Blog Archives

Marty Haggard to play tribute to Dad, Merle Haggard

merle haggard tributeThe Shenandoah Jamboree returns to the Historic Wayne Theatre/Ross Performing Arts Center on Saturday, June 4, for the “Salute to Merle” show with Marty Haggard. The 7 p.m.show will also feature special guest SaraJane McDonald.

Tickets are $25 and $35 and available at the box office Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or one hour before show time. Tickets are also available online up to three hours before show time at WayneTheatre.org.

“We are really honored to pay tribute to this legend,” said Tracy Straight, executive director of the Wayne Theatre. “He had such an influence on all genres of music.”

Merle Haggard passed away earlier this year. His son, Marty Haggard, uses inspiration from his dad’s music for a project titled “My Dad.” Marty will bring his dad’s voice to life once again on the Wayne stage as he plays tribute to his late father.

“(Merle) will be missed by us all but his music will live on forever,” said Marty, on his website.

Marty will play the Wayne Theatre in downtown Waynesboro before two performances in Nashville on Sunday and Monday.

The family-friendly Shenandoah Jamboree concert series, featuring host Lisa Meadows, is held on the first Saturday of each month through December at the Wayne Theatre. This month, SaraJane McDonald will also join the show.

McDonald serves up a crowd-pleasing mix of today’s top country hits along with homegrown originals and a few 80s throwbacks to keep the audience moving.

For more information, call (540) 943-9999 or visit www.WayneTheatre.org


Friendly City Co-op to mark five-year anniversary

friendly-city-food-co-opFriendly City Food Co-op is turning five years old. And like any five-year old, they want to have a BIG birthday party – and you’re invited.

The co-op was just an idea back in 2006, when a small group of community members started a conversation about creating a full-scale natural and organic grocery store that would put a premium on using local farmers and producers. After several years of planning, effort and dedicated fundraising, Friendly City Food Co-op opened its doors on June 6th, 2011.

A co-op, or a cooperative, is a business based on community and sustainability. It’s about using profits to make a difference in the community and the world. Co-ops strive to be good stewards of the environment, wasting little food and supporting local farmers and vendors whenever possible.

To celebrate, come out on Saturday June 4 between 11am and 4pm. There will be live music- including duo Bryan Elijah Smith and Jay Austin, kid’s activities by Larkin Arts, food trucks, a bouncy house, prizes, a photo booth, free samples and gift bags for the first 250 people to attend.

The event is free to the public. Visit friendlycity.coop/harrisonburg-events-classes/ for information.


Welcome to Hill Crest Bed & Breakfast

hill crestHill Crest, completed in 1912, was built by successful local meat and produce businessman, Adam Oscar Surber. In the 1920s, Hill Crest was sold to Dr. John M. Emmett, Chief of Surgery at the C&O Railway Hospital. Dr. Emmett extensively remodeled the home in 1935, adding two wings on the sides and rear of the home, as well as a three-bay carriage house with apartment, and acres of formal English gardens.

Hill Crest is a two-story home on 2.82 acres. Featuring stunning Greek Revival architecture, Hill Crest has four massive 20-foot columns supporting a classic portico with brilliant white trim contrasting against red brick. Situated at the top of the city’s most prestigious street, Hill Crest’s 64-foot wraparound porch offers a commanding view of the city and the surrounding mountains. Hill Crest has 24 rooms on 4 levels, and approximately 5,800 square feet of finished living space.

Hill Crest also features a 40,000-gallon in-ground pool, beautiful gardens, stone retaining walls from the 1900s, majestic trees for privacy and intimacy, and 100-year-old English boxwoods.


Devils Backbone Hoopla final lineup

devils-backboneDevils Backbone Hoopla, the new festival to bring folks together to craft an adventure at Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows (200 Mosbys Run), has announced the final lineup of music and a taste of the exciting the Adventures for the event that takes place Thursday, September 29 through Sunday, October 2.

Full festival tickets, daily passes, camping and Hoopla Adventure registration can be found online at www.dbbrewingcompany.com.

Ryan Beaver, a Texas-bred artist recently named one of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know” by Rolling Stone, and Andy Frasco and The U.N., a crew that incorporates soul, funk, and rock into undeniable good times, have joined the roster of 14 musical acts, along with headliners The Revivalists and Old 97’s.

