Destination Bedford

Friday Field Days with Archaeology
2024-06-21 13:30 - 14:30, 2024-06-28 13:30 - 14:30, 2024-07-05 13:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Join Poplar Forest’s Department of Archaeology and Landscapes every Friday at 1:30 PM through August 30 for an in-depth look into their current excavations and what they are learning about the people who lived in and around the 1857 Slave Dwelling. While the 1857 Slave Dwelling was built after Jefferson’s lifetime, it is historically important as it is the only original dwelling built for enslaved people still standing on the property. As part of the 1857 Slave Dwelling Restoration Project’s efforts to stabilize, research, and restore this structure with the community, we invite you to visit our archaeologists to see what they are finding and learning about the people who lived here.
Friday Field Days are included with regular admission which can be purchased in advance here. Admission to the property includes either a docent-guided or self-guided tour of Jefferson’s retreat home, access to exhibits in the lower level and wing of offices of the villa retreat, and outdoor exhibits throughout the property.

Concert at the Bower Center
2024-06-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Bower Center for the Arts, 309 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA, United States
Come enjoy an unforgettable concert with Paddy Dougherty as she presents The Winds of Change right at the Bower Center!
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

Forest Farmer's Market
2024-06-22 08:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-29 08:00 - 12:00, 2024-07-06 08:00 - 12:00 | Forest Farmers Market, 15583 Forest Road, Forest, VA, 24523, United States
The Forest Farmer’s Market is held each Saturday morning behind the Forest Public Library. The Market features farmers and artisans selling a variety of items including plants, meats, produce, soaps, lotions, coffee, baked goods and more!

Live Music at Beale's Beer: Haze & Dacey
2024-06-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Beale’s Brewery, 510 Grove Street, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Come out and enjoy Haze & Dacey, an Indie Folk duo delighting audiences with great original songs and off-the-beaten-track covers.
Expect folk songs, upbeat acoustic rock, rollicking alt-country…but mostly, expect the unexpected!

Sunshine Daydream Festival
2024-06-22 14:00 - 20:00 | Mitchell’s Point Marina, 3553 Trading Post Road, Huddleston, VA, 24104, United States
This Grateful Dead inspired festival features Christian Q and the Groove, Bigfoot County, and some special guests.
Music starts at 2pm on the lawn at Mitchell’s Point Marina, so bring a blanket or lawn chair!
Mitchell’s Restaurant & Pizzeria will be open, and will have pizza by the slice, hot dogs, and burgers.
Captain Scoop will be open for delicious cones, cups, and shakes!
Small coolers are allowed, but please no glass bottles!
T-shirts and Festival merchandise will be available for purchase.
In the Spirit of the Grateful Dead and Mr. Lebowski, come ready to enjoy a day of fun, friendship, and community.
Admission is free, but donations to The Semper Fi and America’s Fund would be greatly appreciated.

Live Music @ Portside
2024-06-22 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-06-23 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-29 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-06-30 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-06 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-07-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Portside Grill and Bar, 3619 Airport Rd., Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Come enjoy live music and yummy food at this waterfront, outdoor dock pub, located in the Virginia Dare marina. Click here to see who is playing this week!

Wander & Awe- Bedford Outdoor Adventures
2024-06-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Bedford County Parks and Recreation, 1257 County Farm Rd, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Come learn what tasty treats and healing properties nature can provide! Families are encouraged and all ages are welcome!
Wander: We will have a short intro into foraging safety and wildcrafting etiquette, following by a short hike where we explore what edible & medicinal plants & fungi are in season! We will meet at different parks throughout the season depending on what is ready so check the FB events for updates.
Awe: We will cover different resources, tools, ways to ID, look-alikes, various uses, history, and traditional practices regarding the plants & fungi. Plan on learning 10-15 different plants/Fungi each session.
Come explore the original grocery store, the great outdoors!
Feel free to come at 6pm and bring your dinner for some fellowship.
Sessions are led by Lee Wittekind, Parks and Recreation’s Outdoor Event and Outreach Coordinator.

Summer at Lottie J Farm
2024-06-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Lottie J Farm, 4787 Patterson Mill Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Come have lots of fun at Lottie J Farm this summer! Enjoy the play barn, barnyard, corn pit, slide and more! $5 per person, ages 3 and under are free! They accept cards and cash.
Every OTHER Wednesday starting May 29th and ending August 7th from 10-2 (weather permitting)!

Moneta Farmer's Market
2024-06-26 15:00 - 18:00, 2024-07-03 15:00 - 18:00 | Moneta Farmer’s Market, 13641 Moneta Road, Moneta, VA, 24121
The Moneta Farmer’s Market is open Wednesdays 3 to 6pm next to the Moneta Library. The market is producer only – fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs (duck and chicken), bread, jams, jellies, and more!
Also features local artisans.

