RIPLEY, W.Va. — Billed as “the granddaddy of all West Virginia craft fairs,” the 51st Annual Mountain State Art and Craft Fair begins Thursday at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Jackson County.
“I love this event simply because you have all of that rich Appalachian heritage in one place and you have new and exciting events, as well, offered for people of all ages,” said Travis Cullen, spokesperson for the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair.
The fair’s rules require that at least 70 percent of the products at the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair come from West Virginia. This year, that number is 75 percent. A jury of craft experts selects all of the artisans with a focus on Appalachia.
“(There’s) Pottery to ceramics to photography to art, paintings, jewelry, metal, glass. There’s just an unbelievable amount of stuff and it’s not just crafts, there’s food and there’s live music and a lot of things like that as well,” Cullen said.
Archery and youth fishing competitions are on the schedule this year along with a chili cookoff, a hunting dog demonstration and a Civil War encampment.
The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair is held at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center which is located off the Ripley-Fairplain exit of Interstate 77, #132. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There are admission fees based on age.
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