In addition to an incredible music lineup, festivalgoers will be able to participate in Hoopla Adventures, activities and events that celebrate the seven amazing values that make up the Devils Backbone culture: Beer Positive, Passion, Adventure, Family, Humility, Integrity, and Stewardship. Hoopla Adventures kick off on Thursday, and throughout each day of the festival there will be dozens of opportunities for people to participate. Some of the highlights include:

Beer Positive: All Beer is Great Beer

  • Hops & Hogs
    A classic southern pig pickin’ for early festival arrivals
  • Rare Beer Pop Up Festival
    Free tastings of rare beers from a number of craft breweries with Hoopla souvenir tasting glasses
  • Home Brewing Demo
    Home brewers will share techniques and show off their skills with demonstrations
  • Campfire Beer Dinner
    An intimate gathering with fellow festivalgoers for a dining experience
  • Funky Farewell & Beer Brunch
    Brunch gets even better with live music and a pop-up craft market
  • Nelson County Tent
    Stop by for samples from Bold Rock Hard Cider, Virginia Distillery, Silverback Distillery, and more (selections at the tent will vary throughout the weekend)

Passion: Devotion to Your Craft

  • Storytelling
  • Jam Sessions

Adventure: Always Craft an Adventure  

  • Blue Ridge Parkway & Outpost Tour
    Take a field trip on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway to the Outpost in Lexington for a tour of OP, flight of beers, a pint, and a snack on the way home
  • Guided Nelson County Hike
    A guided hike on the AT to Maupin Shelter with a bagged lunch and DB beer back at Basecamp
  • Nelson County Tour of Bold Rock Hard Cider, Silverback Distillery, and Virginia Distillery Company
    Exclusive tours of our Nelson County neighbors

Family: With Each Other Always

  • Family Activity Area
    This setup includes a climbing wall, a variety of games, and arts and craft supplies for children
  • Fairy Lantern Making
    Each night before it gets dark kids can make their own Fairy Lanterns out of mason  jars, glow in the dark paint, and glitter
  • S’mores & Caramel Apple Awesomeness
    Hang out by the campfire near the Family Tent roasting s’mores or making caramel apples
  • Instrument Making Workshop & Kids’ Parade
    Little ones can make their own instrument before the parade, which will make its way through the Basecamp Meadows and up onto the Meadows Main Stage

Humility: Strive to be the Best by Learning

  • Campsite Cooking Challenge
    Campers can sign up in advance to compete in this chili cook-off, and the public will decide the winner – the best cooks will receive two backstage passes for The Revivalists
  • Beer Painting
    Enjoy a beer while following an instructor to create a unique Hoopla painting
  • Bike Maintenance/Repair Workshop
    A session on how to properly maintain your gear – bring your own bike
  • Chesapeake Bay Care 101
    Informational session on the Chesapeake Bay and what we can do as a community to keep it clean.

Integrity: Be a Good Sport

  • Human Foosball
    The human-sized version of the classic table game
  • Hoopla 5K Trail Fun Run
    Take a trek along the 5K trail through the Meadows at Basecamp
  • Site Wide Scavenger Hunt
    Navigate through Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows for a chance to win DB prizes

Stewardship: Leave it Better than You Found It

  • Food/Coat Drive
    Donate coats and canned goods all weekend long
  • Bouncing for Turkey Fund Drive
    Raise money for Thanksgiving turkeys for those in need

Experiencing new music at Hoopla will give listeners the same sense of discovery that comes with trying a new beer. The featured bands are a sweet mix of bluegrass, Americana, alt-country, and rock from national touring acts, as well as some of the region’s up and coming live bands.  The full bill includes:

  • Thursday: Trongone Band, Adrian Duke Project, Jeremiah Tall
  • Friday: Old 97’s, Futurebirds, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Ryan Beaver, Andy Frasco and The U.N.
  • Saturday: The Revivalists, Dylan Leblanc, Major & The Monbacks, Gold Top County Ramblers, Bryan Elijah Smith & The Wild Hearts, SUSTO, Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Tucked away in the valley of Nelson County on 100 acres surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountains, Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows provides a picturesque backdrop for the music and activities packed into this four-day event.  Campground gates will open in the afternoon on Thursday at11:30 a.m.  You can also follow along on social #DBHoopla on Facebook/devilsbackbonebrewingcompany, Twitter @dbbrewingco and Instagram@devilsbackbonebrewingcompany for updated event information.


