Highlights

The Virginia Highlands Festival July 21-July 30, 2023

With over 200 individual events, the whole family will find something to explore at the Virginia Highlands Festival. Uncover treasures at the Antiques & Vintage Market and shop for unique handcrafted items with our Arts & Crafts exhibitors. Join us for an Outdoor excursion at Hungry Mother State Park and take a walking tour of a local vineyard. Learn all about Appalachian food and history from experts who are passionate about sharing their knowledge. Cap it all off with amazing music and dance the night away!

Broadening the Story of Appalachia Since 1949

Arts & Crafts Show

A staple of the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon for over 72 years. Voted the “Best Art Show in Region” by Virginia Living Magazine readers in 2019, the Juried Arts and Crafts show is a free activity, open rain or shine!

Antiques & Vintage Market

Discover those special, hard-to-find items at the Juried Antiques Market & Vintage Show at the SWVA Higher Ed Center. We’re excited to build on the success of the 2022 festival. Treasures are waiting to be uncovered!

Weekend Concerts

You can’t have a festival without live music! 5 nights of rock, country and bluegrass music curated for you. Enjoy the region’s best food trucks, plus beer and wine from some of your favorite summer bands.

Outdoor Adventures

Take an adventure during the Festival to the great outdoors. Wherever your wild heart wants to explore, we’ll have guided trips for adults and kids alike. Each year, our festival will focus on a different outdoor asset.

Local History

For over 200 years, Abingdon has been the cultural, political, and economic center of the entire region. People are drawn to Abingdon to hear the stories of this rich history via lectures, walking tours & more.

Writers & Readers Day

Writers’ Day is a long-standing tradition at the VA Highlands Festival, with each year dedicated to a curated theme. Stay tuned for our Writers’ Day speakers and special events.

Plan Your Adventure in Abingdon

If you are looking for even more excitement while visiting us for the Virginia Highlands Festival, be sure to adventure throughout downtown Abingdon for unique shopping, award-winning dining, and more history than you could imagine. 

Abingdon has been named the Best Small Town Food Scene four years in a row by USA Today and the Best Small Adventure Town by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. 

Plan your adventure by clicking on the links below for more information on our food, shopping, and more!