Shake off those winter blues and come to play or just listen the third weekend of February every year. This festival showcases traditional Appalachian music with continuous on-stage performances, workshops, informal jam sessions, a swing dance, a square dance and socializing. GWMF gives traditional Appalachian music lovers a place to play, listen, dance, and learn in the cold dark of winter.

The festival has been bringing traditional Appalachian music, song, and dance to the Morgantown area since 1979.

On Saturday, there are multiple workshops including hammered dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, tin whistle, autoharp, banjo, spoons, and more. Admission for adults is five dollars per person, with free admission for musicians and children under seven. Workshops start Saturday at 11 a.m. and the event runs until 10 p.m.

Coming to the winter music festival is like a family reunion for the musicians. The festival offers a time of celebration and collaboration between the musicians and the attendees. People from neighboring states and across the Mountain State attend and participate in the festival.

Worley Gardner started the festival in 1978 and his late wife Margaret continued it after his passing. A group of traditional-music-loving volunteers keeps it going today.

Location: South Middle School, 500 E Pkwy Dr, Morgantown, WV 26501