Grab your tent and camping gear. It’s time to hit the road! Festival season has officially arrived! It’s time to get out and enjoy Virginia’s spring, summer, and fall festivals.
As you may already know, Virginia is home to some of the most well-known festivals in the country.
Such as the Virginia State Barbecue Competition, The Virginia Renaissance Faire, Virginia Wine Expo, and even a beer festival (or two).
This state has an array of festivals that you won’t want to miss during your next visit or while living here year-round.
Whether you want to hear some incredible music or enjoy great food with your friends and family, this is a list of the best festival in Virginia you won’t miss!
Norfolk Haborfest
Harborfest is an annual event that celebrates the maritime heritage of Hampton Roads. The festival features live music, food vendors, and a variety of family-friendly activities.
Norfolk Harborfest is the best festival in Virginia. If you’re looking for a fun-filled weekend, this is the event for you!
Virginia Highlands Festival
The Virginia Highlands Festival is an annual event that celebrates the best of the Appalachian culture. Held in Abingdon, VA, the festival features the region’s music, food, and crafts.
Plus, there are plenty of activities for kids too! If you’re looking for a festive way to spend a summer weekend, check out the Virginia Highlands Festival.
Virginia International Tattoo
The Virginia International Tattoo is an annual event celebrating the military and first responders. The tattoo features over 100 performers from around the world, including musicians, dancers, and acrobats.
Held in Norfolk, the tattoo is one of the most significant events in the state and attracts over 200,000 visitors each year.
Chautauqua Festival
The Chautauqua Festival is a nine-day event in Charlottesville, Virginia. This festival features live music, food and drink, crafts, and more. There is also a kids’ zone with rides and games. This festival is the perfect way to experience the best of Virginia culture.
Hot Air Balloon Rally
The annual Hot Air Balloon Rally is a must-see festival in Virginia. Held in early October, the event features over 50 hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes.
There’s also live music, food vendors, and a Kids’ Zone. Suppose you’re looking for the best festival in Virginia to enjoy the fall foliage. This is the perfect event!
Old Fiddlers Convention
The Old Fiddlers Convention is an annual event held in Galax, Virginia. It is the oldest and largest continuous running fiddlers convention in the world.
The event features live music, food, and crafts. The Old Fiddlers Convention is a great place to enjoy some traditional Appalachian music.
Norfolk NATO Festival
The Norfolk NATO Festival is also the best in Virginia. It commemorates the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty and celebrates the military alliance between the United States and its NATO partners.
The festival features a parade, live music, food and drink, and more. This is the perfect event for you if you’re looking for a festive way to celebrate America’s military history.
Historic Garden Week
Historic Garden Week is an annual event that takes place in April and features some of the most beautiful gardens in the state. This year, it will be held from April 22-28. This is the perfect event if you’re looking for a festive way to celebrate spring.
During Historic Garden Week, you can tour homes and gardens that are generally not open to the public. This is an excellent opportunity to see some of Virginia’s hidden gems and get inspired by the state’s natural beauty.
If you’re interested in learning more about Virginia history, attending one of the many lectures or demonstrations offered during Historic Garden Week is a great way to do so. You can also purchase plants and garden-related items from vendors at the event.
Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival
The Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival is one of the best festivals in Virginia. It’s an excellent opportunity to see live music, enjoy good food and drink, and support local businesses.
The festival takes place every year on the first weekend in May. This year, it will be held on May 5-6. If you’re looking for a fun and festive way to spend your weekend, check out the Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival!
Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is an annual event in Winchester, Virginia. The festival celebrates the blooming of the apple blossoms and the heritage of the Shenandoah Valley.
Various events take place during the festival, including parades, concerts, carnivals, and more. If you’re looking for a fun-filled weekend, be sure to check out the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival!
Stars & Stripes Explosion
The Stars & Stripes Explosion is a Fourth of July celebration. Held in Newport News, the festival features live music, food vendors, and fireworks. The Festival of the Arts is a two-day event held in Norfolk that celebrates the work of local artists.
There will be live music, food trucks, and art for sale. The Hampton Jazz Festival is a three-day event featuring some of the biggest names in jazz. This year’s lineup includes Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, and George Benson.
The Smithfield Ham and Gourmet
The Smithfield Ham and Gourmet Food Festival celebrate Smithfield’s famous ham and other local cuisines. The festival features cooking demonstrations, live music, and plenty of samples for visitors to enjoy.
East Coast Surfing Championships
The East Coast Surfing Championships is also the most popular and best festival in Virginia. Every year, surfers from all over the world come to compete in this event.
This year, the event will be held from August 24-26. If you’re a fan of surfing or just want to watch some of the best athletes in the world compete, this is the festival for you.
Oceana Air Show
The Oceana Air Show is one of the best festivals in Virginia. It’s an excellent opportunity to see some of the world’s best pilots perform amazing aviation feats.
Plus, plenty of other activities and attractions keep you entertained. If you’re looking for a fun-filled day out, check out the Oceana Air Show!
Richmond Folk Festival
The Richmond Folk Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Virginia. Held annually on the last weekend in October, the festival features a wide variety of musical genres on seven stages. More than 100,000 people attend the Richmond Folk Festival each year.
Shenandoah Valley Music Festival
The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival is one of the best festivals in Virginia. The music festival features a variety of genres, including bluegrass, country, rock, and folk. The festival takes place in the town of Orkney Springs, Virginia.
This festival has been taking place for over 40 years and attracts over 20,000 people yearly. If you’re looking for a great music festival to attend this year, check out the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival!
