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When it comes to special events, fairs and festivals, West Virginia  has something for everyone. Whether it's honoring food, history, heritage, or one of the four seasons, West Virginia’s  celebrations are known for their authentic charm. The following is just a sample of the events taking place year round.

Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting

February  in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

The award-winning Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting welcomes more than one hundred waters from across the country and around the globe. Held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, it is the largest water tasting competition in the world.

Municipal waters compete for the coveted honor of best tasting tap water bottled waters, both still and sparkling, and waters in a new

category, purified drinking water. The public has an opportunity to vote for the People's Choice award for best packaging.

Visit: www.berkeleysprings.com

Vandalia Gathering

May 24 - 25, 2014 in Charleston, West Virginia

It’s the 36th gathering at Vandalia - Music·Dancing·Stories·Crafts·Food and Fun plus Old-Time activities for Young'uns.  A free celebration of the traditional arts, music, dance, stories, crafts and food of West Virginia held at the Cultural Center and State Capitol grounds, the Vandalia Gathering showcases West Virginia’s traditional mountain culture by showcasing craftspeople and performers. Through a variety of exhibitions and programs, the festival attracts thousands of visitors from from across the Mountain State and the entire country to celebrate traditions passed from generation to generation. Visit: www.wvculture.org/vandalia

Strawberry Festival

May 10 - 18, 2014 in Buckhannon, West Virginia

A unique, traditional celebration to promote the strawberry harvest, the Strawberry Festival offers good, family style entertainment that offers exciting educational and cultural events for everyone. Enthusiastic volunteers provide good, family style entertainment that offers exciting educational and cultural events for everyone. There is a carnival, arts and craft exhibits, quilt show, photography show, souvenir shop, band competition, car show, strawberry auction, all rounded off with the huge block parties on Friday and Saturday nights.

Visit: www.wvstrawberryfestival.com/

FestivALL

June 20 -29, 2014  in Charleston, West Virginia

FestivALL Charleston was conceived in 2004 and first produced in 2005 with the aim to produce and present high-quality artistic events

including all of the arts: music, dance, theater, visual art and film - both national and international artists as well as the best local and regional talent. Even though all of the events fall under the umbrella of FestivALL, many of them are produced or co-produced by different organizations. Much of the work is done through volunteer committees with help from the City of Charleston and other local institutions and arts groups.  Visit: www.festivallcharleston.com

Mountain State Arts & Craft Fair

July 3-5, 2014  in Ripley, West Virginia

It’s the 50th anniversary of The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair has been a West Virginia family tradition since 1963. Known widely as the “Grandaddy of Art and Craft Fairs” in the region, the fair has served as model for how to execute a professional and successful arts and craft fair event. Now over 45 years old, the fair introduces attendees to the best of world-class artisan exhibitors and their excellent craftsmanship, as well as entertainers, contests and fine foods. Visit: www.msacf.com

Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival

July 25 - 27, 2014  in Wheeling, West Virginia

The Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival is the largest Italian Festival in West Virginia and the 2nd largest in the United States! The event attracts more than 175,000 visitors from around the United States and Canada. As well as food, the festival also offers free entertainment, local Italian folk music and dance, arts and crafts booths and numerous games-of-skill. Visit: www.italyfest.com

West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival

August 29 -31, 2014 in Clarksburg, West Virginia

Love, and a pride in the cultural heritage of Italian-Americans in West Virginia, that gave life to the idea of a Festival in Clarksburg to honor the past, celebrate the present, and preserve rich traditions for future generations.  With each successive year, the festival has grown, and now is rated one of the "Top 100 Events in North America" including Canada and Mexico. Each year, this 3-day street festival brings over 100,000 visitors to Clarksburg. From the opening ceremonies, when the royal court of Regina Maria (Regina meaning "Queen" and Maria the name of the first queen of Italy), is crowned, to its conclusion with the traditional festival ball, the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival

attracts visitors from across the country. Visit: www.wvihf.com

Mountain State Forest Festival

September 27 - October 5, 2014  in Elkins, West Virginia

The Mountain State Forest Festival is the largest and oldest festival in the state of West Virginia and is considered a major homecoming for those individuals who previously lived in the Elkins area. It's also a time when first time visitors, young and old alike, come to the area to participate in the many festival events and activities. A tradition since 1930, this eight-day event presents a variety of shows, exhibitions, and competitions, many of them related to the forest theme. Competitions are held in such traditional skills as log stacking, muzzle loading, archery, spear throwing , horseshoe pitching, and various logging skills for the title of champion lumberjack. Several traditional crafts exhibits are displayed, including a juried arts and crafts show. The two-hour Grand Feature Parade, covering over two miles, includes nearly 20 bands, floats, and special units. Visit: www.forestfestival.com

Bridge Day

October 18, 2014  in New River Gorge, West Virginia

Spectators come to the New River Gorge Bridge Day Festival from all over the world! Bridge Day is the largest extreme sports event in the

world with hundreds of BASE jumpers and nearly 80,000 spectators The New River Gorge Bridge, 876' tall and the world's second longest

single arch bridge, serves as the launch point for six hours (9am-3pm EST) of safe, legal BASE jumps. Visit: www.officialbridgeday.com

Winter Festival of Lights

November 7, 2013 -  January 4, 2015  in Wheeling, West Virginia

Since 1985 the Winter Festival of Lights has been delighting visitors of all ages! Since then the show has grown into one of the nation's largest, covering more than three hundred acres over a six-mile drive throughout the resort. The Winter Festival of Lights has been listed on the American Bus Association's Top International Events,  .Visit: www.oglebay-resort.com/fol.htm