Destination Bedford

Live Music @ Beacon Seafood Pub
2026-08-30 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-09-06 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Beacon Seafood Pub at The Virginia Dare Marina, 3619 Airport Rd., Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Come to Beacon Seafood Pub located at the Virginia Dare Marina at Smith Mountain Lake, and enjoy great food, drinks and live music! Click here to see who is playing each week!

Live Music at Portside
2026-09-03 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Portside Grill and Bar, 3619 Airport Rd., Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Come to Portside Grill & Bar right on Smith Mountain Lake, for great food and live music! Click here to see who is playing!

Layman Family Farms
2026-09-04 15:00 - 20:00 | Layman Family Farms, 1815 Mountain View Church Road, Montvale, VA, 24122, United States
Come navigate your way through the 10 acre corn maze, pick the perfect pumpkins, and enjoy many activities. While exploring all the fun the farm has to offer, don’t forget to meet the furry friends that are on site! If you work up an appetite, they offer full concessions along with the fantastic Fry Shack. Come for the fun, stay for the views; there’s something for everyone at Layman Family Farms.
Hours this season will be Fridays 4pm-8pm, Saturdays 10am – 6pm, and Sundays 11am – 6pm. The last day to enjoy the farm will be November 1st!
The theme for this year’s Corn Maze is “Lost with Lainey”, after country music star Lainey Wilson, presented by The Maize Company!
Click here for tickets.

Live Music at Benjamin’s
2026-09-04 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-11 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-18 18:00 - 21:00 | Benjamin’s Restaurant, 14900 Forest Rd., Forest, 24551, United States
Come to Benjamins for great food and live music every Friday! Click here to see who is playing each week.

First Fridays at Falling Creek Park
2026-09-04 18:30 - 21:00 | Falling Creek Park, 1257 County Farm Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
The First Fridays concert series is back at Falling Creek Park, brought to you by Bedford County Parks & Recreation.
Come to the park for live music, kids activities and a food truck every first Friday of the month, May – October.
The music starts around 6:30 p.m.
Bring a chair or blanket. You can also bring your own food.
Admission is free!
Click here to see who is playing each month.

Live Music @ Apocalypse Ale Works
2026-09-04 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-09-11 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-09-18 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!

Bedford Farmers Market
2026-09-05 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-12 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-19 08:00 - 12:00 | Bedford Farmers Market, Washington and Center Streets, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
The Bedford Farmers Market will have fresh produce, vegetables, baked goods, artisan crafts and a variety of Bedford and locally grown products! Free off-street parking. The market is open Every Saturday!
Click here to see which vendors will be on site each week!

Forest Farmers Market
2026-09-05 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-12 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-19 08:00 - 12:00 | Forest Farmers Market, 15583 Forest Road, Forest, VA, 24523, United States
Enjoy locally grown produce, meats, honey, flowers along with breads and local artisan goodies. You can also find breakfast sandwiches and a coffee truck most weeks. The market is open the last week in April until the last week in October every Saturday behind the Forest Library.

Live Music at Harvest Moon
2026-09-05 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-06 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-12 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-13 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-19 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-20 13:00 - 17:00 | Harvest Moon Marketplace, 14917 Moneta Rd, Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Come see live music at Harvest Moon Marketplace! Click here to see who is playing this weekend!

Enjoy beer, wine, meads, ciders, and non-alcoholic drinks, along with delicious food and great shopping at the Marketplace. Free admission and free music!

Labor Day Rodeo
2026-09-05 15:30 - 22:00 | Wind Vineyards, 15772 Moneta Road, Moneta
Who is ready to see cowboys on bulls at Smith Mountain Lake!?!? Join us on September 5 for our Rodeo at Wind Vineyards Smith Mountain Lake. BLM Bull and Rodeo Company will be at Wind Vineyards for all of your Cowboy entertainment!
Bring the whole family and register your kids for Mutton Busting and mini bulls. Food trucks will be available as will beverages including award winning Wind Vineyards wine, cold, fresh sangria and wine slushies to cool you down, as well as hard cider, sodas, water, and more.
The event is rain or shine.
Tickets are limited and non-refundable!
No pets allowed Absolutely no outside drinks allowed!

Click here for tickets.

Exploring the Legacy of America's Founding Document
2026-09-10 10:00 - 17:00 | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As part of VA250, Poplar Forest will host a conversation on the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. Local students and guest moderators have been invited to participate in a panel discussion based on the results of personal research projects. Join us for a multigenerational program featuring lauded historians and authors, Dr. John Ragosta and Dr. Frank Cogliano, as we discuss the lasting impact of America’s founding document.
Dr. John Ragosta is a historian, lawyer, and beekeeper living in Charlottesville, Virginia. His most recent book, For the People, For the Country: Patrick Henry’s Final Political Battle, was released by the University of Virginia Press in 2023. A fellow at Virginia Humanities, Ragosta is former historian at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies (ICJS) at Monticello where he also served successfully as interim director of the Center.
Dr. Frank Cogliano is a specialist in the history of the American Revolution and the early United States. He is the author or editor of twelve books including, Thomas Jefferson Survives: American Independence in His Time and Ours (with Peter S. Onuf) which will be published in 2026. Dr. Frank Cogliano is Professor of American History at the University of Edinburgh.

Roots and Reconnection Festival
2026-09-12 10:00 - 15:00 | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Join the Poplar Forest’s African American Advisory Group, interpretation and archaeology staff, and the Board of Directors for the Roots and Reconnection Festival, a special event to honor, celebrate, and educate about the life, culture, and history of the enslaved Africans who lived and worked on the plantation, as well as the culture and life of African Americans today. This festival highlights the profound connection between the past and the present, providing a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate our rich heritage.
What to Expect:

Music and Dance: Enjoy vibrant musical and dance performances showcasing the talent and creativity of the African American community.
Exhibits and Tours: Explore informative exhibits and participate in tours that offer deep insights into plantation life and the evolution of African American culture.
Food and Celebration: Savor a variety of food while celebrating the rich culture of African Americans.
Conversations: Engage in meaningful conversations that promote understanding and appreciation of our shared history and its impact on the present.

Admission to the Roots and Reconnection Festival is free and open to the public. Food vendors will be onsite selling lunch throughout the day.

Lakeside Local
2026-09-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Halesford Center, 16483 Moneta Rd., Moneta, United States
Boutique-style farmers market experience celebrating retail, art, and wellness at the heart of SML! A destination for both locals and visitors, offering a thoughtfully curated mix of vibrant local talent and a meaningful space for connection and gathering!

Bedford Centerfest
2026-09-19 10:00 - 16:00 | Downtown Bedford
This is one of Central Virginia’s largest street festivals. The event features a family friendly atmosphere with vendors, food trucks, live music, artisan market, children’s activities, and more! For more information and event updates, click here.

Jefferson's Curiosities
2026-09-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
About the Series: Thomas Jefferson was a man of many varied interests. Join us at Jefferson’s “best dwelling house in the state” as we delve into topics he found particularly fascinating from travel to culinary, leadership to religion. Each talk in the series includes a wine and cheese reception following the presentation.
Tickets are $25/each or $100 for all five Curiosities Series talks
2026 Jefferson’s Curiosities Series Events:

Jefferson’s Travel through the Germanies (Travis McDonald): February 19, 2026 6:30 p.m.

What Made Jefferson a Great Leader? (Dr. John Ragosta): March 26, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson and Trist’s Wild Mississippi Scheme (Karen Chase): May 7, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson’s Curiosities: Hearth Cooking (Rachel Deddens): June 11, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson & Religion (Nathan Taylor): September 24, 2026 6:30 p.m.
