Updated July 10, 2024 – People in Southwest Virginia like to celebrate. Music, the seasons, BBQ, arts and crafts, old cars or antiques, think of a reason and the communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Fancy Gap, VA have a festival.

As you make your plans to visit the Blue Ridge Parkway, see if you can include one of these upcoming and always popular festivals in your plans:

Ongoing Summer Fun

• The Blue Ridge Music Center hosts summer concerts under the stars in their outdoor amphitheater from June to September. From opening on Memorial Day Weekend to closing at the end of October, they host music with local blue grass musicians from noon to 3 pm. Make sure to include enough time when you visit to see the museum and enjoy their trails. Click for details.
• Second Saturday Classic Car Cruise Ins and Concert Series in downtown Hillsville run through October. Cruise Ins starts at 5 pm on Main Street followed by concerts behind the historic courthouse on Main Street at 7 pm. Bring chairs. Food is available as well as family games and lots of opportunities to dance. Click for details.

Annual Festivals

• Memorial Day Flea Market, Hillsville, VA. Click for details.
• FloydFest is July 24 to 28 in a new venue and with an amazing line-up of music groups representing every genre you can think of. Click for details.
• Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Festival, July 26-27, Galax, VA. Click for details.
• 87th Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention, August 5-10, Galax, VA. Click for details.
• Carroll County Agricultural Fair, August 21-25, Woodlawn, VA. Click for details.
• Labor Day Flea Market, August 30 to September 2, Hillsville, VA. Click for details.
• Mayberry Days, September 23-29, Mt Airy, NC. Click for details.
• Autumn Leaves Festival, October 11-13, Mt. Airy, NC. Click for details.

For each of these festivals, especially the Blue Ridge Music Center concerts and Labor Day Flea Market, Fancy Gap Cabins and Campground books up. So, make your reservations early.

More To Do and See

The Blue Ridge Parkway has many things to do beyond festivals. Check out the opportunities to hike, fish, golf and paddle. Enjoy the history of the area by visiting Mabry Mill and many other historical stops along and near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Make sure to include visits to the small communities in the area that offer a variety of historical and musical experiences along with boutique shopping. Check out Fancy Gap, Hillsville, Floyd, Independence, Fries, Stuart, and Galax in Virginia and Mt. Airy, NC.