Building Community Through Local Events and Live Music

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Cristen Michael, who runs Charleston Events and manages cwvevents.com a website that lists everything happening around the city. She says October is packed with festivals and activities because people love being outside in the fall. Cristen started the calendar while working at a local hospital to help medical residents new to the area find things to do, and it quickly grew into a community resource. She’s now planning a 2026 Winter Concert Series at the Charleston Town Center Mall, running January 17 through March 14, with live local bands every Friday evening. The event will be free and open to the public, and she’s currently seeking sponsors to help make it happen. Cristen says her goal is to promote local talent, bring people together, and show that Charleston has something fun going on all year long.