T

he events are really heating up this weekend. From RetroFest to high school reunions, to car shows, concerts, comedy gigs and community cleanups, there's something for just about everyone. Here's a look at what's happening this weekend around the Kanawha Valley.

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Friday, July 25

Music

• TIMMY COURTS & FRIENDS: 5-8 p.m. No cover. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• STEVE HIMES CONNECTION: 7 p.m. No cover. Coal River Coffee Company, 66 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans. More info on Facebook.
• JAMES ROMANO: 7:30 p.m. Free. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• SEVEN TELLER WITH SPACE FREQ: 8 p.m. $15 per person. Live At The Shop,1233 Ohio Ave., Dunbar. More info on Facebook.  
• THREE-PIECE SUIT: 9:30 p.m. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.

Dance

• COUNTRY TWO-STEP WORKSHOP & SOCIAL: 7 p.m. $12 per person. No partner required. American Legion Post 73, 1011 Pennsylvania Ave., St. Albans. More info on Facebook.

Stage/Theater

• THE LIFE OF CHUCK: 7:30 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.
• THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE: 8 p.m. Tickets $18 adults, $13 seniors/students. Alban Arts Center, 65 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans. More info and link to tickets online.

Etc.

• WAKE-UP AND RIDE: 7 a.m. Free. One-hour community bicycle ride. Magic Island, 101 Kanawha Blvd. West, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• WVNG TEEN CAREER DAY: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Speakers from different career paths will chat about career choices. Fields include law enforcement, emergency services, education, insurance, medical, electric, HVAC, and more. Tacket Family Readiness Center, 1703 Coonskin Dr., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• POWER UP EXERCISE CLASS: 10:30 a.m. Free. South Charleston Public Library, 312 Fourth Ave., South Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• THE WEEKENDERS RECOVERY GROUP: 3 p.m. Free. West Virginia Health Right, 1520 Washington St. East, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• 90’S REWIND TRIVIA NIGHT: 5 p.m. $10 per person. Food, drinks, and a cash/credit bar with beer, wine, and spirits. J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works, 4797 Midland Dr., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• KCPL NIGHT AT THE BALLPARK: 5:35 p.m. Celebrate the end of KCPL's Summer Library Club with a night out with family and friends at a Charleston Dirty Birds Baseball game. A fun-filled night of baseball, popcorn, peanuts, robots and Itty Bitty Therapy Horses. GoMart Ball Park, 601 Morris St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.  
• SAHS CLASS OF 2000 REUNION: 6 p.m. St. Albans High School, 2100 Kanawha Terrace, St. Albans. More info on Facebook.
• BOOK CLUB: 6:30 p.m. Free. Featuring Norman Maclean’s nonfiction book “Young Men and Fire”. Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• KALEIDOSCOPE COLLECTIVE: 7 p.m. Free. An all-ages LGBTQIA2S+ social & support group associated with the UUC of Charleston (membership to the UUC is not required). Allies are welcome to attend. Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd. West, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• WEST SIDE MURAL BIKE TOUR: 7 p.m. Free. A 90-minute beginner-friendly group ride exploring the amazing hidden murals around Charleston’s West Side. Meet at the West Side Wonder Mural, 210 Washington St. West, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• NITRO HIGH SCHOOL ALL CLASS REUNION: 7-11 p.m. $35 per person. Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Dr., Charleston. More info on Facebook.

Saturday, July 26

Music

• CHAD JONES: 6:30 p.m. No cover. Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main St., Clendenin. More info on Facebook.
• OPEN MIC: 6:30 p.m. Free entrance. Coffee With A Twist, 101 Main Ave., Nitro. More info on Facebook.
• COLE GREENWALT: 7 p.m. No cover. The Bucket, 4030 Washington St. West, Dunbar. More info on Facebook.
• TWO ROOMMATES: 7:30 p.m. Free. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• HIP-HOP AND R&B OPEN MIC: 9 p.m. Free. Limited spots are available; first-come, first-served. KDE Technology, 111 Hale St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• LIVE AT THE EMPTY GLASS: 10 p.m. $5 cover. Featuring White Mic With Marcus, Travis Echols & SzeshWan Kenobi, Dman Tha Hustla, and Duck City Music. The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.

Dance

• SOCK HOP: 7 p.m. All veterans welcome. Food available beginning at 7 p.m., followed by dance at 8 p.m. American Legion Post 20, 415 Dickinson St., Charleston. For more info, call 304-342-5228.

Stage/Theater

• FRIENDSHIP: 2:30 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.
• THE LIFE OF CHUCK: 5 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.
• SISTER MIDNIGHT: 7:30 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.
• THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE: 8 p.m. Tickets $18 adults, $13 seniors/students. Alban Arts Center, 65 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans. More info and link to tickets online.
• DAY OF THE DEAD: 9:45 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.

Etc.

