What a week it's been. From Sunday's tragic flooding to the return of school for (most) Kanawha County students on Wednesday, this week has been one rush of hectic days for some. If you're looking to relax this weekend, there's plenty of local happenings to refresh your spirit. Here's a look at what's going on now through Sunday around the Kanawha Valley.

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Friday, Aug. 21

Music

  • CITY CENTER LIVE HAPPY HOURS: 5-7 p.m. Free. Featuring Golden. City Center at Slack Plaza, 182 Summers St., Charleston.

  • DUO FIELDS: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Short Story Brewing, 186 Summers St., Charleston.

  • JASON ALDEAN: 7:30 p.m. Tickets $115+. With special guests Chase Matthew, Elizabeth Nichols, and Dee Jay Silver. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.

  • STEVE HIMES: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • ISIAC MCALLISTER: 8-10 p.m. $10 per person. All ages. Outside food permitted. Dog friendly; animals must be on a leash. The Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. W., Charleston.

  • FERAL FRIDAYS: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. No cover. Ages 21+. Featuring EDM, Heavy Bass and Dubstep music. Sam’s Uptown Cafe, 28 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • EMPTY GLASS LIVE: 10 p.m. $10 cover. Ages 21+. Featuring The Big Bad, Gasser, and Rodney & The Cressels. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.

Stage/Theater

  • OLMO: 7:30 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • LEE STREET DRAG SHOW: 11 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Lee Street Lounge, 222 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston.

Athletics & Outdoors

  • POWER UP EXERCISE CLASS: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. South Charleston Public Library, 312 Fourth Ave., South Charleston.

125th Annual Pinch Reunion

  • FRIDAY CONCERT & DANCE: 6-10 p.m. Free entry. Featuring Stephanie and the Band of Brothers. Doors open at 6 p.m., with music and dancing from 7-10 p.m. Concessions available. Elk River Community Center, 1078 Main St., Elkview.

Etc.

  • NITRO CATFISH TOURNAMENT: 6-11 p.m. $15 per person; children age 12 and under free. Sign-up begins at 4:30 p.m. at the lake's gazebo. Prizes will be award for the highest total weight of best four fish. There is a two pole limit for each contestant. Fishing license required. Ridenour Lake, 570 Ridenour Park, Nitro.

  • BACK TO SCHOOL MOVIE NIGHT: 6:30 p.m. Featuring food, prizes, water games, music, games and more. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for the movie, which begins at dusk. Phat Daddy’s on Da Tracks, 1634 Sixth Ave., Charleston.

  • KIDS NIGHT: 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Sponsored by St. Albans Parks and Recreation. Featuring inflatables, emergency vehicles, a foam garage, face painting, music, games, prizes, and a free kids’ Zumba demo class. Free hot dogs from Bammy’s Chili Dogs in St. Albans and free pizza from Marco’s Pizza will be available while supplies last. Scooby Icy Treats will also be on hand selling refreshing icy treats.  Roadside Park, MacCorkle Avenue, St. Albans.

Saturday, Aug. 22

Music

  • REWIND THE WALKMAK: 6 p.m. Free entrance. Part of Bumper Fest. Joe Sawyers Field, 6100 Sissonville Drive, Charleston.

  • CHET LOWTHER: 6:30 p.m. Free. Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main St., Clendenin.

  • THE DOOGES: 7-9 p.m. No cover. Short Story Brewing, 186 Summers St., Charleston.

  • FOLKLORE STAGE PRESENTS: 7:30 p.m. Donations highly encouraged. Featuring Van Gilder with Ryan Errickson. Folklore Music Exchange, 191 Summers St., Charleston.

  • BUGSWRRRLD: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • DAVISSON BROTHERS BAND: 8 p.m. Free entrance. Part of Bumper Fest. Joe Sawyers Field, 6100 Sissonville Drive, Charleston.

  • MEREDITH ALIFF: 9 p.m.-Midnight. $10 cover. Accompanied by Jay Justice, Stephen Saldanha and Phillip Summers. The ROQ, 1022 Quarrier St., Charleston.

