I
f the weather forecast is correct, it's going to be a near perfect -- albeit somewhat hot -- late spring weekend in the Kanawha Valley. And that's a good thing, considering its another busy one full of events. Here's a look at what's happening now through Sunday around the region.
And make sure you never miss an event – click here to subscribe to the FREE Kanawha Valley Update newsletter to get more local news and other happenings delivered each weekday to your inbox.
Friday, May 15
Music
-
TIMMY COURTS & FRIENDS: 5 p.m. No cover. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.
-
CHAD JONES: 6 p.m. Free entrance. Lola’s Pizza, 1038 Bridge Road, Charleston.
-
SPENCER ELLIOTT TRIO: 6 p.m. The Wine Down, 114 Washington St., West, Suite 101, Charleston.
-
WHEN IN OUR MUSIC – A CLASSIC HYMN FESTIVAL: 7 p.m. Free, but donations welcome and will benefit Guns to Gardens. Organist Jayson Keeton will lead the festival from the historic Fisk organ of First Presbyterian Church, and will be joined by the Charleston Civic Chorus, the Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church, and other local choirs. First Presbyterian Church, 16 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston.
-
JALYN SHORT: 7-9 p.m. Free. Coal River Coffee Co., 66 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans.
-
GARY ALLAN: 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25+. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Dr., Charleston.
-
JED HARRELSON WITH FRIENDLY FIRE: 7:30 p.m. $25 per person. Part of the Emerging Artists series. Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston.
-
THE GLUM MACHINE TOUR: 7:30 p.m. $15 per person. Featuring Vanna Pacella and Hello June. Folklore Music Exchange, 191 Summers St., Charleston.
-
BUGSWRRRLD: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.
-
EMPTY GLASS LIVE: 10 p.m. $7 cover. Ages 21+. Featuring Golden, Foxbat, The Bedheads and Title Wave. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.
Dance
-
COUNTRY TWO-STEP WORKSHOP & SOCIAL DANCE: 7 p.m. $12 per person. No partner required. St. Albans American Legion Post 73, 1011 Pennsylvania Ave., St. Albans.
Stage/Theater
-
I SWEAR: 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. The Lee Street Lounge, 222 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston.
Etc.
-
BIKE TO WORK DAY EVENT: 7-10 a.m. Free. Enjoy coffee, breakfast pastries and other special goodies on your way to work. Elk City Cycles, 613 Tennessee Ave., Charleston.
-
THOMAS FOUNDATION 32ND ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT: 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. tee times. Edgewood Country Club Golf Course, 12541 Derricks Creek Road, Charleston.
-
FARM-TO-FAMILY FARMERS MARKET & COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR: 8 a.m.-Noon. Free. Free produce giveaway, info on the WV Utility Reduction Program and more. Heart & Hand Outreach, 212 D St., South Charleston.
-
POWER UP EXERCISE CLASS: 10:30 a.m. Free. South Charleston Public Library, 312 Fourth Avenue, South Charleston.
-
KCPLS 101 – WEB & APP WORKSHOP: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Learn how to navigate and use the KCPLS’s new website and app. Dunbar Branch Library, 301 12th St., Dunbar.
-
WHC PURPLE PERIOD PANTRY RIBBON CUTTING & LUNCH: 11 a.m. Free. Women’s Health Center, 510 Washington St. W., Charleston.
-
MOUNTAIN STATE COLLECTORS CONVENTION: Noon-2 p.m. VIP admission ($30 per person); 2-7 p.m. general admission ($8 per person). Kids 12 and under wearing a team jersey will be admitted free. Presented by Greenie Sports Cards and the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau. West Virginia's biggest collectibles event. Hundreds of tables with dealers looking to buy, sell and trade sports cards, Pokemon, TCG and more. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.
-
USED BOOK FUNDRAISER: 1-5 p.m. Choose from books, DVDs and children's books. St. Albans Branch Library, 602 Fourth St., St. Albans.
