The annual Hands and Harvest Festival returns with county-wide fall fun during this weekend of Oct. 11 – 13 in Highland County, Virginia, where everyone is invited to celebrate the traditions, harvest, and crafts found in this rural mountain community.
From farms to a fire tower, visitors can experience the sights and tastes of the season while viewing the beautiful countryside of fall foliage. On the self-guided Harvest Trail, the public is invited to take part in traditional fall staples like cider pressing, making apple butter, or picking pumpkins at local farms and maple sugar camps, or they can try something different like taking a tour of a mini equine sanctuary or viewing the process of creating colorful barn quilts. Highland County is home to Virginia’s first Barn Quilt Trail, and the updated brochure includes 80 barn quilts to discover while traveling.
Community activities include an exciting 5K Fall Color Run, Valley AeroSpace Team Rocket Launches, the restored Sounding Knob Fire Tower, popular annual sweater and used book sales, historic Monterey walking tours starting from the Highland Inn, and more. New attractions like the Charles Pinckney Jones House Museum, the working cattle farm of Hazy Hollow Farm, the local art gallery of Art on Main at the 3rd Space and gemstone mining at the Rock Shop at Heart and Soul Massage School add to the opportunities to create lasting memories.
Free entertainment in Monterey is available for the entire family. Kick off your weekend on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. with acoustic music from Michael Bedwell. On Saturday starting at 11 a.m., children can take a ride on Andy’s Bug Train that is sure to bring smiles. The Highland County Arts Council and sponsorships from local churches present Larnell Starkey and the Spiritual Seven at The Highland Center on Saturday at 4 pm. This talented group of gospel singers known by many as the “Gospel Temptations” have been entertaining audiences for more than 53 years. From 7 to 9 p.m., a square dance workshop and dance from experienced local callers Ellen and Eugene Ratcliffe will take place at the Highland Center. On Sunday afternoon starting at 1 pm, join in the excitement of an old-fashioned street dance on Spruce Street with one of Virginia’s oldest clogging groups, the Little Switzerland Cloggers, as well as square dance callers Ellen and Eugene Ratcliffe for a rollicking performance and interactive fun.
Bring one’s appetite, because there will be abundant food options available around the county.
Many adventures await with a visit. The full schedule, details, and addresses of all the festival happenings can be found at www.highlandcounty.org/hands-harvest-festival. Maps with daily schedules will be available at the Highland County Courthouse Lawn and the Highland County Visitor Center, both in Monterey, Virginia, and local stores throughout the county during the event.
The Hands and Harvest Festival is brought to one by the Highland County Chamber of Commerce.
