Cupcakes are taking over Putnam County, West Virginia, August 27-29 for the 2026 West Virginia Cupcake Festival. The three-day festival features local vendors, food trucks, live music, family-friendly activities, contests and, of course, plenty of cupcakes. With something different happening each day, the festival is a fun way to spend a few hours or make a whole weekend out of it. Here’s a look at what’s happening throughout the 2026 WV Cupcake Festival.
Thursday: Night Market
The festival gets started Thursday evening from 6-9 p.m. with the Night Market. The courtyard will be filled with vendors and food trucks, while the Soda Pop Gypsies take the main stage from 6:30-8:30 p.m. There will also be ’70s-themed activities in the courtyard from 7:30-8 p.m., giving the first night of the festival a little extra fun. It’s a relaxed way to kick off the weekend before the festival continues Friday and Saturday.
Friday: Kids’ Night at the Festival
Friday is Kids’ Night, with the festival opening at 4 p.m. and activities continuing until 10 p.m. Families can spend the evening exploring the cupcake and craft vendors, grabbing dinner from one of the food trucks and checking out the car show in the main parking lot.
There will also be plenty for kids to do, including carnival games, story time with the Putnam County Library, The Balloon “Guy” and Power Wheels races. The photography, art and coloring contest exhibit will be on display throughout the evening as well.
The evening’s entertainment includes Brett Mahon on the main stage, followed by the Pupcake and Friends Pageant and the Vendor Cupcake Competition. Jake Hoot will close out the night with a performance from 8:30-10 p.m.
Saturday: A Full Day of Cupcake Fun
Saturday is the biggest day of the festival, with activities beginning in the morning and continuing until 8 p.m. The day starts with the Cupcake Chase 5K at 8 a.m., followed by the official opening of the festival at 11 a.m.
Once the festival opens, visitors can spend the day exploring cupcake, food and craft vendors, checking out the art, coloring and photography exhibits, and enjoying inflatables and other activities for kids. Cupcake decorating and kids’ crafts will also be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be plenty happening on the main stage throughout the day, including performances by local dance studios, along with some of the festival’s most unique events. The Cupcake Pan Slinging Contest takes place at 12:30 p.m., followed by registration and the Cupcake Eating Contest in the afternoon. If you’ve ever wondered how competitive cupcakes can get, these are two events you won’t want to miss.
The Cupcake Baking Competition will also take place throughout the day, with contestants checking in between noon and 3 p.m. and judging beginning at 3:30 p.m. Magician Joey Stepp will take the main stage at 2:30 p.m., with additional entertainment planned throughout the afternoon and evening.
Admission details, the complete schedule, and any additional festival information can be found on the official WV Cupcake Festival website!