-
PADDLES WITH PURPOSE FAMILY NIGHT: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of open play pickleball, live music by John Inghram and Friends, inflatables, food, a splash pad, face painting, and other activities for the whole family. Nitro Athletic Complex, 1650 Park Ave., Nitro.
-
PRAYER BOARD CRAFT NIGHT: 6 p.m. Free, but RSVP requested. Bring your own board; all other supplies provided. Slaughters Creek Memorial Freewill Baptist Church, 379 Little Creek Road, Cabin Creek.
-
SCI TALK: WHAT ABOUT PLUTO?: 6 p.m. $5.50 per person. Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston.
-
YOUTH RALLY: 6 p.m. Harper Memorial Church, 4431 Big Tyler Road, Cross Lanes.
-
CLENDENIN BREWING BOOK CLUB: 6:30 p.m. Free. Featuring Jenny Lawson’s “Furiously Happy.” Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main Street, Clendenin.
-
ROOTS & WINGS SPRING GALA: 6:30-9:30 p.m. $125 per person. Fundraiser for the Mountaineer Montessori School. Includes live entertainment, heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer, soft drinks and more. Edgewood Country Club, 1600 Edgewood Drive, Charleston.
-
LIVE PRO WRESTLING: 7 p.m. $15 general admission, $20 front row. Marmet Recreation Center, 8505 MacCorkle Ave., Marmet.
-
NIGHT OF WORSHIP YOUTH FUNDRAISER: 7 p.m. Maranatha Church, 2910 Kanawha Terrace, St. Albans.
-
POETRY NIGHT: 7:30-10 p.m. $10 per person. All ages. Outside food permitted. Dog friendly (must be on leash). Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. West, Charleston.
Saturday, May 16
Music
-
JOE BIRD: 6:30 p.m. Free. Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main Street, Clendenin.
-
BEO STRING QUARTET: 7-9 p.m. Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier St., Charleston.
-
ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION: 7:30 p.m. Tickets $40+ per person. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.
-
THE CARPENTER ANTS: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.
-
EMPTY GLASS LIVE: 9 p.m. $10 cover. Ages 21+. Featuring The Big Bad, Pumpkin Guts, Bat Thorn, and Roofus & The Rex. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.
-
JOHN MAJOR: 10 p.m. Tippie’s Tavern, 216 Seventh Ave., South Charleston.
-
SATURDAY NIGHT RIOT: 10 p.m. $10 cover. Ages 21+. Featuring 2TOAROOM, Krandus, Saintuary and CokeAndRedrum. The Blue Parrot, 14 Capitol St., Charleston.
Dance
-
LIGHT & DARK: 11 a.m. $18.50 general admission, $14.50 ages 5-12, and children under 5 enter free. ABC Dance presents its annual end-of-year showcase. Capital High School, Performing Arts Center, 1500 Greenbrier St., Charleston.
-
FAE EDM RAVE: 6-10 p.m. $10 per person. Ages 18+. Outside food permitted. Dog-friendly (must be on a leash). Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. West, Charleston.
-
JK’S GLOW NIGHT: 8 p.m.-Midnight. $10 per person. Featuring free GLOW party favors and prizes for the best GLOW outfits. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The ROQ, 1022 Virginia St. E., Charleston.
Stage/Theater
-
FANTASY LIFE: 2:30 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.
-
I SWEAR: 5 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.
-
FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF: 7-9:30 p.m. $10 per person. Part of the Classic Films series sponsored by Classic Hits Mix 100.9 & 102.3. Alban Arts Center, 65 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans.
-
THE CHRISTOPHERS: 7:30 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.
-
GHOST GALLERY PRESENTS CABARET: 7:30-11 p.m. $40 VIP tickets, $25 general admission, purchased online. (A small number of tickets will be sold at the door for $30.) Ages 21+. This show benefits the LGBTQIA+ Program of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia. Ghost Gallery, 1599 Washington St. E., Charleston.
-
LEE STREET DRAG SHOW: 11 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. The Lee Street Lounge, 222 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston.
Etc.
