Kanawha County, W.Va.
W
e've made it to the first weekend of May. This weekend is jam-packed with events, featuring popular local mainstays like the Tuxes and Tails fundraiser and the annual Dancing With The Stars competition, both sold out at the time of this writing. But never fear! There's plenty of other things to do around the Kanawha Valley. Here's a sampling of local happenings taking place from Friday, May 2, to Sunday, May 4, 2025.
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Friday, May 2
Music
- TIMMY COURTS & FRIENDS: 5-8 p.m. No cover. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St. in Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- FOLKLORE PRESENTS: 7 p.m. Free, but donations encouraged. Featuring Woodbine, Shane Kelley, and Adam J. Snyder. Folklore Music Exchange, 191 Summers St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- NATALIE BROOK: 7 p.m. Tickets $12. Live At The Shop, 1233 Ohio Ave., Dunbar. More info and link to tickets on Facebook.
- REGGAE VS. R&B: 9 p.m. $7 cover. Red Carpet Lounge, 308 Elizabeth St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- HIP HOP/RAP OPEN MIC: 9 p.m. Free. KDE Technology, 111 Hale Street, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- STATIC FUR / TONY FROM BOWLING / DJ TOM SLOAN: 9 p.m. $10 cover. Sam’s Uptown Cafe, 28 Capitol St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- THE KIND THIEVES: 9:30 p.m. $15 cover. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
Stage/Theater
- THE SHROUDS: 7:30 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.
Etc.
- 2600 MEETING: 5 p.m. Free. Monthly gathering for anyone interested in technology, hacking (in the exploratory sense!), and all things geek. KDE Technology, 111 Hale St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- NITRO ANTIQUE CRUZE-IN CAR SHOW: 5-8 p.m. Free. Second Avenue, Nitro. More info on Facebook.
- DANCING WITH THE STARS: 6 p.m. SOLD OUT. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Dr., Charleston. More info online.
- TEN AROUND TOWN BIKE RIDE: 6 p.m. Free. A 10-mile group bicycle ride. Meet at the West Side Wonder Mural, 210 West Washington St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- CINCO DE MAYO PUB CRAWLZ TO END ALZ: 6-10 p.m. $25 per person. Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans. More info on Facebook.
- DIRTY BIRDS OPENING DAY: 6:35 p.m. $11 general admission. GoMart Ballpark, 601 Morris St., Charleston. More info and link to tickets on Facebook.
Saturday, May 3
Music
- BRONCO JUNCTION / BODINE JOHNSON & FRIENDS / NOAH COLLINS & THE RACOON WRANGLERS: 7-11 p.m. Free, donations encouraged. All ages are welcome. Pumzi’s, 813 Hunt Ave., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- GASSER / A LOT LIKE THIEVES / ATHIOTIC: 9 p.m. $7 cover. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- CARIÑO: 9 p.m. $10 cover. The ROQ, 1022 Quarrier St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
Stage/Theater
- ON SWIFT HORSES: 2:30 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.
- THE SHROUDS: 5 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.
- WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE: 7:30 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.
Seasonal
- BELLE COMMUNITY YARD SALE: 8 a.m. Free. Various locations, Belle. More info on Facebook.
- CLENDENIN COMMUNITY YARD SALE: 8 a.m. to noon. Free. Various locations, Clendenin. More info on Facebook.
- CAMPBELLS CREEK COMMUNITY YARD SALE: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Ken Ellis Memorial Park, 721 Point Lick Terrace, Charleston (located about 3 miles up Campbells Creek Drive). More info on Facebook.
- ST. ALBANS CITYWIDE YARD SALE: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Various locations, St. Albans. More info and a list of participating addresses on Facebook.
Etc.
- CHARLESTON PARKRUN: 9 a.m. Free timed 5K run or walk. Magic Island, 181 Kanawha Blvd. West, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- YOGA AT THE PARK: 9 a.m. Free. Joplin Park, Kanawha Turnpike, South Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- CARS & COFFEE: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. Sights and Sound Speed, Inc., 53 Underwood Ave., St. Albans. More info on Facebook.
- ELK RIVER DAY: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free entrance. Sponsored by the Elk River Soccer Club. Food trucks, photo booth, concessions and more. Elk River Soccer Club, 3310 Pennsylvania Ave, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- CLENDENIN RUNNING GROUP: 9:45 a.m. Free. The run begins promptly at 10 a.m. Fox Coffee, 14 Main St., Clendenin. More info on Facebook.
