Mallory Richards, Festival Explorer

FestivALL Fall brings the essence of autumn to life throughout the rolling hills and valley of the capital city. In an assortment of indoor and outdoor events, this fall fete welcomes you to experience an impressive lineup of live music, art, and theater in Charleston, West Virginia. You can enjoy a little bit of it ALL as a season becomes a work of art Oct. 17-21.

American Shakespeare Center presents The Comedy of Errors

The Staunton, Virginia, based American Shakespeare Center has brought their Shakespearean style theater to Charleston for the past five years as a main event of FestivALL Fall. Described as “shamelessly entertaining” by The Washington Post, this award-winning company follows the basic principles of a Renaissance theatrical production to give its audiences a fully lit and interactive experience. This year’s production of The Comedy of Errors will have you laughing from start to finish at the state-of-the-art Clay Center on Oct. 19.

Hops & Heat

Warm up with live music, chili and craft beer at Hops & Heat on Oct. 20. The unique outdoor venue of the East End Bazaar will transform into one of Charleston’s most delicious events thanks to the Charleston East End Main Streets. The Appalachian craft beer and chili cookoff incorporates over 80 craft beers from more than 20 Appalachian breweries, over 10 chili cooks, live music by Suga Grits, local fare and more. And get this, it’s just a short walk from the Harvest Art Fair! You’ll be able to shop and indulge in the best of Appalachia all in one neighborhood.

Carriage Trail Leaf Walk

Escape the city and revel in a canopy of West Virginia’s fall foliage on this .65 mile trail. The Carriage Trail Leaf Walk takes place just minutes from the downtown area and provides a not-so-typical space to experience the magic of performance art. As you venture through the zigzagging trail you will find dancers leaping in and out of trees and bushes, musicians calmly strumming in the nooks and crannies of the trail’s historic relics, and even catch a birds-eye view of the city at the top of its 180-foot gradient. Don’t miss this all-encompassing FestivALL experience on Oct. 21 as the trail is turned into a work of art.

6th Annual Harvest Art Fair

Get lost in a sea of handmade goods at the FestivALL Harvest Art Fair, Oct. 20-21. This juried fair acts as an extension of the summer Capitol Street Art Fair and is the perfect place to get your holiday shopping done early. Located at the quaint Woman’s Club of Charleston, this intimate fair hosts 30 fine art & crafts artisans from WV and beyond. While you are shopping, drop the kids off at the make-and-take activities, and remember to enter to win special giveaways that are offered throughout the weekend. Media includes bath & body products, fine art, print, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, photography, specialty foods and textiles.

Three Things: My First, My Favorite, My Future

Learn what inspires and drives three influential West Virginia professionals. Three Things is a live monthly speaker series that presents unique guests to discuss their first, favorite and future works, revealing a side not often seen by the public. Over three seasons, the series has welcomed guests from every walk of life, including politicians, tattoo artists, salt farmers, actresses, ballerinas, filmmakers, and much more. Season 3, Episode 9 will feature artists/business owners Emily & Betsy Sokolosky, musician/educator Mark Davis, and business owner/tailor Tony Paranzino on Oct. 17.

For more info and a full schedule of events, click here.

BIOGRAPHY

Mallory Richards is the Marketing & Productions Coordinator for FestivALL. She helps turn Charleston, WV into a work of art throughout the seasons and can be found slingin’ merch for Mountain Stage Radio Show every Sunday.

This post was last updated on March 17, 2022