It's a busy fall weekend. From festivals and family fun, to mainstream concerts, vendor fairs, and spooky events galore, it's the perfect time to get out and about in the Kanawha Valley. Here's a look at what's happening now through Sunday around the region.

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Friday, Oct. 16

Music

  • HAPPY HOURS JAZZ: 5 p.m. With Timmy Courts and Friends. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.

  • HAPPY HOURS: 5-7 p.m. Free. Featuring One Foot. City Center at Slack Plaza, 182 Summers St., Charleston.

  • OPEN MIC NIGHT: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Chet Lowther. Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main St., Clendenin.

  • ALAN & THE CHEAPBEATS: 7-9 p.m. No cover. Coal River Coffee Co., 64 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans.

  • TWO ROOMMATES: 7-9 p.m. Free to play. The Wine Down, 114 Washington St. W., Suite 101, Charleston.

  • STEVE HINES CONNECTION: 7-9:30 p.m. Short Story Brewing, 186 Summers St., Charleston.

  • FOLKLORE PRESENTS: 7:30 p.m. Free, but donations highly encouraged. Featuring Dalchord with Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band. Folklore Music Exchange, 191 Summers St., Charleston.

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

  • OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW: 7:30-9:30 p.m. $49.50+. Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston.

  • LIL WAYNE: 8 p.m. Tickets $60 per person. With special guest 2 Chainz. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.

  • EMPTY GLASS LIVE: 9 p.m. Ages 21+. Metal and hardcore night featuring Divinities, While We Wait, Heartsfall and Of Many Worlds. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.

Stage/Theater

  • THE GENERAL: 7-9 p.m. $10 per person. Alban Arts Center, 65 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans.

  • THE STUNT DRIVER: 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.

Seasonal

  • BRIDGEVALLEY HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN NIGHT: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. BridgeValley Community & Technical College, 2001 Union Carbide Drive, South Charleston.

  • SPOOKTACULAR NIGHT AT THE MARKET: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Includes trunk or treat, a candy drop, touch a truck and more. Activities for all ages, from toddler to adult. South Charleston Farmers Market, 4006 MacCorkle Ave. S.W., South Charleston.

  • AFTERHOURS HALLOWTEEN PARTY: 6-8 p.m. Free. A spooky, teen-only, after-hours party complete with Trick-or-Treat through the shelves, a costume contest, pizza, sodas, a haunted birdhouse craft, a movie, and more. Kanawha County Public Library, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • PUMPKINS & POURS: 6:30-8 p.m. $25 per person. Limited spaces; reservations requested. Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. W., Charleston.

  • SPOOKY MOVIE NIGHT: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Sponsored by Charleston Parks & Recreation. Featuring a classic Halloween movie, pizza, popcorn, cookies, treats and more. Kanawha City Community Center, 3511 Venable Ave. S.E., Charleston.

  • CAPITOL HORROR HAUNTED HOUSE: 7 p.m.-Midnight. $25 per person. Check in at Tickers & Timbers. Enjoy food and drinks while you wait in our staging area. Groups will be escorted by one of our creepy costumed actors to the haunted attraction. Tickers & Timbers, 210 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • SCAREVIEW GRAVE SCHOUL: 7 p.m.-Midnight. $12 per person. Haunted house in the former Fairview Elementary School building. 109 High St., St. Albans.

  • ST. ALBANS HAUNTED TRAIL: 7:30-10 p.m. $5 per person. St. Albans City Park, 1111 St. Albans Loop, Tacketts Creek, St. Albans

  • MORE SPOOKY-SEASON HAPPENINGS: See all Halloween-themed events for Friday, Oct. 16, including several local trunk-or-treats, in the Update’s 2026 Halloween Guide.

Etc.

Saturday, Oct. 17

Music

  • VINYL VILLAGE: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Short Story Brewing, 186 Summers St., Charleston.

  • STARRY NIGHT SERENADE: 7-9 p.m. Free. Featuring Stolen Moments. City Center at Slack Plaza, 182 Summers St., Charleston.

  • FOLKLORE PRESENTS: 7:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Featuring Vanna Pacella and Brenna & The Boys & A Girl. Folklore Music Exchange, 191 Summers St., Charleston.