- C&OHS AT THE ST. ALBANS DEPOT: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Albans Depot, 400 Fourth Ave, St Albans. More info on Facebook.
- MINI-CON POP CULTURE CONVENTION: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free entrance. South Charleston Public Library, 312 Fourth Ave., South Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- CRAFT & VENDOR SHOW: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free entrance. Washington District Community Center, 1313 Sandplant Road, South Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- RAMP DINNER: 10:30 a.m. Adults $17, kids $12.50. The menu includes ramps, sliced ham, fried cabbage, fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, pinto beans and cornbread. Quick Community Center, 23 Lucy Lane, Clendenin. More info on Facebook.
- HERBERT HOOVER WALK-A-THON: 11 a.m. Donations $10 and up. Proceeds will help purchase specialized student equipment. Herbert Hoover High School Track, 775 Husky Way, Elkview. More info on Facebook.
- BILL LEPP AT THE NATURE CENTER: 2 p.m. Kanawha State Forest Nature Center, 7500 Kanawha State Forest Dr., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- PIRATE NIGHT: 4-10 p.m. No cover. A fun night of pirate-themed festivities. Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. West, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- BELTANE CELEBRATION: 6 p.m. Free. Sponsored by Spiral Moon Grove. Ritual followed by potluck and drum circle. Kanawha State Forest (behind the shop and old pool), 7420 Kanawha State Forest Drive, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- SURPRISE VALLEY YOUTH CAMP APPRECIATION DINNER: 6 p.m. Free, donations for the camp accepted. Belle Church of Christ, 111 Kanawha St., Belle. More info on Facebook.
- TUXES & TAILS: 6 p.m. SOLD OUT. Fundraiser for the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association. The Ruffner, 1500 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- TAPROOM TRIVIA: 6:30 p.m. No cover. Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main St., Clendenin. More info on Facebook.
- COAL RIVER SONGWRITERS’ FESTIVAL: 7 p.m. $18 per person. Featuring Matt Malinoski, Cadence Stephens, Through the Trees (Doug Imbrogno, Bug Kinder-Schuyler, Jim Probst, and Ray Garnett), Andy Spradling, John Hale, Khegan McLane, Ty McClanahan, Gary Hays, Jeremy Cooke, Gary Bryan, Anne Melton, Makenna Hope, Chris Sutton, James Townsend, Tony Harrah and Roger Rabalais. Albans Arts Center, 65 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans. More info and link to tickets.
- WOMANSONG PRESENTS “IRELAND CALLS”: 7 p.m. Tickets $10 per person. Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- WV SYMPHONY SEASON FINALE: 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15-$81. Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston. More info and tickets online.
Sunday, May 4
Music
- DAVID WILLIAMS RETIREMENT CONCERT: 2:30 p.m. The Kanawha Valley Community Band’s David Williams conducts his final concert before retiring. University of Charleston, 2300 MacCorkle Ave. South East, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
Stage/Theater
- WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE: 7:30 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.
Etc.
- YOGA & ART: 10 a.m. $25 per person. The LosAngled Gallery, 1031 Quarrier St., Suite A, Charleston. More info and link to tickets on Facebook.
- DINNER THEATER: 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets $25, children 10 years old and under $10. Presented by the Nitro High School Showcats Show Choir. The menu includes fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, green beans, salad, desserts, tea and lemonade. Nitro High School, 1300 Park Ave, Nitro. More info and link to tickets on Facebook.
- LITTLE CREEK PARK HIKE: 1:30 p.m. Free. Depart from the 1st parking lot at 1:30 for a 3-4 mile hike. Little Creek Park, 105 Little Creek Lane, South Charleston. More info on Facebook.
- PICKUP ULTIMATE FRISBEE: 2 p.m. Free. A beginner-friendly group with a focus on teaching new skills and getting some easy-going exercise in. All are welcome. North Charleston Community Center Turf Field, 2009 Seventh Ave., Charleston. More info online.
- WALK FOR LIFE: 3 p.m. Free. WV State Capitol Complex, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
Events are subject to change. If you have questions, please reach out to event organizers. Know of a public event happening in Kanawha County that you’d like to share with readers? Email me to be featured in a future calendar.