1776 The Musical
2024-06-27 19:30 - 22:00, 2024-06-28 19:30 - 22:00, 2024-06-29 19:30 - 22:00 | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Revel in the revolutionary spirit of America’s Founding Fathers at Poplar Forest’s presentation of 1776—the Tony Award-winning comedy by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone based on the events leading up to the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence. View these events through the eyes of Ben (Franklin), Richard Henry (Lee), John (Adams) and Tom (Jefferson). Celebrate their contributions to our country’s history. Bring a picnic dinner, a blanket or chairs, and friends and family for an evening of theatre under the stars.
Performances are June 27th, 28th, and 29th at 7:30 p.m. each night. Rain date June 30th. $17.76/Adults (18+), $13/College and Youth (6-17), $4/under 6.

Firecracker MTB Race
2024-06-29 09:00 - 13:00 | 1257 County Farm Rd.
The Four Hour Firecracker has solo, duo, and 3-4 person team categories so you can race with a friend or your family member! We also have a category for those who want to ride with a team and are looking for team members. There will be Male, Female, Coed, Parent/Child, E-Bike, singlespeed, age categories, and more! There are plenty of youth races as well! Bring the whole clan, this is gonna be a fun weekend of racing!

Community Pool Party
2024-06-29 10:00 - 17:00 | The Peaks Retreat & Adventure Center, 1336 Simmons Mill Rd, Thaxton, 24174, United States
The Peaks Retreat & Adventure Center is hosting a Hawaiian themed Community Pool Party. Grab a lei provided by them or bring your own.
Choose to swim from 10:00am – 1:30pm or 1:30-5:00 pm, and get your tickets for your timeslot at: https://form.jotform.com/241596306921156
Tickets are $8/per person or no more than $30 per family, advance ticket purchases encouraged. Limit of 50 tickets per timeslot.

Light up the Lawn
2024-06-29 18:00 - 22:30 | Ivy Hill Golf Club, 1148 Ivy Hill Drive, Forest, Virginia, 24551
This is a public event, so make sure to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the firework show with friends and family! BBQ, Chicken, Hotdogs, Burgers and Beverages (Alcohol provided) will be available for purchase. There will also be various Food Trucks!
DJ from 6-7, and then The Bogeys take the stage from 7-10!
Fireworks will start at approximately 10:00pm.

"Before The Works" Independence Day Festival
2024-07-03 17:00 - 22:00 | Liberty Lake Park, 939 Burks Hill Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Come celebrate Independence Day at Liberty Lake Park in Bedford Virginia.
This event will consist of:
-Live Music
-Food & Dessert Trucks
-Vendors
-Fireworks Of Course
-Kids Zone (Completely FREE)
Multiple Bounce Houses, 65 Foot obstacle course, Bungee Trampoline, Petting Zoo, Face Painting, Balloon Artist, Touch-A-Truck, & More Kid Activities.

NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINKS
NO COOLERS OR TENTS
NO PETS ( Service pets allowed)
Please bring blankets & lawn chairs
Admission $10 Adults/ Children FREE

Independence Day Celebration
2024-07-04 10:00 - 16:00 | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Thomas Jefferson held July 4th as “the only birthday I ever commemorate…” Bring your family and friends out to Poplar Forest, his Bedford County retreat, to celebrate the 248th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in historic style. Enjoy colonial-style entertainment, demonstrations by colonial artisans and craftspeople, archaeological displays, old-fashioned children’s activities, a reading of the Declaration of Independence and more! The Independence Day Celebration at Poplar Forest is $12/Adults ages 16+. Youth ages 15 and under are Free. Tours of Jefferson’s villa retreat will be available throughout the day. Tickets for house tours are $10 for Adults ages 16+, $6 for Youth ages 6-15, and Free for children age 5 and under.
Click here for tickets.

SML Fireworks & Saunder's Volunteer Fire Co Fundraiser
2024-07-04 16:00 - 22:30 | Parkway Marina, 16918 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway, Huddleston, VA, 24101, United States
22nd Annual SML Fireworks & Saunder’s Volunteer Fire Co Fundraiser
Celebrate the USA’s Birthday
and Enjoy
*Live Music
*Food & Drinks
*Vendors
*Carousel
*And FIREWORKS
While supporting our local Volunteer Fire Company!
$10 at the Gate (to Support the Fire Co)
4:00 Gates Open
6:00 Music
10:00 Fireworks
(start time is approximate)
NO COOLERS, NO PETS

All American Festival & Fireworks
2024-07-05 17:00 - 22:00 | Spring Valley Farm, 1190 Horseshoe Bend Road, Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Come to Spring Valley Farm to Celebrate Independence day with fireworks, food trucks, a petting zoo, live music and much more!

Click here for more information.

FireWORX Fest 2024
2024-07-06 17:30 - 22:00 | Downtown Moneta, 1123 Celebration Avenue, Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
The Moneta Volunteer Fire Department invites you to celebrate Independence Day in Downtown Moneta. Listen to the music of The WORX Band, enjoy great food and drink, an adult beverage garden, activities for the kids, and see the best fireworks display in the area.
FREE parking. Gate opens at 5:30pm; music from 6pm to 10pm with the fireworks immediately following.
*No outside food or drinks, No coolers, No Pets, Service pets are allowed if marked*
Purchase tickets in advance or at the gate, $15 per person – kids 10 and under free.
All proceeds benefit the Moneta Volunteer Fire Department.
