GLENVILLE, W.Va. (WCHS) — The longest, continuously running festival of its kind begins this week in the small town of Glenville in Gilmer County. The West Virginia State Folk Festival celebrates its 75th year in 2025.

The event is a big deal, but it certainly came from humble beginnings and from an unlikely source, Glenville State University.

"In 1950 Dr. Patrick Gainer was teaching a class on folklore," said David O'Dell, president of the West Virginia State Folk Festival. "He sent his students out into the community to find people who did old things: quilting, chair making, basket making and especially traditional music."

It turns out there was a gold mine in the community, and that class project was so successful that it turned into the popular annual festival we see today.

Ground zero for festival goers is the old Country Store and Museum, located on Court Street just off Main Street in Glenville.

It serves as the festival visitors and information center and also houses hundreds of relics and photographs from days gone by.

"It was built in 1890," explained Jason Gum, historian with the West Virginia State Folk Festival. "It had been in operation throughout that time period, but by the mid 60's it was vacant. Since 1966 it has been the official headquarters for the festival."

Visitors could spend several hours just perusing the many displays, items and photographs.

While there is a lot to do and see during the festival, the biggest draw is undoubtedly the music, but not just any music, O'Dell explained.

"By a folk festival we're really talking about old time music which predates bluegrass by quite a bit,” he said. “When people see fiddles and banjos they think of bluegrass, but in 1950 when this festival originated, bluegrass was still in diapers. Bill Monroe had only been on the scene a little over 10 years at that point."

Appalachian traditional music is just a generation removed from the British Isles since that is where a lot of the settlers migrated from.

"I think a big part of the purpose is to understand what our predecessors experienced," Gum said. "Stepping back in time and getting an understanding what was at their disposal, what they used for their daily life and for entertainment also."

The West Virginia State Folk Festival begins Thursday, June 19 and runs through Sunday, June 22.

For a full festival schedule visit the event’s website or follow along on Facebook.