Food and craft vendors will find solid foot traffic across multiple venues and days.

In its 13th year, FeastivALL returns to Charleston as an elevated multi-course dinner fundraiser celebrating Appalachian flavors with creative twists. Held at the University of Charleston, the evening features a VIP reception with craft cocktails and live music, followed by a ballroom dinner where local chefs each prepare a signature dish. All proceeds support FestivALL's mission to make Charleston a work of art.

FestivALL is a citywide arts celebration running since 2005 and now in its 22nd year. The 10-day festival draws around 52,000 attendees across 100+ artists, 8 performance stages, a downtown arts fair, theater, and dance programming. Produced by an arts organization deeply invested in Charleston's cultural and economic vitality—the festival generates $1.8 million in annual community impact.

Held each May along Kanawha Boulevard in downtown Charleston in front of the State Capitol, the 10th Annual Foam at the Dome is a fundraiser for urban revitalization efforts hosted by Charleston Urban Works. Expect 70+ breweries, 200 beers, food vendors, and artisans—the event draws around 50,000 attendees. Since 2016, Foam at the Dome has raised over $200,000 for East End and West Side revitalization, making this a vendor opportunity with clear community impact.

Held in downtown Charleston, Holly Jolly Brawley is the fifth annual Christmas event taking place the Friday and Saturday immediately following Thanksgiving. Christmas trees are available for purchase starting mid-September; sponsorship trees can be reserved separately. Contact Downtown Charleston Association at Downtown25301@gmail.com for details.

Light the Night is West Virginia's largest winter light festival, held in Charleston with over 2.5 million lights choreographed to holiday music. The festival runs from late November through New Year's Day and features carnival rides, ice skating, ice bumper cars, kids' activities, holiday shopping, food vendors, and pictures with Santa. Strong foot traffic and a tourism-heavy crowd make this a solid fit for food and beverage vendors.

Held in downtown Charleston in August, Multifest celebrates its 36th year as a four-day multicultural festival at Haddad Riverfront Park. It's West Virginia's largest diversity festival—one of the longest-running in the state since 1989—and features national and regional music headliners, ethnic cuisine, arts and crafts, and wellness programming. A Kid's Fun Zone rounds out the draw. Expect 50+ vendors spanning arts, crafts, and ethnic food. Food vendors operate on first-come, first-serve with 10-foot spacing between cooking stations.

West Virginia's largest LGBTQ+ Pride Parade & Festival takes place the first Saturday of June in downtown Charleston. The all-day event includes the Big Gay Dog Show, Pride Parade, vendors, music, local entertainers, special guests, and national headlining drag queens and musical acts. More than 10,000 people attended the 2026 edition, held at Slack Plaza.

Held each Memorial Day weekend at the Capitol Complex in Charleston, the Vandalia Gathering is a free festival celebrating traditional Appalachian music, dance, crafts, and foodways. Expect fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitar contests during the day, evening concerts in the State Theater, and impromptu jam sessions throughout the grounds. The Craft Circle showcases 20+ West Virginia craftspeople demonstrating and selling work — pottery, glass, folk toys, and more. Food vendors serve ethnic and regional specialties. Dance programming spans Irish, Scottish, Morris, and Appalachian traditions, with audience participation encouraged. An Old-Time for Young'uns area engages children with historic demonstrations.

Annual West Virginia Book Festival