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Mountain State Art and Craft Fair strives for creative peaks at Cedar Lakes Conference Center

By Matty Lamp 4 min read

RIPLEY -- The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair has been taking place at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley every year since 1963.

This year, the MSACF started on Thursday and lasts until Saturday.

The MSACF is nicknamed "The Granddaddy" of all arts and crafts events in West Virginia due to its legacy and large size. Its main goal is to provide a platform to showcase Appalachian artists and preserve history through free demonstrations of heritage crafts. There are also children's activities, contests, and entertainment showcased throughout the event.

MSACF President Jean Smith has been working with the fair since 1986. She said while many of the types of crafts and concessions have shifted since the start of the fair in 1963, she is still seeing growth and renewed interest in the fair through a younger audience.

"We want the folks to learn these crafts," said Smith. "Our vendors, or exhibitors, have to demonstrate...lots of times, people are just inspired and are like 'oh, I want to learn how to do that,' and they're able to go ahead and pick up the desire to do it."

In order for a vendor to be featured at the MSACF, they must go through an application and jurying process where they explain their craft and their story. According to Smith, there are 25 new vendors at the fair this year, including new jewelers, potters, and bakers. In total, there are 125 vendors at the fair this year, and 15 of them are concessions businesses, selling a variety of foods and drinks.

Melinda Chambers, a former middle school teacher, sells her children's books that she has authored at the fair. She said she has been a vendor at the fair for over five years, and she used to work at the fair working with cornmeal in the 1970s. Even though she lives in Romney now, she continues to come back every year as a vendor because of how enjoyable the fair is.

"The fact that I was here in the '70s, I knew this was a wonderful fair. I mean, it is the giant of all fairs for West Virginia, and it's just nice to be here," said Chambers. "Beautiful craftsmen of high quality and I just want to be a part of it."

John Charles Bielik is a historical trades artisan demonstrating paper marbling at the fair. He lives in St. Louis, but he has been hosting classes at the Cedar Lakes Conference Center since the 1990s. He said even though the drive is long and expensive, he comes back just because he enjoys the atmosphere.

"I like West Virginia. I just love to come here, and it's an excuse to get out here," said Bielik. "I would live here if I could."

Sheila Galeand, who creates stamped art cards, has been a vendor at the MSACF for three years. She said she enjoys the food, music, and pottery vendors at the fair, but as a vendor, she also enjoys the structure of the fair.

"I love that it's very inclusive for everybody," said Galeand. "This is so well-organized. They do it year in and year out."

To give visitors time to sit down and take a break from checking out the vendors, there are interactive educational events taking place in the FFA Pavillion every hour on the hour. Some of these include character shows geared towards children, storytellers, and master gardeners.

This year will be the first time that MSACF has hosted a dessert contest. Each dessert must contain at least one West Virginia food product, but contestants can win five extra points if they incorporate three state food products into their dessert.

Smith said the West Virginia Department of Agriculture has played a big role in the MSACF since its start, but there are multiple state agencies that also play their parts in supporting events of the fair. She said the West Virginia Department of Education has representatives at the fair, The Tamarack Foundation for the Arts helps support the MSACF quilt show, and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources sponsors the fair's fishing derby, which will take place on Saturday.

For more information on the 2025 event schedule for the MSACF, visit.msacf.com/2025fairguide.

"I would encourage everyone to come out, take a step back in time, and see where the heritage came from and where a lot of these artisans are inspired to do their crafts," said Smith.

Matty Lamp can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com.

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