Festivals in the Blue Ridge Highlands of Virginia

Festivals...

Fall Festivals Galore! If you haven't attended a festival in this region, you are missing out. Food, brew, wine, music, art, crafts, river and trails festivals are the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We celebrate life with festivals. Come join the fun this year. Bigger names, bolder brews and more music than ever!

Music Festivals

Check out our Music page for more weekly music events that go on all summer and fall.

Floyd Fest | July 28-31
It’s our 10 year birthday bash in 2011, and we are guaranteeing a best-of-a-decade blowout that will go down as one of the most eXciting gatherings of the year. Although all our FF friends are invited, we will be capping the party to ensure against overcrowding. We’ve done some soul-searching, and we aren’t really interested in being the biggest music and arts festival- only the best.
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August 20 | Pulaski's Grand Slam Bluegrass Festival
Listen to the music of Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press, The Adam Larkey Band and The Crossroads Station.
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Blue Ridge Folklife Festival | Oct 22
Ferrum College's Blue Ridge Folklife Festival is western Virginia's largest celebration of traditional music, crafts, foodways, and rural life. Three stages of roots-music performers showcase the old-time bluegrass, ballads, blues, gospel singing, and string band tunes for which the Blue Ridge is so well known.
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Hillsville Downtown Celebration Series | May - Sept
Beach music concert and classic car cruise-in with music by "The Holiday Band" on May 14th, "The Tim Clark Band" on June 25th, "The Embers" on July 23rd, "Craig Woolard Band" on August 20th and "Jim Quick and Coastline" on September 10th. Food and beverages available, lawn seating, downtown in Historic Hillsville, Virginia. Free admission! Children's activities!
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August 11 | Dirty Dancing Festival with town of Pearisburg
Have the time of your life celebrating 25 years since Dirty Dancing was filmed in Giles County. As part of the celebration, Pearisburg will block off part of downtown and hold an all day celebration with dancing in the streets, tours of the movie locations, talents show, dance lessons, live bands, childrens activities and car show. Don't miss this exciting celebration of one of the best loved movies of all time known around the world.

Brew, Wine and Food Festivals

Art, Craft and Film Festivals

August 5 | Steppin' Out
31st Annual Steppin' Out This year's street Festival takes place on August 5-6 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.Steppin’ Out features over 185 artists and crafts people from around the United States selling unique handcrafted items – jewelry, pottery, textiles, metal work, basketry, stained & fused glass, yard art, fine art, furniture, toys, artisan foods and so much more! website
October 15th | Art on the Parkway
Annual festival where artists show and sell their creations on the grounds of Tuggles Gap Restaurant & Motel in beautiful Floyd County. Located at the intersection of Rt. 8 and Milepost 165.2 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and held during peak autumn color, Art on the Parkway connects "leaf peepers" and art patrons with area artists and musicians. Last year, several hundred people came to see and buy art, making it a very successful event for artist vendors.
We anticipate even larger crowds for 2011. Sat. 8-5 Sun. 11-4
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Street, River and Mountain Festivals

August 11 | Dirty Dancing Festival with town of Pearisburg
Have the time of your life celebrating 25 years since Dirty Dancing was filmed in Giles County. As part of the celebration Pearisburg will block off part of downtown and hold an all day celebration with dancing in the streets, tours of the movie locations, talents show, dance lessons, live bands, childrens activities and car show. Don't miss this exciting celebration of one of the best loved movies of all time known around the world.
August 5 | Steppin' Out in Blacksburg
31st Annual Steppin' Out This year's street Festival takes place on August 5-6 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.Steppin’ Out features over 185 artists and crafts people from around the United States selling unique handcrafted items – jewelry, pottery, textiles, metal work, basketry, stained & fused glass, yard art, fine art, furniture, toys, artisan foods and so much more! website
Sept 10 | River Bassin Tournament and Fishing Festival
Greeen Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke. Festival open to the public from
3-7pm with demos, vendors and music. Tournament is open to anyone. Fish wherever you want: River and Lake Divisions. Boat rentals available. Win cash, kayaks, PFD's, paddles, trips and more. Catch. Measure. Photo. Release. Fishing
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October 13 | The 17th annual Highlanders Festival

The 17th annual Highlanders Festival brings together games, music and entertainment for festival-lovers of all ages. Whether a family's background is of Scots-Irish origin or of other descent, the day always brings with it an air of excitement and anticipation. There is no place more beautiful than Southwest Virginia in the fall and the Blue Ridge Mountains provide a beautiful back-drop for the fall festival.Questions? Call (540) 831-6255.
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October 6 | 23rd Annual Pembroke Heritage Festival
Sponsored by Sage Automotive. Join us on Snidow Street in Pembroke from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for festival fun! Plan now to come out to the Pembroke Heritage Festival!
You don't want to miss this year's activities that include:

Live Music and Entertainment, Giles County School of Dance Competition, Giles Sheriff's Department Finger Printing, Giles Animal Rescue, Pet Show, Lots of Pumpkins, Blood Pressure Checks, Baked Goods, Applebutter Making On Site, Carnival Rides, Handmade Crafts, Food Vendors, Horseshoe Contest, Motorcycle Ride, Car Show, Bingo, 4-H Activities, Pembroke Fire Department Breakfast, Book Signing by local author Charles Lytton, and Back Country Alpacas! website
October 13 | 30th Annual Craig County Fall Festival
9 AM to 5 PM Main Street New Castle Virginia street fair, live entertainment, antique car show, horse rides, mechanical bull. Old Brick Hotel and cabins open all day and serving breakfast and lunch. For info, contact 864-6646 or dgivens29@aol.com

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Dirty Dancing