-
CHARLESTON BREAD’S 20TH BIRTHDAY: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Free cupcakes, a special birthday menu and more. Charleston Bread, 601 Capitol St., Charleston.
-
CHARLESTON PARKRUN: 8 a.m. Free. Magic Island, 181 Kanawha Blvd.W., Charleston.
-
ELK YARD SALE: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Elk Elementary Center, 3320 Pennsylvania Ave., Charleston.
-
KANAWHA CITY YARD SALE: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sale at various locations throughout Kanawha City, including at Horseman Middle School, 4300 MacCorkle Ave. S.E., Charleston.
-
MOUNTAIN STATE COLLECTORS CONVENTION: 8:30-9:30 a.m. VIP admission ($30 per person); 9:30-5 p.m. general admission ($8 per person). Kids 12 and under wearing a team jersey will be admitted free. Presented by Greenie Sports Cards and the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau. West Virginia's biggest collectibles event. Hundreds of tables with dealers looking to buy, sell and trade sports cards, Pokemon, TCG and more. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.
-
BICYCLE SWAP MEET: 9 a.m. Free entrance. Buy, sell, and swap bike parts, bikes, and accessories. Raffle tickets ($10) are also available. Nitro Ridenour Park, 402 Ridenour Park Lane S., Nitro.
-
WALK WITH ME FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE: 10 a.m.-Noon. $10 general admission; free for foster, adoptive and kinship/relative families with registration. Face painting, balloon artists, inflatables, games, snacks, treats, character entertainment and more. GoMart Ballpark, 601 Morris St., Charleston.
-
OLD STONE HOUSE TOURS: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $4 adults, $3 seniors/children ages 6-12. Historic Samuel Shrewsbury House, 310 Stubb Drive, Belle.
-
USED BOOK FUNDRAISER: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Choose from books, DVDs and children's books. St. Albans Branch Library, 602 Fourth St., St. Albans.
-
CLAY CENTER BLOCK PARTY: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Included in the price of museum entrance. Family-friendly, community-centered event featuring big trucks, music, bubbles, rockets, games, hands-on activities and more. Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston.
-
SOLIDARITY SCHOOL: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Register online. Sponsored by West Virginia Citizens Action Group. A one-day training that brings together community organizers and community members to learn, connect, and take action together. This training is open to everyone.
-
ARMED FORCES DAY PARADE: Noon. Free. Parade lineup begins on D Street, South Charleston.
-
2026 JLBC CAR SHOW: Noon. Proceeds go toward the Ralph Godbey Memorial Bible Camp. Concessions available. For more info, contact Pastor Bob Jett at 304-380-2938. Jordan Light Baptist Church, 7298 Wills Creek Road, Elkview.
-
CRAFTURDAY – CANVAS GARDEN FLAG: 1-3 p.m. Free, but registration required. Riverside Branch Library, 1 Warrior Way, Suite 104, Belle.
-
FAMILY STEM – CREATE WITH 3D DOODLER PENS: 2-3 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, Room 407, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.
-
BEGINNER WATERCOLOR CLASS: 2-4 p.m. $25 per person, all materials provided. Registration required by calling 304-546-0250 or emailing GalleryOn4th@outlook.com. Beginner class; no drawing or scratching required. Students will paint a swan on a lake. Gallery on 4th, 414 Fourth Ave., Montgomery.
-
PEACEFUL READING CLUB: 2-4 p.m. Free. Bring your own book – any format, from anywhere. Read at your own pace in a quiet, inviting environment. Dunbar Branch Library, 305 12th St., Dunbar.
-
PLANT SWAP AT THE BREWERY: 2-4 p.m. Free. Bring a healthy plant, cutting, seedling, or division and trade it for something new to grow and enjoy. Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main Street, Clendenin.
-
CHARLEY WEST BBQ FEST: 2-8 p.m. Free entrance. Food and beer for purchase, live local music and more. City Center at Slack Plaza, 169 Summers St., Charleston.
-
TAPS & TRUCKS: 2-8 p.m. Ages 21+. Food trucks, beer, live entertainment and more. Mardi Gras Casino, 1 Greyhound Drive, Cross Lanes.
