Destination Bedford

Festival of Trees
2025-12-27 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-28 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-29 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-30 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-31 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-02 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-03 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-04 09:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Bedford Area Welcome Center, 816 Burks Hill Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Join us for the 17th Annual Festival of Trees: Small Town Christmas!
Experience the magic of the season at this beloved, family-friendly event featuring 40 beautifully decorated trees created by local businesses and organizations.
Vote for your favorites for just $1 per vote. All proceeds benefit local charitable organizations. (Please bring cash for voting.)
Kids will love the holiday scavenger hunt and coloring sheet designed by local artist Terri Foster.
📍 Location: Bedford Area Welcome Center
🕘 Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
🌟 Extended evening hours: December 5–7 and 12–14, until 8 p.m.
📅 Event ends: January 4, 2026
The Welcome Center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, so please plan your visit accordingly.
For more information, call (540) 587-5681.

Train Exhibit at the Bedford Museum
2025-12-27 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-29 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-30 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-02 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-03 10:00 - 17:00 | Bedford Museum and Genealogical Library, 201 East Main Street, Bedford, VA, United States
Don’t miss this Christmas train display featuring landmarks of Bedford and much more! The trains are located on the 3rd floor of the Museum. Admission is $5, kids are free. A train pass is also available to purchase for only $10 in the Museum gift shop, which grants unlimited admission through December.

Last Call For Mead
2025-12-27 12:00 - 17:00 | The Meadery at Graham Ordinary, 8578 Peaks Rd, Bedford, Virginia, 24523
The Meadery at Graham Ordinary is open on December 20th and December 27th for the last time this year! They will reopen their doors in February. Come enjoy delicious mead and a great atmosphere!

Apocalypse Trivia Night
2025-12-31 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-01-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Apocalypse Ale Works, 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Every week there will be a wide range of categories to enjoy while also drinking your favorite beer or seltzer water!

Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party
2025-12-31 21:00 | Apocalypse Ale Works, 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
🎉 Karlee Raye’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party! 🎉
📍 Apocalypse Ale Works
Ring in the New Year with an unforgettable night of live music, great drinks, and nonstop celebration! 🎶✨ Karlee Raye hits the stage from 9 PM to midnight, bringing high-energy tunes to carry us straight into 2026.
🕘 Live Music: 9 PM – Midnight
💥 Balloon Drop at Midnight
💲 No Cover Charge!
Grab your friends, raise a glass, and enjoy the good vibes as we count down to the New Year together. 🍻🎈
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Apocalypse Ale Works!

New Years Day Brunch
2026-01-01 11:00 - 14:00 | Apocalypse Ale Works, 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
🎉🥂 Start the New Year Deliciously! 🥂🎉
Ring in the New Year with an all-you-can-eat New Year’s Day Brunch at Bunker 42, hosted at Apocalypse Ale Works! Gather your friends and family and enjoy a relaxed afternoon filled with comfort food favorites like eggs, bacon and sausage, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, French toast casserole, breakfast burritos, quesadillas, fried potatoes, and more.
🗓 New Year’s Day
⏰ 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
💵 $25 Adults | $13 Kids (10 & under)
Start the year full, happy, and surrounded by great food and good vibes!✨🍳

First Day Hike
2026-01-01 13:30 - 16:00 | Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 1235 State Park Road, Huddleston, VA, United States
🎊 Start the New Year outdoors at Smith Mountain Lake State Park! 🌲🥾
Kick off January 1 with a refreshing ranger-led First Day Hike, a 1.3-mile moderate trek along portions of the Striper Cove and Walton Creek trails—perfect for beginning the year on the right foot.
📅 Thursday, Jan. 1
🕧 1:30–3 p.m.
After the hike, warm up at the Discovery Center New Year’s Day Open House with hot cocoa and treats! Learn about the history of Smith Mountain Lake and get a sneak peek at the exciting programs planned for 2026.
🕧 2:30–4 p.m.
🚗 Bonus: January 1 is a fee-free parking day, so it’s the perfect time to visit. Start your year with fresh air, learning, and lake views!

Music Bingo
2026-01-01 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-01-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Apocalypse Ale Works, 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
This is where the fun of bingo meets the excitement of your favorite tunes! Each round features hit songs across various genres, and you’ll mark your card to the beat. Win the coveted Music Bingo chain, gift cards, and of course, ultimate bragging rights! It’s a lively and unique way to enjoy great music, compete with friends, and score awesome prizes. Don’t miss the fun!

Live Music @ Apocalypse Ale Works
2026-01-02 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-01-09 19:00 - 22:00 | Apocalypse Ale Works, 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Come to Apocalypse Ale Works for great beer and live music. For more information and to see who is playing each week, click here. Food by Bunker 42 Bar Bites will also be available for purchase!

New Year Kick Off
2026-01-03 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-04 13:00 - 17:00 | Harvest Moon Marketplace, 14917 Moneta Rd, Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Kick off the New Year and the 2026 Music Series at Harvest Moon Marketplace, Wine Garden & Tavern during the first weekend of January at Smith Mountain Lake. Enjoy live music in the Tavern with the rarely available Rarely Available Band on Saturday from 1–5 p.m., followed by Chris Hammock performing soft rock and classic favorites on Sunday from 1–5 p.m. Sip award-winning wines, beers, meads, ciders, and hot cider while indulging in hearty winter specials like chicken pot pie stew, clam chowder, and chili. Sip & shop in the Marketplace featuring alpaca apparel, Amish goods, holiday treats, and unique gifts, or enjoy festive favorites like Grinch milkshakes and peppermint twists. Sleigh rides, seasonal cocktails, farm tours, and stunning lake views make this a perfect winter weekend getaway in Moneta, Virginia.

Fae Moon Fantasy Ball
2026-01-03 19:00 - 23:00 | Bower Center for the Arts, 309 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA, United States
Join The Meadery at Graham Ordinary and World Weavers Productions for an enchanting evening at the Bower Center for the Arts, inspired by the colorful worlds of Fantasy Literature. Grab your ball gown or fancy suit and don’t forget your wings as we mix formal with fantastical! Many local artists are gathering to make this a night to remember – and some are even coming from lands far away!
Click here for more information.

Bower Center Exhibit
2026-01-06 11:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-07 11:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-08 11:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-09 11:00 - 15:00 | Bower Center for the Arts, 309 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA, United States
Come to the Bower Center for the Arts to view two new exhibits: Through the Lens II, An Invitational Exhibit and Andrea Wild: Caught In Old Lace Between the Stars & the Earth.
Gallery admission to view the exhibits is free!
The Bower Center is open Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and both of these exhibits will be on display until January 24th.
