Southwest Virginia is a region with many festivals. Close to Fancy Gap, Virginia along the Blue Ridge Parkway, festivals celebrate music, nature and popular culture. At others, attendees can find amazing arts and crafts and land the antique bargain of a lifetime.
As you make your plans to visit the Blue Ridge Parkway, see if you can include one of these upcoming and always popular festivals:
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 Mid-Day mountain music concerts with local blue grass musicians. 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 start May 13 and 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 available as well as family games and lost of opportunities to dance. Click for details.
Annual Festivals
- Memorial Day Flea Market, May 26 – 29, Hillsville, VA. Click for details.
- FloydFest is cancelled this year due to ongoing construction at the new venue. Stay tuned for news of the July 2024 dates and musical line up.
- Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Festival, July 21 – 22, 2023, Galax, VA. Click for details.
- 87th Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention, August 7-12, 2023 Galax, VA. Click for details.
- Carroll County Agricultural Fair, August 23-27, Woodlawn, VA. Click for details.
- Labor Day Flea Market, September 1-4, Hillsville, VA. Click for details.
- Mayberry Days, September 18-24, Mt Airy, NC. Click for details.
- Autumn Leaves Festival, October 13-15, 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.