-
MICRO WRESTLING: 6-8 p.m. Ages 21+. Mardi Gras Casino, 1 Greyhound Drive, Cross Lanes.
-
2026 CHARLESTON HEART BALL: 6-11 p.m. Black tie optional fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Includes cocktail hour, program, dinner, live auction and more. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.
-
TEAM TRIVIA: 7-9 p.m. The Wine Down, 114 Washington St. W., Suite 101, Charleston.
-
OUTDOOR FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: 9 p.m. Free, but donations accepted. Featuring the 1993 coming-of-age sports comedy “The Sandlot.” Bigley Field, 1602 Bigley Ave., Charleston.
Sunday, May 17
Music
-
THE MCGOWANS: 11 a.m. First Baptist Church of Chelyan, 521 James River Road, Chelyan.
-
APPALACHIAN CHILDREN’S CHORUS PRESENTS VOICES IN BLOOM: 3 p.m. $15 adults, $10 seniors age 60+, $15 children age 12 and under. Charleston Baptist Temple, 209 Morris St., Charleston.
-
CONCERTS AT ST. JOHN’S: 4 p.m. Free. A special performance honoring the life and legacy of “Concerts at St. John’s” founder, David DeBolt. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1105 Quarrier St., Charleston.
-
MOUNTAIN STAGE: 7 p.m. $35 per person. Featuring Paul Thorn Band, Ray Benson, Sunny Sweeney, and Andy Friedman. Culture Center Theater, WV Capitol Complex, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston.
-
POST MOUNTAIN STAGE JAM: 10 p.m. $10 cover. Ages 21+. Featuring The Big Bad, Pumpkin Guts, Bat Thorn, and Roofus & The Rex. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston.
Dance
-
DANCING UNDER THE SEA: 5 p.m. Tickets $15 per person. Spring recital featuring dancers from CW Dance Company. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.
-
KELLE BOGGS DANCE STUDIO SPRING PRODUCTION: 7 p.m. Tickets $27.50 each. The theme for this production – the 47th annual event – is “Be Our Guest.” Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston.
Stage/Theater
-
THE CHRISTOPHERS: 1 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.
-
FANTASY LIFE: 3 p.m. $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.
Etc.
-
2026 GENTLEMAN’S RIDE: 8 a.m. Motorcycling event in support of men's mental health and prostate cancer research. Riders should register at The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride website to view local ride details. Meet at the Summers Street Parking Garage, 182 Summers St., Charleston.
-
MOUNTAIN STATE COLLECTORS CONVENTION: 9 a.m.-3 .a.m. $8 per person. Kids 12 and under wearing a team jersey will be admitted free. Presented by Greenie Sports Cards and the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau. West Virginia's biggest collectibles event. Hundreds of tables with dealers looking to buy, sell and trade sports cards, Pokemon, TCG and more. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston.
-
WEST VIRGINIA REPTILE EXPO: 10 a.m. $10 general admission, ages 10 and under free. West Virginia State University, Wilson Student Union, 5000 Fairlawn Ave., Dunbar.
-
FOOTMAD ANNUAL MEETING & PICNIC: 2-5 p.m. All are welcome. Hot dogs, hamburgers and fixings are provided beginning at 2 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a side dish or dessert. Musicians will be jamming after a short board report so all are invited to bring instruments and play. For more information call 304-729-4382. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1600 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston.
-
ACW’S DANNY BOYD MEMORIAL SHOW: 3 p.m. Free. Bring your own chair and enjoy a free Appalachian Championship Wrestling show to celebrate the memory of “Professor Danger” Danny Boyd. A Walk In Time, 1616 Sixth Ave., Charleston.
Events are subject to change. If you have questions, please reach out to organizers. For events beyond the Kanawha Valley, please see the Arts Amplified website. Know of something happening in Kanawha County that you’d like to share with readers? Send event info and contact details to ramsburgreports@gmail.com to be featured in a future calendar.




