Appalachian String Band Festival

A five day mountaintop gathering of musicians and friends with contests, concerts, workshops, square dances, camping and a hymn-sing. West Virginia masters are presented to an audience of more than 3000 musicians and string band music lovers from around the world. Over the history of this festival, more than 20 foreign countries and 40 of the 50 states have been represented, with many returning year after year to this much-loved festival.

For more information visit - http://www.wvculture.org/stringband

State Fair of West Virginia

State Fairgrounds Lewisburg WV, now in its 82nd year, the WV state fair offers family fun and entertainment. A 5-star agricultural event. Arts and Crafts, Livestock, exhibits, Concerts, Carnival, Great Food, and so Much More!!! Honored by the Southeast Society as one of the top 20 events in the Southeast.

For More information and fair updates visit www.wvstatefair.com

Gauley Season

The annual fall draw down of Summersville Lake begins the first Friday after Labor Day and transforms West Virginia into the whitewater rafting capital of the world. "Gauley Season", as it is known, offers 23 days of guaranteed releases and world-class rafting action. Read More about Gauley River Rafting.

Paddler Film Festival in Fayetteville

Gauley Season is just around the corner, which means that it is getting close to the 4th annual Video Boaters Challenge!! This annual fundraising event takes place at the Historic Fayette Theatre right in the heart of the New and Gauley Rivers. As boaters from all over the United States and World converge on Southern West Virginia to paddle Americas Best Whitewater, they bring with them a collection of Amazing paddling videos. The films are submitted under various categories including: “Best Trip Skits”, “Americas Best Whitewater”, “Best Trip Intros”, “Historic river footage” and more. Then the films are judged and winners are selected. The Video Boaters Challenge is a great opportunity for paddlers to get together and show off their film making skills and at the same time give back to the local community.

Gauley Fest – Worlds largest Paddling Party
Started in 1983 to celebrate the derailment of a hydro-electric project that would have disrupted whitewater flows on the Gauley River National Recreation Area, Gauley Fest has grown to become the largest river festival in the world, posting attendance numbers of over 5,000 participants in October of each year. The event focuses on bringing people to the area to enjoy a weekend of outdoor activities while showcasing whitewater paddlesports and raising funds and membership for American Whitewater. The festival is a three-day event, with the main activities taking place on Saturday night. Expect the festival site to be bustling throughout the weekend with food, vendors, and activities for paddlesport and non-paddlesport enthusiasts of all ages.

For more information visit: www.americanwhitewater.org

Annual Bridge Day Festival

One of America's Top One Hundred Festivals West Virginia's largest one-day festival, celebrated on the third Saturday in October, commemorates the October 1977 completion of the New River Gorge Bridge. Join tens of thousands of visitors as you walk across the longest, single span steel arch bridge (in the western hemisphere) and take in the views from 876 feet up in the air, Watch on as professional BASE (stands for building, antenna, span, and earth -- the fixed objects from which these jumpers leap) jumpers take the plunge from the middle of the bridge and expert rappellers dangle from beneath the bridges catwalk. Hundreds of food and crafts vendors support a full day of adventure.

NOTE: Pets, bicycles, carts, and strollers are not permitted on the bridge during Bridge Day. Coolers, packages, and large packs or satchels will not be permitted on the bridge for security reasons.

More Bridge Day Information:

New River CVB
(304) 465-5617 or (800) 927-0263
http://www.newrivercvb.com

Southern West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau
(304) 252-2244 or (800)VISITWV
http://www.visitwv.com