  • EMPTY GLASS LIVE: 10 p.m. $10 cover. Ages 21+. Featuring Becks. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.

Stage/Theater

  • CAT VIDEO FEST 2026: 2:30 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • OLMO: 5 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • THEATER IN THE PARK: 7-9 p.m. Free. Featuring Black Empire Productions. City Center at Slack Plaza, 182 Summers St., Charleston.

  • READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN: 7:30 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: 8 p.m. $10 per person. Join West Virginia’s only shadowcast troupe, The Wyld and Wonderful Untamed Thangs, as they bring a live shadowcast of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” to Charleston. Featuring live performers, outrageous costumes, audience callbacks, scandalous humor, and the gloriously chaotic energy. Base Camp Printing, 1314 Hansford St., Charleston.

  • LEE STREET DRAG SHOW: 11 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. The Lee Street Lounge, 222 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston.

Athletics & Outdoors

125th Annual Pinch Reunion

  • 5K RACE: 8 a.m. $35 per race entrant. Moderate course, with some hills. Trophies for top three overall winners, and medals for top finisher in each age category. Overall first-place runner will also receive a $125 cash prize. Day-of registration takes place between 7-7:45 a.m. Pinch Elementary School, 300 S. Pinch Road, Elkview.

  • CAR SHOW: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Featuring Hot Wheels Car Racing and a giveaway. Concessions available for purchase. New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene, 288 S. Pinch Road, Elkview.

  • KCHA MOBILE ANIMAL ADOPTION: Noon-3 p.m. Free entrance. Supplies and donations for the Kanawha Charleston Humane Association will be accepted and are encouraged. Gravel lot across from Pinch VFD, 231 N. Pinch Road, Elkview.

  • SATURDAY EVENING CONCERT: 5:30-9 p.m. Free. Featuring Kanawha Tradition and Luke Shamblin & The Cool Hands. Concessions available. Parking available at the Pinch VFD gravel lot, with free shuttle service provided by KRT from 5-10 p.m. Pinch Reunion Site, 168 N. Pinch Road, Elkview.

Etc.

  • NITRO SPORTS CARD SHOW: 10 a.m. Free entrance. Former Mountaineer football and NFL fullback Owen Schmitt will be on hand to sign autographs. Nitro High School, 1300 Park Ave., Nitro.

  • BRUNCH BITES & THE ARTS: 10 a.m.-Noon. Tickets $55 per person. Presented by Fund for the Arts. Featuring performances by the Charleston Light Opera Guild, Children's Theatre of Charleston, FOOTMAD, River City Youth Ballet Ensemble, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, womanSong, and featured pianist Bob Thompson. Food by featured culinary artist Chef Ke. Hosted by DJEJ. Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston.

  • GOOD MORNING GROOVE BREAKFAST CLUB: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets $15 per person. Cafe Appalachia Downtown, 110 McFarland St., Charleston.

  • WAGS & WAVES POOL PAWTY: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $10 per dog, cash only. Fundraiser for the Fix ‘Em Clinic. Bring your dog to the St. Albans City Park Pool for four hours of swimming and poolside fun. In-kind donations are also appreciated, including paper towels, trash bags, laundry detergent, pet food and cat litter.  St. Albans City Park Pool, 931 Observatory Drive, St. Albans.

  • SARA BAREILLES “GOOD GRIEF” ADVANCED LISTENING PARTY: Noon-2 p.m. Free entrance. Includes giveaways, prizes and more. Sullivan’s Records, 613 Lee St. E., Charleston.

  • OPERATION ICE CREAM 2026: Noon-4 p.m. Free. Family-friendly event for the community. Includes free ice cream courtesy Crafts of the Coal, emergency service display, kids games, bumper cars, putt putt golf, and more. Free Dirty Birds tickets (while supplies last) and more free giveaways. Concessions available for purchase. GoMart Ballpark, 601 Morris St., Charleston.

  • JEEP JAM & BRONCO BASH: 1-5 p.m. Free. Fourth annual cruise-in style event featuring food vendors, music, door prizes, RTI ramp and more. Live music follows from 6-9 p.m. at Clendenin Brewing Company. Main Street, Clendenin.

