RIPLEY, W.Va. — A popular four-day art festival will move in 2018 to its traditional time of July.
The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair will be held between July 4 and July 7 at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Jackson County. It was held in July until 2016, when it was moved to September.
Event president Jan Sizemore said the move is sure to be popular.
“We looked at the numbers and talked to the artisans and the guests, and they all said they are more than willing to move it back,” she said. “They are wanting it back.”
Sizemore said the event board is planning a homecoming celebration marking the move.
“The people around the state said they want to come back. They like the outdoor venue instead of indoor at a mall somewhere,” she said. “Everybody’s just requested it to come back, and so we’ll have a big homecoming to bring it back to July.”
Sizemore said while traditions of the 56-year-long festival will remain, they are keeping some recent and popular changes.
“We’re keeping the five villages alive,” she said, noting the American, Celtic, Italian, German and Swiss exhibits. “We’re going to build on that. We’ve done it the last two years, and people really liked it.”
Sizemore said parking will be free, and activities will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
MetroNews affiliate WMOV Radio in Ravenswood contributed to this report.