The 19th annual Freshwater Folk Festival is back! Presented by the Friends of the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery, it takes place Saturday, September 6, from 10 AM to 3 PM. Free to attend thanks to the Greenbrier County Commission’s Arts and Recreation Fund, the West Virginia Department of Art, Culture, and History’s Fairs and Festivals Fund, and generous donors, this beloved celebration offers a full day of music, nature, and family fun.
The festival is set against the beautiful backdrop of the hatchery grounds at 1087 Main Street in White Sulphur Springs. Visitors can enjoy music and presentations on a covered amphitheater stage, along with a large tent filled with exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on activities related to nature. Guided tours of the hatchery will be conducted throughout the day, and the visitor center, complete with new features and a rainbow trout display pool, will also be open.
Music and Presentations
The day kicks off with the six-member band Common Ground, playing from 10 AM to noon. Their set will blend rock, bluegrass, and both old and new country music.
From noon until 2 PM, Jim Snyder and his son Samuel James will join Bob Riggleman on stand-up bass for a performance of folk, folk-rock, and Americana.
The 2 to 3 PM slot begins with a festival favorite: Roy Moose’s presentation on the snakes of West Virginia. Moose has been part of the festival almost every year since its beginning. The festival finale will feature Larry Two Rivers Brown with an oral presentation and a performance on the Native American flute. As one of the festival’s organizers, Larry Davis points out, “Larry Two Rivers Brown was featured at the first ever Freshwater Folk Festival in 2005. He is well known in the state and is a prominent member of the Appalachian American Indians of West Virginia.”
Exhibits and Activities
A wide variety of exhibitors will be on hand, including the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery, Hanging Rocks Raptor Observatory, WV Cave Conservancy, Southeastern WV Beekeepers, Appalachian Headwaters, Greenbrier River Trail, WV Rivers Coalition, plus thirteen more. Visitors can enjoy wildlife art displays, science activity tables, native plant walks, and a raffle for a painted rain barrel.
The popular Touch-A-Truck event, which debuted last year, returns with even more vehicles to explore. Families can check out a State Police cruiser, White Sulphur Springs Fire Truck, dump truck, skid steer, forestry mulcher, and an emergency medical vehicle. Children and former children alike will have the chance to climb aboard and meet the heroes who operate them.
Food and Refreshments
Several food vendors will be on site with plenty of options, including Civil Air Patrol’s hot dogs, Nana B’s BBQ, Serendipity’s Italian ice and giant pretzels, Real Whirled Ice Cream, Em’s Cake Corner sweets, and J.J. Choo Choo’s baked goods.
Celebrate Community, Music, and Nature
From music on the amphitheater stage to wildlife demonstrations, family activities, and local food, the Freshwater Folk Festival is a true celebration of Appalachian culture and community spirit. With free admission and something for all ages, this annual tradition offers a perfect way to welcome September in the Greenbrier Valley.
For more details, visit the Freshwater Folk Festival Facebook page or reach out to Larry Davis at 304-646-0602.
Grab your friends, bring a chair, and get ready to fall into wonder. At the Freshwater Folk Festival, music, nature, and community come together for a day everyone will remember.
