Cheat River Festival

About Us

The Cheat River runs through some of the most rugged terrain in West Virginia, and every spring the Friends of the Cheat host a celebration to match. The weekend begins with the Rick Gusic Massacre-ence, the largest mass-start downriver whitewater race in the country, and continues with a full day of live Appalachian music, art, food, and family programming along the riverbank. Around 3,000 people gather for the event, creating an atmosphere that captures the spirit and energy of West Virginia.