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Monday 10am - 6pm Tuesday 10am - 6pm Wednesday 10am - 6pm Thursday 10am - 6pm Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 10am - 6pm

Virginia Highlands Festival

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Abingdon, VA
Virginia Highlands Festival

Celebrating our 77th Anniversary, the Virginia Highlands Festival shines a light on the heARTbeat of Appalachia!
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In 1949 Robert Porterfield (founder of Barter Theatre) began a cultural experience unparalleled to our region. The Virginia Highlands Festival has continued to grow in size and scope to become a destination for tourists and a beloved regional cultural resource for antiques, arts, history, and culture of Southwest Virginia.

08/31/2026

📣CALLING ALL PARENTS OF YOUNG CHEFS!📣

🐔🔥 JUST TWO WEEKS TO GO ’til our master class with Chef Joel Jerkins: BIRD BOSS! 🔥🔪 Space is limited! FREE to participate. Registration required.

🗓️September, 15, 5:00-6:30pm
📍JJ’s Restaurant onsite culinary kitchen
🧒🏻👦🏼All Youth ages 11-18
🎟️Registration is FREE 👉🏻https://bit.ly/BirdBossRegistration2026

Young cooks will get hands-on in the kitchen with Joel, learning real skills, picking up some Bird Boss know-how, and creating something delicious along the way.
No competition. No pressure. Just a fun, hands-on opportunity to learn from a pro and build confidence in the kitchen.

🔥Don’t wait—register today and get ready to CHOP IT LIKE IT’S HOT! 🔥

Visit Abingdon VA Town of Abingdon, Virginia Town of Abingdon, VA Mayor JJ's Restaurant and Sports Bar

08/27/2026

As we are moving full steam 🛤️ahead for another amazing four day paint out of historic Abingdon, let’s check out another blast from the past from last year's Plein Air Abingdon!

STAY TUNED for last year’s Quick Draw award AND Best In Show! In addition.... TWO pop-up galleries and art sales are planned during the October 7-10 event. Details coming soon!

MEANWHILE -- feast your eyes 👀upon these beautiful pieces of art!
🥇First Place: Carl Bostwick
🥈Second Place: Fen Rascoe
🥉Third Place: Matt Andrews

Town of Abingdon, Virginia Town of Abingdon, VA Mayor Visit Abingdon VA

08/26/2026

EVENT UPDATE!! MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 10/3/27

WE.ARE.SO.EXCITED for this event. BUT...we forgot one thing...the original date is Labor Day weekend! GAH! You spoke...we listened! A bit sad...but with an event this amazing...we are pumped to have more time to share this “step back in time” event for us all to UN-PLUG!

Locally grown. 🌾Locally gathered. 🧺Locally raised. 🚜Made for this place!⛰️

JOIN US for a fall celebration merging a FEAST and a FALL FESTIVAL into one amazing day!

Wander Phoenix Springs Farm....discover culinary delights around every corner by Fae Folk Festivities as you meander....join an old fashioned game or two...dip your toes in the creek...check out the NEW Appalachian Apothecary and UNPLUG for one glorious day!

🗓️Sunday, Oct. 3, 2027 at 4pm
📍Phoenix Springs Farm, Abingdon, VA
🎟️ Tickets available January 2027

A Fall Fête AND a Feast —a community gathering celebrating the magic,
medicine, food, and traditions of this place!

Town of Abingdon, VA Mayor Town of Abingdon, Virginia Visit Abingdon VA Appalachian Teas and Botanicals Stormbrew Farm

08/24/2026

Cooler temps....beautiful fall leaves🍁....and a town full of artists from all across this great land painting the historical Town of Abingdon, Virginia in all its Fall season glory!

The 10th Annual Plein Air Abingdon, October 7-10 is an event you simply MUST put on your calendar. Check out the Honorable Mentions from 2025 -- simply sublime!

📣ARTISTS -- there are a few select spots open in this four day paint out. Snag your spot here 👉🏻https://bit.ly/PleinAirArtistRegistration26

👀STAY TUNED for dates on public pop-up galleries and locations to watch these talents in action!

Visit Abingdon VA Town of Abingdon, Virginia Town of Abingdon, VA Mayor

08/20/2026

🧑‍🍳Join Chef Joel Jerkins, winning mentor 🏆of the 2025 "Chop It Like It’s Hot” competition, for a demonstration masterclass as part of our master class series for Youth & Teens (11-18 years of age). Learn how to break down a WHOLE CHICKEN like a PRO. 🍗🐓

📌EVENT: “Bird Boss” with Joel Jerkins
🗓️DATE: Tuesday, Sept. 15
🕔TIME: 5:00pm - 6:30pm
📍LOCATION: JJ's Restaurant and Sports Bar -- Culinary Kitchen
🎟️FREE -- registration required! https://bit.ly/BirdBossRegistration2026
From choosing the best cuts for your favorite recipes to making rich, flavorful stock, this is real-deal kitchen knowledge you can actually use.

Learn real skills. Cook smarter. Impress your friends (and maybe your family too).

FREE to participate. Registration is REQUIRED.

Spots are limited, so grab yours now!

Visit Abingdon VA Town of Abingdon, Virginia Town of Abingdon, VA Mayor

08/19/2026

🎨 Celebrating Excellence in Arts & Crafts! 🏆

Check out this year’s Arts & Crafts award winners from the 77th Annual Virginia Highlands Festival....summer edition!