  • TAYLOR BOOKS LIVE: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Featuring Sean Richardson, Spencer Elliott and Julien Aklei. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • MINOR SWING: 9 p.m. The ROQ, 1022 Quarrier St., Charleston.

Dance

Stage/Theater

  • THE MARCHING BAND: 2:30 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

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

  • IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME: 7:30 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • THE BLOB: 9:30 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Part of the Beyond the Back Row film series. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol 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

Seasonal

  • HEX & HANDPRINTS: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. An afternoon devoted to the mysterious, the macabre, and the magic of making things by hand. Featuring tarot readings ($20 per reading, no appointment necessary), free make-and-take linocut invites and more. ECHO-LIT, 427 Washington St. W., Charleston.

  • FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL: 1-3 p.m. Free. Sponsored by St. Albans Parks & Recreation. Featuring face painting, balloon animals, pumpkin decorating, an inflatable, food and refreshments. St. Albans City Park Softball Field, 931 Observatory Drive, St. Albans.

  • CAPITOL HORROR HAUNTED HOUSE: 7 p.m.-Midnight. $25 per person. Check in at Tickers & Timbers. Enjoy food and drinks while you wait in our staging area. Groups will be escorted by one of our creepy costumed actors to the haunted attraction. Tickers & Timbers, 210 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • SCAREVIEW GRAVE SCHOUL: 7 p.m.-Midnight. $12 per person. Haunted house in the former Fairview Elementary School building. 109 High St., St. Albans.

  • ST. ALBANS HAUNTED TRAIL: 7:30-10 p.m. $5 per person. St. Albans City Park, 1111 St. Albans Loop, Tacketts Creek, St. Albans

  • MORE SPOOKY-SEASON HAPPENINGS: See all Halloween-themed events for Saturday, Oct. 17, including several local trunk-or-treats, in the Update’s 2026 Halloween Guide.

Etc.

  • #WECAREWV DAY FREE HEALTH CLINIC: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Free medical, dental care, open to everyone with or without insurance. West Virginia Health Right, 1520 Washington St E, Charleston

  • RIVERSIDE REVUE BAND FESTIVAL: 9:30 a.m. Fourth annual competition sponsored by Riverside Band Boosters. Gates open at 9 a.m., national anthem at 9:30 a.m. Riverside will perform their winning show at 5 p.m. Riverside High School, Warrior Stadium, 1 Warrior Way, Belle.

  • MUSICAL THEATRE CARDIO DANCE CLASS: 10 a.m. $10 per person. A cardio dance class with all of your favorite musical theatre hits. Alban Arts Academy, 2121 Kanawha Terrace, St. Albans.

  • OLD STONE HOUSE TOUR: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $4 adults, $3 seniors/children age 6-12. Tour a historic 19th-century home with deep connection to Kanawha Valley history. Samuel Shrewsbury Sr. Mansion (Old Stone House), 310 Stubb Drive, St. Albans.

  • AUTHOR MEET & GREET: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free entrance. Featuring authors RD Humphrey, Courtney Renee, and Laura Whittington. Come meet the authors, hear a little about their books, ask questions, and enjoy a cup of coffee while celebrating local literary talent. Coal River Coffee Co., 64 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans.

  • 52ND ANNUAL ROCK & GEM SHOW: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5 per person, children 17 and under enter free when accompanied by an adult. Two-day (Saturday and Sunday) event sponsored by the Kanawha Rock and Gem Club. Featuring rocks, gems, minerals, fossils, jewelry, geode cracking, a sifter mine, free kids crafts, demonstrations, gold panning and more. South Charleston Community Center, 601 Jefferson Road, South Charleston.

  • BOOK VASE CRAFT: 11 a.m.-Noon. Free, but registration required. Learn how to upcycle an old book into a beautiful, fall foliage-filled vase. Space and resources are limited. Cross Lanes Branch Library, 5449 Big Tyler Road, Cross Lanes.

  • 3D PRINTING 101: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free, but registration required. Learn the basics of 3D printing, including how the printer works, where to find 3D-printable files, and how to bring in or prepare your own files for printing. Whether you’re new to 3D printing or just curious about what our new printer can do, this class will help you get started. St. Albans Branch Library, 602 Fourth St., St. Albans.

  • CHARLESTON VINTAGE FEST: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Over 50 vendors. GoMart Ballpark, 601 Morris St., Charleston.

