Top 10 Festivals In Roanoke, Virginia

1. Craftsmen's Classics Fall Art & Craft Festival

Held each fall in October, the Craftsmen’s Classics Fall Art & Craft Festival has received one of the 100 best awards from Sunshine Artist. The event features the work and original designs of hundreds of talented craftspeople and artists from all over the country. Many of the exhibitors demonstrate their creative process at the festival. The same organization also holds a Thanksgiving Weekend and Christmas Classic Festival each year.

Craftsmen's Classics Fall Art & Craft Festival

Address: Berglund Center, 710 Williamson Road, Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: Craftsmen’s Classics Fall Art & Craft Festival

Takes place: October

2. Roanoke Times Dickens of a Christmas

The Roanoke Times Dickens of a Christmas celebration in one of Roanoke Valley’s premier events. This year will be seeing the 37th anniversary. The event runs over three Fridays during December. On December 6, visitors can watch the Roanoke Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. December 13 will see a Christmas Parade through the city. December 20 features the RVSPCA Pet Costume Contest in Wells Fargo Plaza, which naturally is loads of fun. On each occasion, there are carriage rides, roasted chestnuts, a Kids Zone and street performers

Dickens of a Christmas

Address: Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: Dickens of a Christmas

Takes place: December

3. Harvest Festival

Each year, Roanoke celebrates the return of fall with the annual Harvest Festival. The event is held at Historic City Market and is decorated with hay bales, corn, pumpkins, and other related items. Vendors will sell fresh produce, including fall favorites like freshly picked apples and pumpkins. A variety of activities are available including Animals from Angels of Assisi, Pumpkin Patch and Coloring, Kids Corn Bin, Apple Butter Making, Pottery Making, and a Honey Bee Display, as well as live music and entertainment.

Harvest Festival

Address: Historic City Market, Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: Harvest Festival

Takes place: Usually held in September

4. Microfestivus Craft Beer Festival

The Microfestivus Craft Beer Festival is held in Roanoke each year during August and is among the largest beer festivals on the east coast. The event involved around 90 national, regional and local breweries with approximately 250 handcrafted microbrews on offer, including lagers, ales, stouts, IPA’s, sours and salts. The festival also offers a variety of traditional ciders and food trucks.

Microfestivus Craft Beer Festival

Address: 1 Market Sq, Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: Microfestivus Craft Beer Festival

Takes place: August

5. St. Patrick's Day Parade & Shamrock Festival

The Freedom First St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held each year in Roanoke. The event starts at 11am on Jefferson Street and ends at Williamson Road. The event includes a Shamrock Festival with live music, a Freedom First Kids Zone with inflatables, face painting and games, a Corned Beef & Co. Celtic Celebration with pipe music and dancing. The Martin’s Shamrockin’ Street Party will feature 13 bands on two stages, while the Shamrock Hill 5K & 1-Mile race is also run at Roanoke Catholic School.

St. Patrick's Day Parade & Shamrock Festival

Address: 213 Market St SE, Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Shamrock Festival

Takes place: March

6. Roanoke Wing Fest

Next year will be the 11th annual Roanoke Wing Fest, the biggest one-day food festival in Roanoke. During the event, local restaurants compete to be the best purveyors of chicken wings and visitors can vote for their choice. After the entry fee, vendors set their own prices for wings, supplied in varying quantities from 1 to 5 at a time.

Roanoke Wing Fest

Address: Dr Pepper Park, Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: Roanoke Wing Fest

Takes place: August

Price: From 5 USD

7. Roanoke Greek Festival

Hosted by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, the Roanoke Greek Festival offers you the chance to be “Greek for a day.” The event offers authentic Greek food, beverages and desserts, as well as music and entertainment and shopping. It also gives the opportunity to find out more about the oldest Christian traditions, which date back to 33 AD. The Roanoke Greek Festival was awarded “Best Food Festival in Southwest Virginia” in 2019 by Virginia Living Magazine.

Roanoke Greek Festival

Address: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. 30 Huntington Blvd NE, Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: Roanoke Greek Festival

Takes place: September

8. BaconFest

September next year will see the 9th annual BaconFest in Elmwood Park, Roanoke, where everyone has a sizzling time. Local chefs compete for the title of BaconFest Champion and the chance to enter the World Food Championships. Visitors will be served a variety of bacon-inspired dishes, while beer will be provided by the Twin Creeks Brewery. Children will have fun with a bounce house, face painting, and other delights to keep them happy. Later in the evening, guests will enjoy a music concert.

BaconFest

Address: Elmwood Park, Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: BaconFest

Takes place: September

Price: From 5 USD

9. GO Outside Festival

Go Outside Festival in Roanoke features three days of active, healthy outside recreation, including music, camping, races, and demos in fresh air. The event involves pro BMX stunt shows, lessons on fly fishing and riding a mountain bike, the chance to try out your balance on an SUP, all while enjoying great music and good craft beer. Part of the event is the Wild Gear Chase, a lumberjack show and watching air dogs, or playing a round of disc golf.

GO Outside Festival

Address: Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: GO Outside Festival

Takes place: October

10. Summer Series in Elmwood Park

Budweiser Summer Series in Elmwood Park is a music event held in Roanoke each year. The festival features big names in music. For example, in 2019, Foreigner played at Elmwood Park in Roanoke to a sold-out audience. Visitors should please note that no tents or umbrellas are allowed, only blankets and seat cushions. Please do not bring food and drink, as coolers are not allowed and refreshments are readily available in the park.

Summer Series in Elmwood Park

Address: Elmwood Park, 706 S Jefferson Street, Roanoke, Virginia, USA

Website: Summer Series in Elmwood Park

Takes place: Usually held in August

Price: From 35 USD

Enjoy exploring all that Roanoke, Virginia, has to offer

Have plenty of fun out in the fresh air, while exploring all the parks and hiking and biking trails, or heading to fascinating, historic museums and art galleries. However, you must ensure that you time your visit just right. This will not only enable you to experience some of the top festivals in Roanoke, but also open you up a different culture altogether.