The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley in 2025. (File photo)

RIPLEY — For more than six decades, the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair has celebrated the creativity, craftsmanship and cultural traditions of Appalachia.

Now in its 63rd year, the event returns to Cedar Lakes Conference Center from Thursday through Saturday, bringing new attractions and expanded entertainment.

Founded in 1963, the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair was created to preserve Appalachian heritage crafts and educate future generations about the traditions that helped shape West Virginia’s cultural identity.

Planning for the annual event begins almost immediately after the previous year concludes. The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair Board of Directors, working alongside the Cedar Lakes staff and with the support of community sponsors, has spent the past year preparing what organizers say will be one of the fair’s strongest and most exciting years yet, according to a press release about the fair. That yearlong effort has enabled new investments in entertainment, educational opportunities and interactive experiences.

This year, more than 100 juried artisans and makers from nine states will fill the fairgrounds, including 34 first-time exhibitors. Visitors can explore handcrafted pottery, woodworking, jewelry, basketry, textiles, fine art, glasswork and many other handmade crafts, according to the press release.

Painter Kat Iresine Timm of Fruitful Wild mixes her palette and works on plein air painting at the 2025 Mountain State Art and Craft Fair. (File photo)

This year also brings several new heritage craft demonstrations, including live blacksmithing and chainsaw carving, as well as some fair favorites such as glassblowing demonstrations presented by longtime fair artisan Appalachian Glass. In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, Appalachian Glass has also created a limited-edition handblown glass medallion, available exclusively at this year’s fair.

Food traditions will play an even larger role in this year’s fair experience. A new addition for 2026 is the Pauley Heritage Bakery inside the historic Craft House, where visitors can walk through a working bakery, watch bakers at work, smell the aroma of fresh-baked goods and purchase homemade treats directly from the kitchen.

Outside, visitors will once again gather around the popular Cedar Lakes Tent, where the staff will continue the longtime tradition of preparing Cedar Lakes’ famous apple butter over an open fire. New this year, Cedar Lakes bakers will also prepare fresh cinnamon rolls and traditional pepperoni rolls onsite throughout the fair, adding more handmade flavor to one of the event’s most popular gathering places, according to the press release.

Another longtime tradition returning in 2026 is the fair’s Quilt Show, showcasing the craftsmanship of quilters from throughout the region. Guests will once again have the opportunity to admire handcrafted quilts while participating in the annual quilt raffle, which helps support the continuation of educational programming connected to the fair.

Entertainment has also expanded for 2026. Visitors will enjoy live music performances, storytelling, dance exhibitions and educational presentations throughout the weekend. Featured performers include Hillside Brass 5+1, whose musicians have performed with both the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Ohio Valley Symphony, bringing a mix of patriotic favorites, classical pieces and popular selections to the fair stage.

Families attending the fair will also find expanded hands-on educational activities designed to introduce younger generations to traditional Appalachian arts, culture and craftsmanship.

Admission for the 2026 fair is $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors.

Additional information, schedules and exhibitor details can be found at www.msacf.com.