For Don Allen, of Columbus, Ohio, the Vandalia Gathering is like coming home.
"It's like a grand family reunion," he said.
Musicians, foodies, dancers and artisans gathered across the Capitol Complex to share their love of West Virginia culture during the event, which marked its 40th year this weekend.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History hosts the festival every Memorial Day weekend. Attendees enjoy a variety of concerts, contests and dances.
Traditional Appalachian musicians line the Capitol grounds with banjos, guitars, fiddles and other instruments in hand.
"This is kind of a motivation to improve my playing because, when I first started coming here and heard these guys playing, I was like, 'I wanna play with those guys,'" Allen explained as he adjusted the guitar hanging from his neck.
A West Virginia native, Allen has attended the festival for roughly 12 years. While some people come as a group, the jam sessions are typically impromptu, he said. Family, friends and others will gather around to enjoy the mix of bluegrass, old-time and country.
Attendees brought lawn chairs and blankets, surrounding the various stages and impromptu shows. Children danced in the grass and explored Appalachian culture through hands-on activities.
"When [settlers] moved into the Appalachian mountains, they needed food, clothing and shelter," Jane Gilchrist said.
Several weaving looms filled a tent where children of all ages could learn tricks of the trade and create their own "mug rug," a mini version of a rag rug.
"Have you ever done any weaving before?" Gilchrist asked curious bystanders.
The owner of Loomyladi Handwovens, a local business, she explained the necessity of weaving in the early days of West Virginia. Her great, great grandfather, born in 1863, was a weaver.
"Charleston was a very hard place to get to. Because we were so secluded, we had to be self-sufficient," she said.
Jim Long, of Buckhannon, has attended the festival for 27 years. He brought his 4-year-old daughter, Grace, to enjoy the traditional art and shows.
"It's a chance to be outside and spend time with her," he commented as the two waited in line for a hot dog.
Among the traditional Appalachian cuisine Saturday was hot bologna, fried green tomatoes, blackberry cobbler, grilled roasted corn and cornbread and pinto beans.
Jerry Queen, of the Cross Lanes Lions Club, explained the hot bologna as a quarter-inch slice of bologna that's "a little spicy and a little 'barbequey'" on a five-inch bun.
He called the sandwich "dramatically Appalachian."
"It's a true West Virginia festival, with good mountain food and good mountain music," said Barbara Cline, of the Charleston Southridge Pacesetter Lions Club.
The nonprofit sold cornbread and pinto beans, which she said was truly Appalachian.
"You've just got to throw in fried potatoes and put homemade apple butter on your cornbread," Cline said.
Those attending the festival were also able to explore the variety of artisans selling their craft. West Virginia-made pottery, stained glass, woodcraft, jewelry and more lined the Craft Circle, surrounding the fountain in front of the Capitol.
Greg Cartwright, of Cartwright's Creations, explained his wooden masterpieces to passersby. His pens and bottle stoppers are made of wood from 35 of West Virginia's 55 counties, including a variety of historical landmarks. He says that he's all about finding historical wood, and some of the pens are engraved with their source.
As one customer picked up a pen, he pointed to a tree in front of the Capitol building.
"That is the crotch wood of that pin oak tree, right there," he explained.
Another artisan, David Houser, of Preston County, also makes it a point to use local sources in his stained glass pieces and has attended the festival on and off for 25 years as a craftsman.
"If I'm making something concerning the state, I might as well use West Virginia glass because of its history and heritage in glass making," said Houser.
He receives most of his supply from Blenko Glass Company in Milton and The Paul Wissmach Glass Company in Paden City.
The Vandalia Gathering will wrap up Sunday evening with the presentation of awards for the Old-Time Banjo Contest. The schedule of events, as well as other information about the event, can be found on the West Virginia Division of Culture and History website.
As a group of musicians gathered around a tree near the state Capitol West Wing on Saturday afternoon, Randy Humphreys, of Cross Lanes, enjoyed the music with a smile.
"It's a lot of souls coming together," he said.
Reach Jennifer Gardner at jennifer.gardner@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5102 or follow @jennc_gardner on Twitter.