Virginia knows how to throw a festival, and the calendar gets wonderfully weird once you start looking beyond the usual fairs.
You can watch towering ships glide across the water, eat fresh oysters by the dozen, see maple sap turned into syrup, and cheer as decorated floats roll past packed sidewalks.
Some celebrations have been running for more than 75 years, while others bring huge crowds together for live music, traditional crafts, local food, and fireworks.
Whether you want a spring road trip, a fall weekend packed with food, or a free outdoor concert, these eight Virginia festivals give you a great excuse to hit the road.
1. Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival – Winchester
Time of year: Late April to Early May
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival fills Winchester with parades, carnival rides, dances, and plenty of pink-and-green decorations celebrating its apple orchards.
One of its biggest highlights is the Grand Feature Parade, where colorful floats, marching bands, celebrity guests, and crowds of spectators line the streets.
You can also catch the Firefighters’ Parade, watch the apple baking contest and fireworks display, or join popular events like the 10K race and breakfast walk.
Starting in 1924 as a simple one-day event, the festival has grown into a beloved spring tradition, and you’ll quickly understand why once you experience it for yourself.
2. Waterford Fair – Waterford
Time of year: October
Next up is the Waterford Fair, held in the small historic village of Waterford in Western Loudoun County, about an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C.
Dating back to 1944, the three-day fair brings together juried artisans, so you can watch demonstrations of traditional crafts like pottery, weaving, and woodworking.
You can also tour historic buildings, listen to live music, sample local food, and check out fascinating exhibits and talks covering centuries of local history.
Surrounded by gorgeous buildings and quiet streets, you get a festival experience that feels like stepping into another time, so don’t rush your way through it.
3. Highland County Maple Festival – Monterey
Time of year: March
Now, bring your appetite to the Highland County Maple Festival, a sweet tradition that spreads from Monterey to sugar camps across the surrounding mountains.
Since 1959, the festival has celebrated local maple syrup with sugar camp tours, where you can see how sap is collected, boiled, and turned into a breakfast favorite.
Of course, learning how it’s made is only half the fun, as you can also dig into maple doughnuts, buckwheat cakes, and candies while enjoying arts, crafts, and live music.
With so many sugar-filled treats packed into two weekends, it’s no surprise that thousands of people make the trip each year to experience it all.
4. Virginia Highlands Festival – Abingdon
Time of year: Late July to Early August
Switching from maple treats to arts and culture, the Virginia Highlands Festival has brought summer festivities to Abingdon for more than 75 years.
There’s plenty to keep you busy here, including hot air balloons, juried crafts, live concerts, photography, writing programs, workshops, and other activities.
The antiques market and vintage show is another highlight, while special tours take you inside some of the town’s best-preserved historic homes and buildings.
With such a packed lineup, the festival typically lasts about 10 days, giving you plenty of time to choose the events that interest you most.
5. Richmond Folk Festival – Richmond
Time of year: October
From Abingdon’s arts scene, crank up the volume with the Richmond Folk Festival, a lively celebration held along the James River in downtown Richmond.
Here, over 30 performing groups take over multiple stages, bringing everything from bluegrass and gospel to mariachi, country, tap dance, and other traditional sounds.
Between performances, you can wander through the Crafts Marketplace, shop for handmade art and goods, and grab something tasty from the food vendors.
Launched in 2005, the three-day festival now draws in more than 200,000 people regularly, making it one of Virginia’s biggest free cultural celebrations.
6. Urbanna Oyster Festival – Urbanna
Time of year: November
In the small town of Urbanna, the Urbanna Oyster Festival takes over the waterfront for two days of seafood, live entertainment, and local fun.
At the heart of it all are oysters, with vendors serving them raw, roasted, fried, steamed, and stewed, while shucking contests show off some seriously fast skills.
Once you’ve had your fill, you can watch the Oyster Festival Parade, hear live music, visit historic boats, and learn about Chesapeake Bay watermen.
First held in 1957, the event now attracts over 50,000 people as one of the world’s oldest festivals dedicated to shellfish, so arrive hungry and come ready to feast.
7. Norfolk Harborfest – Norfolk
Time of year: June
Sailing into something bigger, Norfolk Harborfest brings three days of free festivities to Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront.
The action really begins with the Parade of Sail, when international tall ships and vessels glide through the harbor and become one of the weekend’s biggest sights.
The fun continues with Navy exhibits, family-friendly activities, live music, and food and drinks, before huge fireworks and a colorful drone show light up the night.
Now in its 50th year, the celebration remains a favorite summer tradition, bringing together deep maritime history and plenty of fun for all ages.
8. Suffolk Peanut Fest – Suffolk
Time of year: October
To finish things off, Suffolk Peanut Fest takes over Suffolk Executive Airport with a celebration honoring the crop that helped make the city famous.
Over four days, the airport grounds come alive with carnival rides, live concerts, food vendors, contests, and plenty of roasted peanuts to enjoy along the way.
A standout attraction, though, is the demolition derby, where battered cars crash around the arena and bring a louder, wilder side to the festivities.
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