Summerfest is a four-day end-of-summer festival centered around the South Charleston Mound. The event is family-oriented with live music every night, local food vendors and a children’s zone.
Food vendors they had available included:
Off the Hook, Just Drinks, Charleston Police Auxilary, Holy O's, Zul's, SC Women's Club, Gettin Piggy With It and R&B Concessions.
MAD Concessions was at the top of my list to check out.
I went with one of their frozen mocktails because it was blazing hot this day, and that sounded super refreshing.
I did the "Lava Flow," which was coconut and strawberry. I was thinking it would be lemonade, as I'm not the biggest coconut fan.
But with the two flavors mixed together, it was just kinda like a whole new flavor that I enjoyed.
Just around the corner was Wild 'N Wonderful Rolls.
These pepperoni roll bosses make a mean pepperoni roll, amongst other rolls.
And their most recent special caused quite the stir.
The "Appalachian Aloha" has pineapple in it, and boy do people have opinions about that.
I tried it, and I don't think it's bad.
Would you try it?
The Naughty Lobstah is a food truck based in Ohio that specializes in New England-style seafood with a twist.
The truck started as The Wicked Lobstah, but changed its name in 2022 after a trademark dispute. The rebrand to The Naughty Lobstah kept the same owners, recipes and playful personality.
Some of its most popular menu items include:
* Connecticut-style lobster roll – warm lobster tossed in butter on a toasted split-top bun.
* New England-style lobster roll – chilled lobster lightly dressed with mayonnaise.
I ordered The High Society Roll - Warm buttered lobster with truck-made black & white truffle mayo on a buttered/toasted New-England Style split top bun. The truffle adds an earthy richness that elevates the sweet lobster, creating an indulgent bite.
Grade: A
Daddy T's Smokin BBQ is a Grafton-based food truck that I waa lucky to catch in Charleston.
Since becoming a BBQ judge, I have developed a great appreciation for ribs. This half rack of ribs was so tender. And no gelatinous fatty bits. I really enjoyed the BBQ sauce and the mac & cheese, as well.
Grade: A
The Putnam County Fair in Eleanor, West Virginia, is one of the state’s largest county fairs.
It combines agriculture, family entertainment, carnival rides, concerts, motorsports, and youth competitions into a nine-day event.
For 2026, the fair ran July 10–18 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds on Park Road in Eleanor.
Daily admission includes access to the midway rides, entertainment and grandstand events.
There were a number of food vendors, including:
Bayou Classics
Zul's
Jo Jo's Taco
Huskeys Cross Lanes
Kevin & Cathleen's Snack Shack
Wicked Cool Shaved Ice & Freshly Squeezed Lemonade
SunTan Swine Bbq
C & L Concessions
Holy O’s Donuts
4H
Spill the Tea Energy and Nutrition
COAL MINER'S DINER
This food truck was new to me, and they had a ton of options. I went with the fried green tomato, pimento cheese and bacon sandwich. I forgot to take a photo of it, but a friend came in to the rescue.
EDIBLE
Otherwise known as Edible Arrangements, these folks featured some smoothies.
I enjoyed a 50/50, which was half pineapple and half strawberry.
POPPING OFF PIES
These pizzas are cooked in a pizza oven right on site. And may be some of the best pizza I've had from a truck/tent.
Other vendors include kettle corn, roasted corn and lemonade.
Plus there are the ones that come with the carnival itself and have that iconic food stand look.
Enjoy a stroll through the event via these photos:
SunTan Swine BBQ is a family-owned southern West Virginia barbecue business run by Scott and Amy Barnett. It operates primarily as a mobile BBQ truck and catering company, traveling for events, festivals, weddings, corporate gatherings, and what they call “Meat Ups” — pop-up roadside stops where customers can pick up BBQ dinners. The barbecue style is built around low-and-slow smoking, with Scott Barnett using a signature spice blend and traditional smoking techniques. Their menu focuses on classic BBQ staples like pulled pork, brisket, ribs, pulled chicken, smoked wings, and loaded fries, along with traditional sides.
I enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich with slaw and Sweet Baby Rays sauce. Plus a side of mac & cheese. The sandwich had that classic barbecue balance of smoky, sweet and tangy, while the mac & cheese added a rich, cheesy bite.
Grade: B
You can miss me with all the "loaded teas" and "protein drinks." But I'll never turn down a lemonade.
The Frosted Farm Girl is a southern WV-based lemonade truck that has also expanded to dirty sodas, hot dogs, pies, pudding and more. I ordered a pineapple upside down lemonade, which was a lovely balance of sweet and tart.
Grade: A
Boat Bites is an updated food truck that primarily sticks to the Trojan Landing area but has recently been expanding to area events.
The menu features hot dogs, chicken strips, chicken sandwiches and burgers. But what caught my eye was the fish tacos - crispy fried fish, pico de gallo, slaw and boat sauce. Plus a side of macaroni & cheese.
I love a good fish taco, specifically the juxtaposition between the hot crispiness and a cold sauce. The former was good, the latter could use a bit more work. But still a solid rendition.
Grade: B
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