Visit Fox Hill Bed & Breakfast

fox hill logoWelcome to Fox Hill Bed & Breakfast Suites located halfway between Staunton and Lexington, Virginia, offering either B&B Suites or Kitchen Suites.

We invite you to unwind and surround yourself with the beauty and peace of our 38-acre country retreat.  Curl up in the living room by our soaring field-stone fireplace, or relax on the front porch and watch the clouds float over the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Our grounds provide endless opportunities to commune with nature:  stroll in the shade along our spring-fed stream as bluebirds swoop by, watch a Blue Heron fish for dinner in our two-tier garden pond as you are serenaded by a chorus of frogs, and wander in our lovely gardens…all the while surrounded by spectacular mountain views.

When you are ready for more activity, you can romp in our meadows and walking trails with your favorite companions:  Fox Hill Bed & Breakfast Suites has been recognized as a favorite pet friendlydoggie destination” in the Shenandoah Valley by Hampton Roads Magazine.

Here you can chose between two lodging options:

All of our Suites have HD Satellite TV with full HBO and Showtime, queen-size beds and lots of space to stretch out and relax; most have Heat-N-Glo fireplaces and private outside entrances. Please visit our B&B Suites or Kitchen Suites pages for detailed descriptions, amenities and pictures of each suite.


Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library hosts Flag Day celebration

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Flag Day at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Tuesday, June 14th at 12:00 pm as Museum Curator Andrew Phillips examines the United Sates entry into World War I.

Why did it take so long for the United States to enter the war? Was Woodrow Wilson a pacifist?  Join Andrew in the Education Parlor of the Dolores Lescure Center to learn the answers to these and other question and travel the thorny road that was American neutrality. The presentation is free and open to the public. In addition, the WWPL will be handing out American flags free to guests on Flag Day.

President Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day with a Proclamation on May 30, 1916.  Wilson’s Proclamation began “I, therefore, suggest and request that throughout the nation, and if possible in every community, the 14th day of June be observed as Flag Day with special patriotic exercises, at which means shall be taken to give significant expression to our thoughtful love of America, our comprehension of the great mission of liberty and justice to which we have devoted ourselves as a people, our pride in the history and our enthusiasm for the political program of the nation, our determination to make it greater and purer with each generation, and our resolution to demonstrate to all the world its vital union in sentiment and purpose, accepting only those as true compatriots who feel as we do the compulsion of this supreme allegiance.”

Communities across the nation began celebrating Flag Day on June 14, 1916, and for years to come.  In addition to his Flag Day proclamation, President Wilson gave two major speeches about Flag Day.  On June 14, 1915, the year before the proclamation, he gave an address honoring the flag.  The next year, on June 14, 1916, one month after his proclamation, he gave another Flag Day address describing the proclamation and urging Americans to honor the flag.  Wilson also led the Flag Day parade in Washington D.C. on that first Flag Day.

The idea for Flag Day actually originated in 1885, when a Wisconsin public school teacher decided that his students should celebrate June 14 as “Flag Birthday.”  That day marked the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes in 1777.  In 1949, 33 years after President Wilson’s proclamation, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress officially designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

Those interested in more information about Flag Day or visiting the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum should contact the Presidential Library at (540) 885-0897, ext. 100.


Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail launches to promote local craft breweries

shenandoah beerwerks trailVisiting breweries in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley just got easier. That’s because the area’s first official beer trail, the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail, launches today, during American Craft Beer Week.

The trail provides an opportunity for tourists and locals to connect with a great craft beer experience.

With 12 breweries all located within an hour’s drive from one another, the Shenandoah Valley region is quickly becoming Virginia’s newest beer frontier.

“I think this is a great regional project with tremendous potential. There’s nothing else like it in the Shenandoah Valley, and we’ve tried very hard to differentiate it from other beer trails in the state,” says Sheryl Wagner, Director of Tourism for the City of Staunton. “It’s a natural pairing – we know that craft beer drinkers love the outdoors, and so after a day of hiking, biking and exploring, now they can tap into our local beer culture.”

The Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail pairs the craft beer experience with a combination of activities and attractions that uniquely reflect the region’s recreational and cultural activities.

The trail provides opportunities for past and future visitors to discover everything this region offers.

