MULTIFEST is a highly anticipated event in West Virginia that brings together various cultural and ethnic communities in an atmosphere of tolerance and goodwill through art, music, education, cultural programs and cuisine. 

 

FOUNDED

• August  1989

 

MISSION

• The Multi-Cultural Festival of West Virginia, Inc., aka Multifest, is a non-profit organization that seeks to enrich, develop & enhance multiculturalism in the lives of those we serve in our community.  Multifest provides a friendly, family-oriented environment, non-violent tolerance & safe venue to celebrate diversity for all citizens through art, music, education, ethnic cuisine, health & wellness, and cultural programming.
   

HISTORY

• Multifest is a highly anticipated cultural festival that has attracted over a million people of all ages during its run of 30-plus years.  Multifest started in 1989 with the first one-day festival held on the grounds of the State Capital of West Virginia.  Since its inception, the festival has grown to four days, to be the largest diversity-related and one of the longest-running festivals in the State of West Virginia.  People have planned their summer vacations, family & high school reunions, girls’ trips, and many other special events to include Multifest on their weekend agenda.  Multifest 34 n ’24, broke a record with an attendance of over 54,000 during our four (4) day festival and had an economic impact of $6.1M.  In 2023, Multifest had an economic impact of $4.1M with 50,000 people in attendance for our FIRST four (4) day festival.

• Multifest has hosted many Grammy award-winning entertainers, and Steller award-winning performers, promoted local & regional artists, supported colleges & universities with recruiting efforts, conducted a Multifest Pageant, Hosted Randy Moss, former African American Local NFL Player; Renee Montgomery, an African American WV Female Native who is part Owner & Vice President of the WNBA Atlanta Dream; Tamar Slay, a native of Beckley, WV who played in the NBA league with the NY Nets, Charlotte Hornets & numerous leagues overseas for over 8 years.  We’ve secured entertainers from America's Got Talent, The Voice, BET TV Shows & others. 
   

• Multifest is governed by a Board of Directors with elected officers.

 

MULTIFEST BOARD MEMBERS Effective April 20, 2025