West Virginia Chestnut Festival
October 12 @ 9:00 am - 7:30 pm
17th Annual WV Chestnut Festival in Rowlesburg
The 17th Annual American Chestnut Festival will be held Sunday, October 12, 2025, in Rowlesburg, West Virginia.
For more information, download the 2025 flyer or visit the official website at WVChestnutFestival.com
The line-up for the festival is as follows:
- 9:00-11:00 am. River City Cafe in the historic Rowlesburg School, Szilagyi Center. A full breakfast is served.
- 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Rowlesburg Community Park and Welcome Table with vendors (hot roasted chestnuts, roast beef sandwiches, chestnut-themed vendors, chestnut seedlings for sale).
- Noon-2:00 pm. WV chapter fall meeting, second floor class room in the Szilagyi Center. The meeting will be led by Bernie Coyle, WV chapter president.
- 2:00-3:00 pm. Rowlesburg Community Park, displays and vendors.
- 3:00-4:30 pm. Technical Session, second floor classroom in the Szilagyi Center. Speakers are: Cassie Stark, TACF’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Science Coordinator (The Science of Saving the American Chestnut ) and Sam Muncy (A History of TACF at the Summit Bechtel Reserve Scout Camp).
- 5:30-7:30 pm. Gala banquet in the Szilagyi Center Auditorium. The Preston High School Madrigal Singers under the direction of Krystal McCoy will perform. The crowning of the 17th Mr. and Mrs. Chestnut will take place. This year, Dr. Melissa Thomas-VanGundy and her husband, Doug VanGundy will be honored. The banquet speaker will be Bernie Coyle, WV-TACF chapter president. A gala banquet follows, featuring the Vino Novello Ritual of blessing the new wine. Banquet tickets are available at the door at $15.
