Summer is a great time to get away to the lovely Shenandoah Valley for the weekend, especially if a fun event is waiting to entertain the whole family. Here’s our guide to summer events, nearby Beerwerks breweries, and unique lodgings you’ll love to call home for the weekend.
Lexington’s Balloons Over Rockbridge Hot Air Balloon & Music Festival: July 6-7
Watch as 20 hot air balloons soar overhead and fill the sky with color at Balloons Over Rockbridge Hot Air Balloon & Music Festival. Visitors can sign up for piloted balloon flights or grab spots on tethered flights to see stunning Rockbridge County from above. You can also meet balloon pilots, learn about balloon mechanics, and watch the nightly “balloon glow” at sunset. The festival will have live music, food, beer, vendors, and activities for kids.
After the balloon show, grab a craft beer and a meal on one of the decks at Devils Backbone Outpost Taproom & Kitchen. Looking for overnight accommodations? Try House Mountain Inn, a 15-room mountain getaway with private porches, fireplaces, and hot tubs. There’s an onsite gourmet restaurant, off-road vehicle tours, two stocked fishing ponds, an observation tower, and 15 miles of hiking trails.
Waynesboro’s Sunset Spectacular: July 13
Are you looking for even more fireworks fun after the 4th of July? Visit Constitution Park’s Sunset Spectacular for live music and community spirit. Jacob Paul Allen and The Flood and The SkillBillys will perform. Hungry? Get a meal or a treat from Holy Smokes BBQ, Sooners BBQ, Happy Sips Tea and Lemonade, Lucky Duck Kettlecorn, and Kona Ice, which will all have food trucks at the event. After the music ends, a fantastic fireworks display will light up the night from the top of Sunset Park.
The Sunset Spectacular is a short distance from Basic City Beer Co., where you can get delicious craft beer in a cool historical/industrial setting. Overnight visitors should take a room at the nearby Grey Pine Lodge, a boutique motel with modern, well-appointed rooms, firepits, and access to hiking in Shenandoah National Park and along the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail.
Augusta County’s Oak Grove Folk Music Festival: August 9-11
Find your community when fans of folk and acoustic music come together for the Annual Oak Grove Folk Music Festival. Spread your blankets and get ready for three days of great acts in beautiful, tree-shaded surroundings. You’ll enjoy live music by Lucy Kaplansky, Furnace Mountain, Robbie Fulks, David Wilcox, Robin & Linda Williams, and more. Bring your instrument, because the festival will open the stage for an open mic session, workshops, and a sing-along/jam-along session. There will be food and drink for sale, and tickets for kids under 12 are free.
After the music, why not head to a nearby brewery like The Alpine Goat Brewing Company or Seven Arrows Brewing? If you’re visiting for the whole weekend, Stable Craft Brewing offers overnight stays in their comfortable and convenient suites. Amenities include dedicated sitting areas, private hot tubs, and beautiful views, all steps away from the taproom!
Staunton Music Festival: August 16 – 25
Musicians and music aficionados will love The Staunton Music Festival’s concerts that draw selections from over 600 years of classical composition. More than 80 musicians will perform in large and small ensembles in Staunton venues like Trinity Episcopal Church and Blackfriars Playhouse. Festival highlights include “Handel Extravaganza: Arcadia to the Academy,” which features Handel’s compositions ranging from chamber works to selections from Messiah, “Shakespearean Fantasies,” and “Early Keyboard Extravaganza.” While some events are ticketed, many are free.
If you’re looking for a beer to enjoy between concerts, Redbeard Brewing Company is located centrally in Staunton’s Wharf Historic District and serves a variety of your favorite flavors. Overnight travelers will love the luxury and convenience of The Frederick House, a small inn with 20 private and unique rooms spread out in five historic downtown houses. Enjoy a hot, homemade breakfast in the morning!
Comedy Shows in Harrisonburg
Nothing feels better than laughing out loud, and Harrisonburg has several opportunities waiting for you this summer. The Friendly Fermenter starts things off with five comedians joking about what it means to live in America with the American Me Comedy Show on July 20. You don’t want to miss comedy, cave tours, axe throwing, games, themed beer, and more at the 3rd annual Cave Comedy Fest in Melrose Caverns on July 27. Finally, check out the Funny Womacks and Friends performing a “Back to School” comedy show at Court Square Theater on August 23.
Visitors interested in downtown Harrisonburg lodgings will enjoy a stay at the sophisticated Hotel Madison, which offers an onsite restaurant, a bar featuring regular live music, a fitness center, and an indoor saltwater pool. Hotel Madison is centralized for downtown shopping, dining, entertainment, and more breweries like Pale Fire Brewing Company, Brothers Craft Brewing, Restless Moons Brewing, and Three Notchd Valley Collab House.
Rockingham County’s Fairs and Lawn Parties
Rockingham County has a wealth of small town lawn parties and county fairs, including the August 12-17 Rockingham County Fair. Your trip to the fair will include exhibits, rides, food, and live music from Twitty and Lynn, Jack and Davis Reid, Dylan Scott, and Mac Powell. Grandstand events on other nights include a tractor pull, a rodeo, and a demolition derby.
Other Rockingham County festivals include the Massanutten Summer Jam (July 3), Mt. Crawford Lawn Party (July 11-13), Bridgewater Fire Co., Lawn Party (July 17-20), FredFest Music Festival (July 19-21), Fulks Run Ruritan Lawn Party (July 25-27), McGaheysville Lawn Party (July 25-27), Grottoes Lawn Party (August 1-3), Bergton Fair (August 6-10), Elkton Field Day (August 7-10), and the Tenth Legion/Mtn. Valley Ruritan Lawn party (August 23-24).
Finding all the local culture will take you all over the county, so you’ll have a chance to sample beer from different Beerwerks breweries like Elkton Brewing Company, BrewHaHa Brewing Co., Cave Hill Farms Brewery, and White Oak Lavender Farm and Purple WOLF Tasting Room. For out-of-town guests, we recommend a stay in the Silver Lake Bed and Breakfast in Dayton. Originally a log cabin built in the 1750s, the space has been coaxed into the 21st century and is now an updated structure with both modern amenities and a story. The included breakfast showcases local ingredients.
There’s no end to the fun you’ll have along the Beerwerks Trail this summer. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly festivals, live music, or comedy shows, you’ll find something to enjoy. And with so many great Beerwerks breweries located nearby, you can easily sample the local flavors while you’re at it. Start planning your summer getaway.
