Wild Trails Festival: A must-visit event

Opinion by Kelly Collins, CEO of the State Fair of West Virginia

Tucked in the rolling hills of West Virginia—where backroads twist, cell service is give or take, and the air smells a little cleaner—there’s a small town that’s been quietly punching way above its weight for years in the music industry. Lewisburg might not look like a live music hotspot at first glance, but anyone who’s spent time at the State Fair of West Virginia knows better.
 
This place has seen its fair share of heavy hitters roll through—country legends, rock icons, and rising stars alike—but lately, it’s been building something of its own.
 
Enter the Wild Trails Festival.
 
Now in its second year, Wild Trails isn’t trying to be the biggest festival in the country—it’s aiming to be one of the most memorable. And that distinction matters. Because while some festivals lean into spectacle, this one leans into setting. Think mountain sunsets over the stage, late-night campfire pickin’, and a crowd that’s there for the music and the adventure!
 
The 2026 lineup doesn’t exactly whisper, either. With artists like Koe Wetzel, Tucker Wetmore, Ian Munsick, and Shane Smith & The Saints headlining, plus a stacked undercard of road warriors and next-up names, it’s clear this thing isn’t staying under the radar much longer.
 
But here’s the hook: it still feels like a secret.
 
Fans are coming in from all over—dozens of states, even crossing borders—but once they’re there, it doesn’t feel like a massive, overbuilt production. It feels like something you stumbled into. Something real. Three days of music, mountains, and a reminder that sometimes the best scenes might just be off the map.
 
And maybe that’s the point.