Celebrate Spring in West Virginia with the Ramps and Rail Festival

Experience the flavors of Appalachia at the Elkins Depot Welcome Center’s 14th annual event.

Nothing says spring quite like the arrival of ramps in the mountain highlands region of West Virginia.

The ramp, a wild onion native to the eastern United States and Canada, is known for its garlicky, pungent smell and early spring appearance. Its unique flavor has made this foraged vegetable a staple ingredient in West Virginia kitchens and has inspired Appalachian cuisine for decades. Many West Virginia towns and cities celebrate the arrival of spring and ramps with community suppers, festivals, and events.

In Elkins, West Virginia, the Elkins Depot Welcome Center is ready to kick off its 14th Annual Ramps and Rail Festival on April 27, 2024.

The day begins at 10 a.m. with hour-long train rides by the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad.  Live music will keep bustling festival-goers entertained while they enjoy visiting with Appalachian crafters and sampling festival food that includes delicious ramp-filled offerings along with non-ramp dishes to suit everyone’s taste buds.

• Elkins Kiwanis—A delicious and juicy burger packed with minced ramps and topped with cheese. These burgers are always a crowd-pleaser and typically sell out before the day is done.
• El Gran Sabor—Nothing says Ramp Festival like El Gran Sabor’s ramp-filled cachapa, a sweet corn pancake stuffed with your choice of pork or chicken, ramps, veggies, and shredded cheese.
• Beander’s—This restaurant’s award-winning Ramp Dip consists of a black bean, corn, and ramp salsa served with nachos—or enjoy a Hillbilly Philly, a ramp-inspired Philly Cheese Steak that will satisfy your wild onion cravings. 

In past years, honorable mentions have included ramp sausage gravy and biscuits, ramp skillet potatoes, ramp-stuffed perogies, ramp-topped pizza, and more.

The competition for best food vendor attracts locals and out-of-towners alike to go all-out for the day, some of them keeping their menu options a secret from competitors.

So whether it’s your first time trying ramps or you’re a seasoned connoisseur of this trendy wild onion, make plans to visit Elkins as a rite of spring!