CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Over 70 breweries, 160 kinds of beer, live music, food and artisan vendors will return to the state capitol this weekend.
This Saturday, June 8 marks the 8th annual Foam at the Dome.
The event is a fundraiser for the local economic and community development non-profit Charleston Urban Works, formerly known as Charleston Main Streets.
Urban Works Executive Director Ric Cavender said on 580 Live Wednesday that event-attendees should expect to see a variety of beer in front of them.
“We’ve always focused on Appalachian beers, West Virginia beers, but it’s not just that, there are beers from all over the country that’s being featured here, mostly craft beers but there are certainly some domestics for folks that love a good Bud Light, Coors Light, Mic Ultra, those will be on tap as well,” Cavender said.
Proceeds from the event go directly toward urban development efforts in the city, particularly on Charleston’s West Side and East End.
Since 2016, the event has raised over $200,000 for revitalization in those areas.
Cavender said without events like this one, the organization’s Façade Grant program for small businesses, their Business Advancement initiative, Shop Local initiative among others would be much more difficult to achieve.
“This money goes toward having the funds to implement these programs,” he said.
Cavender said along with the variety of beer, the event also brings in a variety of people.
He said they have welcomed in visitors from across 16 different states attending the event over the course of the last eight years.
Cavender said it’s a great summer kick-off event for Charleston and also gives visitors to the state the opportunity to see and do other things the area has to offer.
“They’ll kayak for the weekend, they’ll whitewater raft, they will stay here, they’ll go out to eat afterwards, they’ll spend money here in the Capital City, it’s just a really great sort of bookend if you will for event season to start here in Charleston,” he said.
Foam at the Dome runs from 3-7 p.m. this Saturday on the Kanawha Boulevard directly in front of the state capitol between Greenbrier Street and California Avenue.
The event is $45 for general admission and $55 for early entry at 3 p.m. Cavender said paying the extra $10 also gets you access to VIP beers.
He said Foam at the Dome helps the organization reach a lot more people on what their mission is all about.
“We are a small non-profit organization, we like to think we do really good work for being as small as we are, and this event not only showcases our work but certainly the small business community and the best of what the Capital City has to offer,” Cavender said.
You can visit foamcwv.com to get your tickets.