The Preston County Buckwheat Festival is a beloved annual event held in Kingwood, West Virginia that celebrates the rich history and heritage of buckwheat farming in the area. The festival began in 1938 as a way to promote the local buckwheat industry, which had been a staple crop in the region since the early 1800s.
In the early days of the festival, farmers would bring their buckwheat crops to the festival grounds to be milled into flour, which was then used to make buckwheat cakes, one of the signature dishes of the festival. Over time, the festival grew to include a variety of family-friendly activities, but the focus on buckwheat and the celebration of the local farming community remained at the heart of the festival.
The Buckwheat Festival has since grown into a five-day event that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. The festival is a gathering place for our community, where we come together and enjoy a variety of activities, including live music, carnival rides, parades, arts and crafts, and of course, plenty of buckwheat cakes and sausage. We are proud to offer a family-friendly environment where everyone can create cherished memories and form lasting connections with one another.
The Preston County Buckwheat Festival is organized and sponsored by the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department with the help of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to make each year’s festival a success. We are grateful for the support of our volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and visitors who make it possible for us to continue this beloved tradition.
We hope to see you at the Preston County Buckwheat Festival which starts the last Thursday in September.