Image Courtesy of Pendleton County CVB
Cast a line and reel ’em on in—West Virginia Trout Fest is back on May 1–2, 2026! Growing from its early days as the Pendleton County Spring Festival, Trout Fest sprang from the Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s shared desire to use and honor their high-quality trout streams and draw visitors to the area. Now, in addition to live music jamming and artisan maker marveling, fest-goers can get a taste of local flavors at the Trout Dinner on Friday or bait their hooks and sign up for the Trout Rodeo on Saturday.
Each year, hundreds of anglers find spots along the South Branch Potomac River in Franklin and settle in for a day of fishing. Tagged trout are stocked in this portion of the river by Sugar Grove Trophy Trout Farm the night before, letting the fish settle in before lines start hitting the water. “We have all those tags listed, and if fishermen catch one, we have volunteers—stream marshalls—that must witness the catch and verify the tag,” says Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jared VanMeter. A tag gives you the chance to win a variety of prizes, including a few cash-worthy catches.
When you’re not waiting patiently for fish to bite, take some time to check out the Treasure Mountain Festival Building, where the fun continues. Browse the wares of the outdoor and craft vendors who have set up shop. This is also where you’ll find an impressive line up of performances from regional musicians and bands as well as local businesses, including fan-favorite Raymond’s Gymnastics.
This may be VanMeter’s first year as executive director, but it’s definitely not his first rodeo. “I have been with the Chamber for a couple years now on the board, and I volunteered during Trout Fest—I love just helping out. My favorite part is stream marshalling, being down at the river and seeing the excitement.” While duties pull him to other festival responsibilities this year, he’s still eager to welcome participants to Franklin for a weekend of fun.
“I think it gives the community something to look forward to,” he says. “It celebrates our natural heritage and trout streams—our ties to the South Branch Potomac River. Tons of volunteers help out, and we couldn’t do it without them or the support of the community.”
