West Virginia has so many amazing small towns. Many are becoming popular tourist destinations, but few people know about this one. There’s a little Swiss settlement in the mountains of West Virginia.
Helvetia, WV was founded shortly after the Civil War. A group of six Swiss immigrant families was looking for a place to call home. The mountains of West Virginia felt like the perfect place, and soon they were sending word to other friends and loved ones to join the community. At one point there were 308 people living in Helvetia, but now there are just 59.
Helvetia is rich in history.
Helvetia WV Some of the early settlers.
Helvetia Library This beautiful building is the public library. It also houses a museum.
Families enjoy farming like their ancestors did.
Helvetia Community Fair/Facebook
Helvetia Community Fair/Facebook
Old traditions are kept alive here.
Helvetia Community Fair/Facebook Folk dances are held on a regular basis.
A popular attraction in the town is the Helvetia Hutte.
Helvetia Hutte/Facebook
Helvetia Hutte/Facebook This restaurant is decorated with antiques from the town’s early days, and serves traditional Swiss food. Guests love the buffet on Sundays.
It’s a town that loves to celebrate.
Helvetia Community Fair/Facebook There are several festivals every year.
Helvetia Hutte/Facebook One of the celebrations is called Fasnacht. It’s similar to Mardi Gras. Townspeople dance in large masks.
Helvetia WV At the end of the evening, they burn an effigy of Old Man Winter, in order to summon spring.
Helvetia WV Swiss National Day is celebrated every year.
Helvetia Fair There’s also an annual fair.
Helvetia Community Fair/Facebook
Helvetia Community Fair/Facebook The festival has a parade, hand-made crafts and foods, music, yodeling, and dancing.
WikiMedia Commons Finally, Helvetia wraps up the year with the Feast of Sankt Nicholaus, or Saint Nicholas. The celebration has games, stories, food, and gifts for the children.
Have you been to any of the celebrations in this tiny town? If you liked these events, you might enjoy these other unique summer festivals in West Virginia.
Helvetia WV
Some of the early settlers.
Helvetia Library
This beautiful building is the public library. It also houses a museum.
Helvetia Community Fair/Facebook
Folk dances are held on a regular basis.
Helvetia Hutte/Facebook
This restaurant is decorated with antiques from the town’s early days, and serves traditional Swiss food. Guests love the buffet on Sundays.
There are several festivals every year.
One of the celebrations is called Fasnacht. It’s similar to Mardi Gras. Townspeople dance in large masks.
At the end of the evening, they burn an effigy of Old Man Winter, in order to summon spring.
Swiss National Day is celebrated every year.
Helvetia Fair
There’s also an annual fair.
The festival has a parade, hand-made crafts and foods, music, yodeling, and dancing.
WikiMedia Commons
Finally, Helvetia wraps up the year with the Feast of Sankt Nicholaus, or Saint Nicholas. The celebration has games, stories, food, and gifts for the children.
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