This fall marks both a celebration and a farewell as Carnegie Hall prepares to host the 40th and final Taste of Our Towns (TOOT) festival. After four decades as one of West Virginia’s most cherished community traditions, Carnegie Hall has announced that this milestone year will conclude the organization’s role as host of the event.
Founded in 1984 as a creative fundraiser for Carnegie Hall, TOOT quickly grew into a signature regional festival that draws thousands of visitors to downtown Lewisburg each October. For forty years, the event has showcased the best of the Greenbrier Valley – local food, live music, artisan talent, and the unmistakable spirit of community that defines the region.
Each year on the second Saturday in October, downtown Lewisburg transforms into a bustling open-air tasting room where restaurants, civic groups, and nonprofits serve up their favorite specialties. Over time, TOOT expanded to include multiple stages of live music, children’s activities, artisan demonstrations, and special features such as the Beer & Cider Garden. Through every evolution, the festival remained rooted in its original purpose: supporting Carnegie Hall’s mission to provide world-class arts education, performances, and cultural programming for the region.
After extensive evaluation and thoughtful discussion, Carnegie Hall’s leadership determined that the festival has reached a natural conclusion.
“TOOT has been a joyful part of Carnegie Hall’s story for forty years, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has poured their time, talent, and heart into it,” said Cathy Rennard, President and CEO of Carnegie Hall, Inc. “But like all long-running traditions, TOOT has run its course. It is no longer financially sustainable for the Hall, and after much consideration, we believe this is the right moment to bring our chapter of the festival to a close. We hope the community will join us in celebrating this final year with gratitude for all it has meant.”
The decision reflects both financial realities and the organization’s commitment to focusing its resources on its core mission: preserving the historic 1902 building and expanding arts programming that serves the entire region.
In making this transition, Carnegie Hall also recognizes the deep affection the community has for TOOT and the important role it has played in the region’s cultural life. While the Hall can no longer sustain the festival financially, the organization is open to passing the event to another group that may be able to carry it forward. Carnegie Hall’s leadership has expressed a willingness to collaborate with any interested organization to ensure a smooth handoff and to support the continued success of a festival that has meant so much to so many.
As TOOT enters its 40th year, Carnegie Hall honors the generations of volunteers, vendors, performers, and attendees who helped shape the festival into a beloved tradition. What began as a simple idea – neighbors gathering to share good food for a good cause – became a defining celebration of community in the heart of Lewisburg.
Carnegie Hall invites everyone to join in making the 40th and final TOOT a memorable tribute to the festival’s remarkable legacy.
Carnegie Hall programs are presented with financial assistance through a grant from the WV Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts.