🥇First Place: Fred Draper, Photographer, Knoxville, TN
🥈Second Place: Marie Hribar, Four Winds Pottery, Otto, NC (https://fourwindspottery.com)
🥉Third Place: Lesley Guerra, , Elk Cree, VA (https://www.oldmorrisfarmllc.com)

These talented Artisans and Makers stood out not only for the skill of their work, but also for the thoughtful design and presentation of their booths and the way they shared the process and craftsmanship behind each piece.

We’re proud to celebrate the creativity, dedication, and attention to detail these artists bring to the festival.

Please join us in congratulating our winners! 👏✨

Visit Abingdon VA Town of Abingdon, Virginia Town of Abingdon, VA Mayor

08/17/2026

EVENT UPDATE!! MARK YOU CALENDAR NOW: 10/3/27

WE.ARE.SO.EXCITED for this event. BUT...we forgot one thing...the original date is Labor Day weekend! GAH! You spoke...we listened! A bit sad...but with an event this amazing...we are pumped to have more time to share this “step back in time” event for us all to UN-PLUG!

🍂 JOIN US FOR A FÊTE LIKE THEY USED TO HAVE 🍂

Step back to the fêtes of yesteryear—when neighbors gathered for good food, old-fashioned games, music, and an afternoon spent together.🤝

📌Revel in a slower pace on September 6 at Phoenix Springs Farms (), just five miles from Abingdon, for the inaugural "Fall Fête," in collaboration with Appalachian Teas & Botanicals and catered by Fae Folk Florals & Festivities.

📌Expect sack races, tug o’ war, three-legged races, egg carries, face painting, oracle readings, creek dipping, trail rambling, local fare, music, and plenty of village charm.

PLUS -- celebrate the public GRAND OPENING of the farm’s Appalachian Apothecary.
🍁 Fall Fête | October 3, 2027
📍 Phoenix Springs Farms
🎟️ Tickets available January 2027

Old-fashioned fun. Appalachian spirit. A gathering worth bringing back!

Visit Abingdon VA Town of Abingdon, Virginia Town of Abingdon, VA Mayor

08/14/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our Youth Photography winners! 📸

We are so proud of the talented young photographers who shared their creativity and unique perspectives with us during this year’s Virginia Highlands Festival. Please join us in celebrating our 2026 Youth Photography winners! 👏

🥇First Place -- Ivy
🥈Second Place -- Levi
🥉Third Place -- Joshua

Thank you to all of our young photographers who participated this year. We love seeing the world through your eyes and can’t wait to see what you create next!

💬 AND... we want to hear from YOU! If you attended the 2026 Virginia Highlands Festival, please take a few minutes to complete our Festival Survey. Your feedback helps us learn what you loved, what we can improve, and how we can make next year’s Festival even better.

👉 Take the survey: https://bit.ly/VAtechFestivalSurvey
Thank you for celebrating the arts, creativity, and our community with us! ❤️

Visit Abingdon VA Town of Abingdon, Virginia Town of Abingdon, VA Mayor

08/13/2026

Help shape the future of the Virginia Highlands Festival! 🙌🏻

YOUR VOICE MATTERS! 📣💪 It only takes a few minutes to make a B-I-G difference in your community!

Conducted by Virginia Tech and generously sponsored by the Wellspring Foundation, this Impact Study will collectively give shape to your feedback guiding the Festival’s future and strengthening its impact on our community.

📌Take the survey today 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/VAtechFestivalSurvey

Visit Abingdon VA Town of Abingdon, Virginia Town of Abingdon, VA Mayor

08/12/2026

EVENT UPDATE!! MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW: 10/3/27

WE.ARE.SO.EXCITED for this event. BUT...we forgot one thing...the original date is Labor Day weekend! GAH! You spoke...we listened! A bit sad...but with an event this amazing...we are pumped to have more time to share this “step back in time” event for us all to UN-PLUG!
We invite YOU!🫵🏻

Join master herbalist Lori Briscoe & Appalachian Teas and Botanicals at Phoenix Springs Farm for their inaugural September event:
“🍂FALL FETE: Grown & Gathered-Experience the Magic of Place!🍂"

Catered by Daisy Sturgill from Fae Folk Florals + Festivities ()

🗓️Sunday, October 3, 2027: 4pm

UNPLUG and join a celebration of locally grown, gathered, raised & hunted fare, old school field games, creek dipping, trail rambling, live music, apothecary shopping, etc. 🍂

🧘🏽RELAX and breathe
🚶🏼‍♀️WANDER the trails
🏞️DIP in the creek
🏡VISIT the historic site of the Green Springs Meeting House
🧺SHOP & learn in the Appalachian Apothecary
EVENT UPDATE!! MARK YOU CALENDAR NOW: 10/3/27

ABOUT PHOENIX SPRINGS FARM:
Part of a once larger tract, Phoenix Springs Farm is the original location of the Green Springs Meeting House (now Green Springs Presbyterian Church) and cemetery which were established in 1785. Green Spring, for which the community is named, and two other mountain springs, which feed into Wolf Creek meet at the back of the property. The original cottage- built in 1894 on a limestone slab with native hemlock beams -is in process of restoration.

Only 5 miles from historic downtown Abingdon at 21269 Concord Lane, Abingdon, VA, the farmstead is a gateway to an authentic experience of the magic and medicine of Appalachia.

All villagers welcome!

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Address

Abingdon, VA
24210

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm
Saturday	10am - 6pm
Sunday	10am - 6pm

Telephone

+12766235266

Website

https://vahighlandsfestival.com/

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