  • FALL Y’ALL CHILI COOK-OFF: Noon-6 p.m. Family-friendly fall celebration featuring chili, live music (The Daniel Ferrell Trio, Adam Parker & The Bourbon Cowboys, Fleetwoods Heart), food, arts and crafts, and more. Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans.

  • 3RD ANNUAL FILIPINO AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Noon-6 p.m. A full day of festivities featuring cultural performances, music, fashion, food, art exhibits, contests, parade, cultural performances, karaoke contest, Lumpia Eating Contest, Sessionista Concert, raffle tickets, bounce houses, food and craft vendors, and more. City Center at Slack Plaza, 182 Summers St., Charleston.

  • PEACEFUL READING CLUB: 2-4 p.m. Free. BYOB - Bring Your Own Book. Any format, from anywhere. Read at your own pace in a quiet, inviting environment. Each session opens with 15 minutes of settling in and ignoring fellow introverts before the 90-minute quiet reading time is observed. The last 15 minutes are set aside for announcements for future club meetings and leaving without saying goodbye. Dunbar Branch Library, 301 12th St., Dunbar.

  • ADULT PAINTING CLASS: 1-3 p.m. Free, but registration required by calling 304-744-6561. South Charleston Public Library, 312 Fourth Ave., South Charleston.

  • FAMILY STEM: KATHERINE JOHNSON DROP IN & BUILD: 2-3 p.m. Free. For children ages 6-12 years old and their families. Celebrate NASA mathematician and West Virginia native Katherine Johnson. Explore her love of geometry and numbers and launch your own straw rocket. Kanawha County Public Library, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • BEGINNING WATERCOLOR CLASS: 2-4 p.m. $25 per person. Registration required by emailing GalleryOn4th@outlook.com or calling 304-546-0250. Gallery on 4th, 414 Fourth Ave, Montgomery.

  • AUTHOR READING & BOOK SIGNING: 3 p.m. Free. Featuring Jessica Nuckles, author of “The Rhododendron Society” and “Sugar Maple Secrets.” Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • ELKTOBERFEST: 3-9 p.m. Free admission. Family-friendly festival featuring live music (Analog Boy, Scott Honaker and Take Me Back), food trucks, costume contest, yodeling contest, steinholding competition and more. Main Street, Charleston.

  • ELK CITY SILENT BOOK CLUB: 5-7 p.m. Free. Bring a book, find a cozy corner, and settle in for an evening of quiet reading, autumn ambiance, and a little spooky spirit. There’s no assigned book, no required reading, and no pressure to socialize. ECHO-LIT, 427 Washington St. W., Charleston.

Sunday, Oct. 18

Athletics & Outdoors

  • KSF HALF MARATHON/7K: 9 a.m. $70 half marathon, $42.50 7K. Part of the West Virginia Cryptid Race series. Kanawha State Forest, 7500 Kanawha State Forest Drive, Charleston.

Stage/Theater

  • IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME: 2 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

  • THE MARCHING BAND: 4 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

Seasonal

Etc.

  • 52ND ANNUAL ROCK & GEM SHOW: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5 per person, children 17 and under enter free when accompanied by an adult. Two-day (Saturday and Sunday) event sponsored by the Kanawha Rock and Gem Club. Featuring rocks, gems, minerals, fossils, jewelry, geode cracking, a sifter mine, free kids crafts, demonstrations, gold panning and more. South Charleston Community Center, 601 Jefferson Road, South Charleston.

  • WONDERFALL ROT WALK: 11 a.m.-Noon. Join Kanawha State Forest Naturalist Jess Blalock for an interpretive hike along the CCC Snipe Trail. Examine how microhabitats benefit the forest. Kanawha State Forest, 7500 Kanawha State Forest Drive, Charleston.

  • TASTE OF APPALACHIA FOOD SHOWCASE: 1-4 p.m. A free, public event celebrating the creativity and craftsmanship of West Virginia’s food producers. South Charleston Farmers Market, 4008 Maccorkle Ave. S.W., South Charleston.

  • THEOLOGY & SOUL FOOD: 4 p.m. Free. Adrian Miller, a two-time James Beard Award-winning culinary author, will give a talk on the relationship between soul food and theology as part of Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church’s 160th Anniversary celebration. Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church, 607 Shrewsbury St., Charleston.