CLARKSBURG (WV News) — The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival has been a longstanding tradition and cultural staple in North Central West Virginia for 46 years.

The festival may be a local institution, but it's constantly welcoming new faces to the celebrations.

Johanne Kolm recently relocated to West Virginia in 2023 after retiring as an Air Force mechanic. This year was his first at the Italian Heritage Festival.

"After retiring, my wife and I didn't really have a home to go back to," Kolm said. "So we spent six months looking across the entire country and Fairmont, West Virginia, met every single criteria we wanted."

Kolm said he was in search of a quiet, peaceful town with a strong sense of community.

"This is my first Italian Heritage Festival ever," Kolm said. "I'm having a

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