  • SOUTHERN BLACK GIRLS AND WOMEN’S CONSORTIUM’S JOY & JUSTICE TOUR: 1-5 p.m. Free. Family-friendly event. North Charleston Recreation Center, 2009 Seventh Ave., Charleston.

  • NITRO YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE PARADE: 2 p.m. Free. Nitro High School, Underwood Field, 1300 Park Ave., Nitro.

  • MOUNTAINEER MAIN STREET: 2-7 p.m. Free. Sponsored by Classic Hits Mix 100.9 & 102.3. Fans of all ages are invited to join the excitement and kick off the 2026 Mountaineer football season in style at the third annual Mountaineer Main Street event. Featuring entertainment, food, vendors and Mountaineer-themed fun. Olde Main Plaza, Old Main Street, St. Albans.

  • BUMPER FEST: 5 p.m. Free entrance. Fundraiser for the Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund. Featuring musical acts Rewind the Walkman and the Davisson Brothers Band.  Includes vendors and food trucks. Joe Sawyers Field, 6100 Sissonville Drive, Charleston.

  • CAPITOL CITY BASH: 6 p.m. Free. Sponsored by Victory Church. Family-friendly event featuring free Chick-fil-A food giveaway (while supplies last), giant inflatables, live worship music, outdoor baptisms and more. Includes thousands of dollars worth of prize giveaways, including gas cards, iPads and flat-screen TVs. First giveaways start at 7 p.m. Laidley Field, 1549 Piedmont Road, Charleston.

  • RIFTBOUND TCG WEEKLY TOURNAMENT: 6-9 p.m. $5 entry. The Board Room, 1116 Fledderjohn Road, Charleston.

  • COMEDY OPEN MIC: 8-10 p.m. Free. All ages. Comedian sign-ups begin at 7:30 p.m. Outside food permitted. Dog friendly; animals must be on a leash. The Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. W., Charleston.

Sunday, Aug. 23

Music

  • MATT STONE AS ELVIS: 7 p.m. Tickets $48+. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.

  • MOUNTAIN STAGE: 7 p.m. Tickets $30-$35. Featuring Tony Trischka’s EarlJam feat. Michael Daves, Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle, Sarah Borges, Jack Barksdale, and more to be announced. Culture Center Theater, Capitol Complex, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston.

  • POST MOUNTAIN STAGE JAM: 10 p.m. Ages 21+. Featuring Three’s Company Groove. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.

Stage/Theater

  • CAT VIDEO FEST 2026: 1 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN: 3 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

125th Annual Pinch Reunion

  • WIFFLE BALL HOME RUN DERBY: 12:30 p.m. Free. Three age categories (ages 11 and under, ages 12-18, and ages 19+). Each batter gets one minute to hit as many home runs as possible. You may bring your own pitcher, but outside bats aren't allowed. $100 gift card and a trophy for winners in each age category. On-site concessions available. Pinch Park Ballfield, South Pinch Road, Elkview.

  • BIGGEST FISH CONTEST: 1-5 p.m. Winners can receive a $200 cash prize, trophy and two lake passes. Indian Fishing Lake, 107 Indian Lake Drive, Elkview.

  • BASKETBALL FREE THROW COMPETITION: 2:30 p.m. Free. Three age categories (ages 11 and under, ages 12-18, and ages 19+). Each shooter gets 10 shots to make as many two-pointers as possible, plus two practice throws that won't count toward the total. No outside basketballs. $100 gift card and a trophy for winners in each age category. On-site concessions available. Pinch Park Ballfield, South Pinch Road, Elkview.

Etc.

  • SOUTHERN SOUL BRUNCH: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Prices vary. Food options inspired by Jason Aldean. Choose from three menu choices. Desserts and drinks available. Sam’s Uptown Cafe, 28 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • HOMECOMING SERVICE: 1 p.m. Free. Featuring teen evangelist Alex McCormick. Spradling Gospel Tabernacle, 2421 Bakers Fork Road, Charleston.