July
Festival for the Eno July 2-4 — Durham, N.C. The event at Durham City Park will feature over 90 performers on four stages. Proceeds go to purchasing and protecting land along the Eno River.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games July 7-10 — Grandfather Mountain, N.C. Don your best kilt for this Carolina-style Gaelic celebration that features Scottish games, fare, music, and crafts at MacRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain near Linville.
Potomac Whitewater Festival July TBD — Great Falls, Va. Potomac Fest celebrates the D.C.-area’s mighty river and its high-intensity paddling options with comps, clinics, and riverside fun.
Artscape July 20-22 — Baltimore, Md. With over 350,000 attendees, this is the largest free arts festival in the country. Crowds come to see the work of more than 150 artists, designers, and craftspeople.
Bele Chere Festival July 29-31 — Asheville, N.C. Over 300,000 people flock to downtown Asheville for this massive street festival.
August
Old Fiddler’s Convention August 8-13 — Galax, Va. This Appalachian tradition turns 76 this year. It promises to deliver the region’s best banjo plucking, fiddle sawing, and mandolin pickin’ you’ve ever seen.
Microfestivus August 13 — Roanoke, Va. Over 50 microbreweries from around the region will pour their best at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke.
North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival August 18-20 — Marion, N.C. The pickin’ and singin’ will be mighty fine at Rally Park with the likes of Ralph Stanley, Rhonda Vincent, and the Lonesome River Band on stage.
Live by the Lake August 20 — Wise, Va. Get to the lake in the center of University of Virginia’s College at Wise for a full day of roots music, including Dangermuffin and James Justin Burke.
September
Organicfest September 10 — Asheville, N.C. Enjoy a taste of all things organic—from food to clothes to eco-friendly goods—in downtown Asheville.
Top of the Hops September 10 — Charlottesville, Va. Sample all the delicious microbrews you can handle at this one-day beer bash at the Charlottesville Pavilion.
Hoppin’ John Old-Time & Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention September 15-17 — Silk Hope, N.C. Come for the amazing pickin’ competitions, as well as plenty of contra dancing in the Carolina Piedmont.
GauleyFest September 16-18 — Summersville, W.Va. The biggest river festival in the world is all about throwing down in the name of the mighty Gauley. In addition to plenty of running the river’s raging Class V rapids, this is a rowdy paddler’s party with crazy howlin’-at-the-moon fun that has included late night boxing and mud wrestling.
Watermelon Park Fest September 24-26 — Berryville, Va. This best-kept-secret Americana festival takes place on a sweet riverside spot in the Shenandoah Valley.
The Atlanta Chili Cook-Off September 24 — Atlanta, Ga. Bring a taste for heat with some of the South’s best chili at the largest chili cook-off east of the Mississippi.