American Music Festival
The American Music Festival is one of the country’s largest and most popular music festivals. Held annually in Virginia Beach, the festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
The festival features various musical genres, from rock and pop to country and hip-hop. There are also plenty of food and drink vendors on-site so that you can refuel between sets.
This festival is for you if you’re looking for a fun-filled weekend of music and good vibes. Tickets usually go on sale in March, so mark your calendar and snag yours before they sell out!
American Music Festival
The American Music Festival is held annually on the last September weekend. This festival features a wide variety of music, from country to rock and roll. There are also food and drink vendors and arts and crafts booths. The American Music Festival is a great way to experience the best festival in Virginia.
Miles of Lights
Miles of Lights is a family-friendly event that takes place in Virginia Beach. The event features live music, food trucks, and over a million lights. The event is free and open to the public.
The Festival of Lights at the James River Plantations
The Festival of Lights at the James River Plantations is one of Virginia’s most popular holiday events. The event features over two million lights, horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa visits, and more. The event is free and open to the public.
Holiday Lights at the Beach
Daytime lights at the beach transform the Boardwalk into a festive winter wonderland. Complete with a towering Christmas tree, life-size nutcrackers, and Santa Claus himself!
The event is free and open to the public, so everyone can enjoy the festive atmosphere. If you’re looking for a unique way to celebrate the holidays this year, check out holiday lights at the beach! You’ll be glad you did! We hope to see you there!
FloydFest
As the name suggests, FloydFest takes place in Floyd, Virginia. The small town is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the festival takes advantage of its stunning surroundings.
With five stages, there’s plenty of music to enjoy, plus crafts, food, and drink vendors. If you’re looking for a more low-key festival experience, FloydFest is worth checking out.
Virginia Film Festival
The Virginia Film Festival is also the best festival in Virginia, a film festival in the country. It takes place right here in Charlottesville!
This year’s lineup includes fantastic films, panels, and Q&As with filmmakers. If you’re a film fan, this is the festival for you.
HoustonFest
If you’re looking for a great festival to attend in Virginia this year, be sure to check out HoustonFest. This festival is held annually and celebrates the best of Houston’s culture and cuisine.
Attendees can enjoy delicious food from local vendors, live music, and much more. HoustonFest is the perfect opportunity to experience everything the city offers. Don’t miss out on this incredible event!
Richmond Jazz and Music Festival
The Richmond Jazz and Music Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Virginia. It features a wide range of music genres, from jazz and blues to R&B and Hip Hop.
The festival takes place over a weekend in August and attracts over 20,000 people each year. If you’re looking for a festival that has something for everyone, the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival is worth checking out.
One of the highlights of the festival is the food. Dozens of food vendors offer everything from BBQ to seafood to vegetarian options.
Another highlight is the wide range of arts and crafts on offer. You can find everything from paintings to jewelry to handmade clothing.
Roosterwalk
Roosterwalk is an annual music and arts festival held in Martinsville, Virginia. The festival was started in 2006 by a group of friends who wanted to bring live music to their small town.
Since then, the festival has grown exponentially, attracting music lovers from all over the state (and beyond). This year’s lineup includes nationally-acclaimed acts like The Avett Brothers, moe., and Trampled by Turtles, to name a few.
In addition to great music, Roosterwalk also features food. Such as food from local vendors, artisans selling their wares, and family-friendly activities.
Caledon Art and Wine Festival
The Caledon Art and Wine Festival is a two-day event that celebrates the best of Virginia’s wine and art. This year’s festival will feature over 50 local wineries, live music, food trucks, and artisans.
The Caledon Art and Wine Festival is the perfect opportunity to explore Virginia’s rich culture and history. This makes it the best festival in Virginia.
Red Wing Roots Music Festival
Red Wing Roots Music Festival is an annual Mount Solon, Virginia event. The festival features various musical genres, including bluegrass, folk, and rock.
In addition to the music, there are also food and craft vendors and activities for kids. The festival takes place over three days in July, and tickets can be purchased in advance or at the gate.
Hampton Bay Days
If you’re looking for a festival celebrating all things Hampton, look no further than Hampton Bay Days. This event has something for everyone: live music, food vendors, and even a car show.
Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity to get out and enjoy the bay! Just be sure to bring your sunscreen, as it can get pretty hot in September. Tickets are only $10 per day, making this one of the most affordable festivals. Trust us when we say you won’t want to miss it!
Grand Illumination
The Grand Illumination is a festival that celebrates the holidays with a bang. This event takes place in Norfolk, Virginia, and features a massive fireworks display, live music, and more.
The whole city comes together for this festive occasion, making it the best festival in Virginia state. This is the event for you if you’re looking for a fun way to ring in the New Year.
State Fair of Virginia
The State Fair of Virginia is one of the state’s largest and most popular fairs. It’s held annually in Doswell and features rides, games, food, and live entertainment. The fair is a great way to experience all Virginia offers and is a must-attend event for any Virginian.
Panorama Caribbean Music Fest
One of the best things about living in Virginia is that there’s always something fun. From music festivals to food festivals, there’s something for everyone.
And with so many great festivals happening throughout the state, it can be hard to decide which ones to attend. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are the top 10 festivals you don’t want to miss in Virginia this year
Conclusion
The best festival in Virginia brings people together and creates lasting memories. There’s something for everyone at a festival, whether it’s music, food, art, or culture.
Festivals are a great way to support local businesses and promote tourism. If you’re looking for a fun-filled weekend, check out one of these festivals in Virginia!
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