On the trail’s newly unveiled website, visitors can quickly plot out a multibrewery tour and mix their tastings with the tourism experiences that best match their interests. In addition to a print and online ad campaign that launches in June, organizers say that signage will be installed at the breweries to cross-promote the trail, and promotional information will be distributed to Visitor Welcome Centers across the state.

The trail’s breweries include:

  • Brothers Craft Brewing (Harrisonburg)
  • Pale Fire Brewing Co. (Harrisonburg)
  • Seven Arrows Brewing (Fishersville)
  • Devils Backbone Outpost Brewery & Tap Room (Rockbridge Co.)
  • Stable Craft Brewing (Augusta Co.)
  • Redbeard Brewing Company (Staunton)
  • Three Notch’d Brewing Company (Harrisonburg)
  • Shenandoah Valley Brewing Co. (Staunton)
  • Blue Lab Brewing Company (Lexington)
  • Wolfe Street Brewing Co. (Harrisonburg)
  • Queen City Brewing (Staunton)
  • Basic City Beer Co. (Waynesboro, opening this summer)

Tourism officials in the region have been studying the potential of the trail since 2014. The project was developed to promote the Valley’s growing craft beer industry and showcase the region’s natural tie-in with compatible tourism offerings.

“We couldn’t be happier with this partnership,” says Wagner, speaking of the multiple-locality effort behind the trail. Tourism partners in the cities of Staunton, Harrisonburg, Lexington, and Waynesboro as well as the counties of Augusta and Rockbridge jointly developed the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail.

More details about the trail can be found at beerwerkstrail.com.

Trail updates and news can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages

by the side of the roadBuilt in the late 18th century, By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages is one of the top-rated inns in the Historic Shenandoah Valley, and it’s located literally by the side of the road.

Located just minutes from Downtown Harrisonburg, the bed and breakfast and has been meticulously preserved. Guests return time and again to experience the comfort and intimacy of four suites located in the Manor House and five luxurious cottages.

The location is ideal to experience all of the best Harrisonburg restaurants and other fantastic things to do in Harrisonburg and nearby.

 

Top attractions: By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages

More online at www.bythesideoftheroad.com.


Darrell Scott to open Lime Kiln Summer Concert Series

lime-kilnLime Kiln Theater’s Summer 2016 concert series will kick off on Saturday, May 21, as Darrell Scott takes the stage with opener Hoppie Vaughan. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30.

Advance tickets are $20 and are on sale now atwww.limekilntheater.org. Season passes are also still available online for $130, a 20 percent discount for all eight shows in the 2016 concert series. Tickets to the May 21 show will be $25 at the door, with cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover all accepted.

Lime Kiln Theater’s summer concert series is sponsored by Devils Backbone Brewing Company and Charles W. Barger & Son Construction. Devils Backbone beer, Kind Roots Café food, and Rockbridge Vineyards wine will be available for purchase at all shows.

Darrell Scott is a Grammy-nominated performer and recording artist, a highly in-demand multi-instrumentalist, and an ASCAP Songwriter of the Year. Darrell delivers his soulful performances in solo, duo, trio, band, and string quintet configurations, all equally dynamic and powerful. Songwriting credits include the Grammy Award-winning “Long Time Gone” and “Heartbreak Town”, and he also performs in Robert Plant’s Band of Joy. Darrell’s new record, Couchville Sessions, will be released just a week before he takes the Lime Kiln stage.

Hoppie Vaughan is a Nashville-trained musician who currently lives in Roanoke, Va. Hoppie’s musical style could be described as rhythm and blue-eyed soul. In Nashville, he learned how to write songs and developed his skills as a performing artist. Having appeared or performed alongside acts ranging from Delbert McClinton to Ronnie Milsap, Hoppie now plays solo and with The Ministers of Soul.

Lime Kiln Arts, Inc. is a non-profit (501c3), operating at Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington. It opened in 1984 and is rooted in and inspired by the magic of a natural, outdoor theater. After a brief hiatus that started in 2012, Lime Kiln Theater is thrilled to begin its third straight summer season of live music featuring local, regional and national acts.

For more information, visit Lime Kiln on the web at www.limekilntheater.org, or check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LimeKilnTheater.


Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park announces Battlefield Series programs

cedar creekCedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park is pleased to announce a series of special Battlefield Series programs.