• CAPITAL HIGH CAR SHOW & PURSE BINGO: 8 a.m. Capitol High School, 1500 Greenbrier St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• CHARLESTON PARKRUN: 8 a.m. Free timed 5K run or walk. Magic Island, 181 Kanawha Blvd. West, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• PAY IT FORWARD 5K: 8 a.m. $30 per person. 5K run or one-mile walk with a Christmas in July theme. Cash prize. Nitro High School, 1300 Park Ave., Nitro. More info and link to registration on Facebook.
• FARMERS MARKET & SIDEWALK SALE: 8 a.m. to noon. Free entrance. Local produce, handmade goods, baked treats and more. Rural King, 110 Lakeview Dr., Cross Lanes. More info on Facebook.
• SUMMER YOGA: 9 a.m. Free. Weekly event open to all ages/stages. Little League Ballfields, 533 Maywood Ave. East, Clendenin. More info on Facebook.
• WEST SIDE CLEAN UP: 9 a.m. Free. Sponsored by the West Side Neighborhood Association. St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1000 Sixth St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• CLOTHING GIVEAWAY: 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Free clothing for all ages and sizes, male and female. Washington Street Church of Christ, 1499 Washington Ave., St Albans. More info on Facebook.
• LISTENING WITH LOVE WORKSHOP: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Christian ecumenical class facilitated by Rev. Marti Steiner Unger, RCP, and Rev. Dr. John R. Unger II, RCP. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1600 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• FITNESS HIKE: 9:30 a.m. $25 per person. Sponsored by Yoga Power LLC. Fitness hike with yoga breaks. Must be 18+. No dogs, and, due to insurance restraints, pregnant women are not advised to attend. All participants must bring water for the hike. Little Creek Park, 1 Little Creek Park Road, South Charleston. More info and link to registration on Facebook.
• CLENDENIN RUNNING GROUP: 9:45 a.m. Free. Run begins promptly at 10 a.m. Fox Coffee, 14 Main St., Clendenin. More info on Facebook.
• APPALACHIAN TRUCK SHOW: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $25 per vehicle. Live music, food trucks, contests, giveaways, and more. Appalachian Truck & Trailer Services LLC, 9 Appalachian Way, Nitro. More info on Facebook.
• MADFEST 5: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free. All ages event featuring live music, vendors, food trucks, activities, and more. Proceeds benefit organizations that bring awareness to Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Ridenour Memorial Park, 402 Ridenour Park Lane South, Nitro. More info on Facebook.
• EV’S AND ICE CREAM: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Beat the heat and charge up your knowledge about electric vehicles. Ice cream provided by Ellen’s Ice Cream. Moses Downtown, 1406 Washington St. East, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• CHARLESTON VINTAGE FEST: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Vintage clothing, records, toys, jewelry, antiques, plants, shoes, rugs, and more. Beni Kedem Shriners, 100 Quarrier St, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• RETROFEST 2025: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free entrance. Live music, giveaways, contests, food vendors, retro shopping, and more. Scholarship fundraiser for inner-city youth. Slack Plaza, 169 Summers St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• BOOK SIGNING WITH ELISABETH LOVE: 3 p.m. Free. Clendenin Brewing Co., 2 Main St., Clendenin. More info on Facebook.
• FAMILY PICASSO PARTY: 4 p.m. $30 per person. Participants will create a colorful mandala-themed peacock using the dot method of painting. All supplies provided. Kula Yoga, 50 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans. More info on Facebook.
• DIRTY BIRDS CHRISTMAS IN JULY MARKET: 5-10 p.m. Presented by Sugar Shenanigans. GoMart Ball Park, 601 Morris St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• KRISTEN RACE MEMORIAL CRUISE-IN: 6 p.m. Donations accepted. Patrick Street Plaza, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• COMEDY NIGHT: 7 p.m. $10 cover. Featuring Leyla Ingalls, Josh Albert, and Tyson Colson. Hosted by Bo Vance. Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. West, Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• UUC TRIVIA TEAM: 7 p.m. $15 per person. Fundraiser for Unitarian Universalist Congregation. The team with the highest score at the end wins. Wine, soft drinks, and snacks will be available with prizes. Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd. West, Charleston. More info online.
• SATURDAY KARAOKE: 9 p.m. The Volstead Room, Hale Street Center, 209 Dickinson St., Charleston. More info on Facebook.
• MISS RED RIBBON 2025 PAGEANT: 10 p.m. Lee Street Lounge, 222 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston. More info on Facebook.

Sunday, July 27

Stage/Theater

• THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE: 2 p.m. Tickets $18 adults, $13 seniors/students. Alban Arts Center, 65 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans. More info and link to tickets online.
• SISTER MIDNIGHT: 2:30 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St, Charleston. More info online.

Etc.

• SIP & STITCH: 3-6 p.m. Free. A monthly community event. Spend a relaxing afternoon creating with artsy, crafty friends. Gallery on 4th, 414 Fourth Ave., Montgomery. More info on Facebook.

Events are subject to change. If you have questions, please reach out to organizers. Know of a public event 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.

Header Image: Son of Sasquatch Photography via RetroFest WV Facebook