June 21, 2025 - As West Virginia celebrates its history and birthday, the town of Madison is celebrating the Mountain State’s strong tradition of coal mining.

Just a few miles away from the town of Madison is where coal was discovered in the state of West Virginia. So each year, the town hosts the West Virginia Coal Festival to celebrate the tradition of coal mining and the strong men and women who work in those coal mines every day.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the festival, hosting vendors, games and live music.

While the festival is a fun celebration, the Mayor of Madison and president of the West Virginia Coal Festival, Buddy Hudson, says that the goal is to keep the memories of those who work underground every day and their sacrifices alive.

“Every coal miner that ever walks, crawls, or rides into a coal mine sacrifices their life or jeopardizes his life. Every day. Not only them, but their families,” said Hudson. “So we have to keep the tradition of those memories, of those people that have lost their lives to keep the memory of coal mining.”

At the start of the festival, a memorial is held for those who lost their lives in the coal mines, and a torch burns in their honor for the festival’s duration.

There is also an opportunity for families and former coal miners to see the latest mining equipment.

“And there’s a good opportunity for families of coal miners and friends of coal miners. And this is coal, coal country,” said Jim Clendenen, the equipment director of the Coal Festival. “They get to come out and see the equipment they run underground.”

Just down the street from the festivities, people can stop and see the equipment that used to be in the mines at the Coal Heritage Museum.

Mayor Hudson says he hopes the festival continues to teach future generations about the importance of coal mining, not just to the region, but to the entire state.

“I want my kids and grandkids to just know that coal mining is important to us. So we have to put that on the forefront,” said Hudson.

Saturday is the last day of the Coal Festival with a parade that steps off at 3 p.m. and fireworks at 11 p.m.