Charleston, W.Va. — Cabin fever meets farm-fresh flavor on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 12–5 p.m., as the 2026 Winter Blues Farmers Market returns to the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Featuring 134 vendors from across the Mountain State, the event is one of the largest indoor winter farmers' markets in the region.
Hosted by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and WVU Extension, Winter Blues provides an important winter marketplace for farmers, food producers, and artisans while giving consumers the opportunity to buy directly from the people who grow and make their products. Admission to Winter Blues is free.
“Winter Blues is about more than shopping — it’s about supporting West Virginia families, farms, and small businesses during a time of year when they need it most,” said Commissioner Kent Leonhardt. “When you purchase local products, you are investing in your neighbors and strengthening our state’s agricultural economy.”
Shoppers will find an expanded selection of locally raised meats, making it easy to stock the freezer with West Virginia beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and more. The market will also showcase a wide variety of specialty and value-added goods, including hand-made knitted alpaca wool clothing, locally milled whole grain flour products such as bread, pancake, and brownie mixes, and perennial favorites like local honeys, pure maple syrups, jams and jellies, baked goods, and barbecue sauces.
Gardeners can get a head start on spring with locally produced compost available for purchase, while coffee lovers can enjoy freshly roasted, locally crafted blends. Several returning vendors will also debut new products this year, adding even more variety to an already diverse marketplace.
Winter markets play a vital role in sustaining farm income beyond the traditional growing season and help strengthen West Virginia’s local food system year-round.
Follow the WVDA on social media for event highlights and vendor spotlights leading up to Feb. 28.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials who sits on the Board of Public Works.