These presentations highlight particular stories and events related to the Battle of Cedar Creek and other Civil War sites in the Shenandoah Valley.  “The Battlefield Series programs examine these events in more detail than our regular presentations,” according to Chief Ranger Eric Campbell, “They also allow visitors an opportunity to see sites not normally open, or widely accessible, to the general public.”  Battlefield Series programs are offered at 2:00 p.m. on select Saturdays, starting May 21st.  Each program is free and lasts between 90 minutes to two hours.

 

May 21, 2:00 p.m.
“It stood like a granite breakwater, built to beat back the oncoming flood….“
Stemming the Tide: The Stand of the 6th Corps at Cedar Creek

With the collapse of the rest of the Northern army on the morning of October 19, 1864, only the Union 6th corps stood intact to face the Confederate onslaught.  Join Park Volunteer Patrick Cooney as he explores the defensive stand made by the 6th Corps and its impact on the battle.  Meet at Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main Street, Middletown).  Visitors will then car caravan to various locations on the battlefield.

 

June 4, 2:00 p.m.
The Confederate Defense of Miller’s Lane

The Union counterattack at Cedar Creek involved some of the bloodiest and most critical combat of the entire battle.  Join Park Volunteer Jeff Klopp as he examines this fighting from the perspective of the Confederate defenders.  Meet at the Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main Street, Middletown).  Visitors will then car caravan to various locations on the battlefield.

 

July 9, 2:00 p.m.
“Battling in the Streets” Middletown and the Battle of Cedar Creek

Middletown constantly found itself in the middle of war.  At no time was this truer than on October 19, 1864 during the Battle of Cedar Creek when fighting raged through the town’s streets both during the morning Confederate assault and the afternoon Union counterattack.  Join Ranger Jeff Driscoll as he explores this critical, but often overlooked action.  Meet at the Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main Street, Middletown).

 

July 30, 2:00 p.m.
“An Appalling Spectacle of Panic”   The Collapse of the Army of the Shenandoah

The amazingly successful Confederate surprise attack on the morning of October 19, 1864 at Cedar Creek caused the near total collapse of the Union Army of the Shenandoah.  Park Volunteer Guy Young will examine this attack through the perspective of the three Union corps who bore the brunt of the Southern assault.  Meet at the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation Headquarters (8437 Valley Pike, Middletown). Visitors will then car caravan to various locations on the battlefield.

 

August 27, 2:00 p.m.
“Don’t run until the Vermonters do!”  The Vermont Brigade at Cedar Creek

One of the most well-known units to fight at Cedar Creek was the Vermont Brigade, which saw action both during the critical morning defensive stand on Cemetery Hill, and also during the Union counterattack in the afternoon.  Join Park Ranger Jeff Driscoll as he explains the role of these soldiers from the Green Mountain State.  Meet at the Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main Street, Middletown). Visitors will then car caravan to various locations on the battlefield.

 

September 10, 2:00 p.m.
“A great deal of labor was…expended in building breastworks….”
Exploring the Civil War Entrenchments at Cedar Creek

Some of the most well preserved original Civil War entrenchments in the Shenandoah Valley are located on the bluffs above Cedar Creek. Join Park Ranger Jim Horn for a special walking tour that explores both the construction of these field fortifications and their role during the Battle of Cedar Creek.  Preserved by the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation and Belle Grove, these earthworks are the focal point of a newly expanded walking trail in the park. Meet at the Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main Street, Middletown).  Visitors will then car-pool to another site closer to the entrenchments.

 

September 17, 2:00 p.m.
Capt. Henry DuPont and the Role of Artillery at the Battle of Cedar Creek

Join Park Volunteer Chuck Barker as he examines the role of Capt. Henry DuPont and his 8th Corps batteries during the Battle of Cedar Creek.  DuPont’s actions would later earn him the Medal of Honor.  This car caravan tour will explore areas not normally accessible to the public.  Meet at the Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main Street, Middletown). Visitors will then car caravan to various locations on the battlefield.

 

October 8, 2:00 p.m.
“Boys, when they come, aim low and give them one good steady fire!”  The Battle of Hupp’s Hill

Less than a week before the Battle of Cedar Creek, a short, but bitterly fought engagement took place on the slopes of Hupp’s Hill, just north of Strasburg.  Join Park Ranger Jeff Driscoll as he describes this important, yet largely forgotten, fight and its impact on Cedar Creek six days later.  Meet at the Hupp’s Hill Civil War Park (33229 Old Valley Pike, Strasburg).

For more information, check the park website (www.nps.gov/cebe) or call (540) 869-3051.