Destination Bedford

Bower Center Exhibit
2025-07-25 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-26 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-29 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-30 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-31 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-01 11:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Bower Center for the Arts, 309 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA, United States
Beginning on June 24, the Bower Center for the Arts will host the 4th Biennial Fiber Arts National Juried Exhibit.
A reception and awards presentation will be held on Friday, July 18th beginning at 5:00pm. The public is invited to attend this free reception. It is open to the public. As always, admission to the galleries are free!

Friday Field Days with Poplar Forest Archaeology
2025-07-25 13:30 - 15:00, 2025-08-01 13:30 - 15:00 | 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 November 21 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.

Live Music at Portside
2025-07-25 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-26 13:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-01 17:00 - 19:00 | 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!

Forest Friday Cheers
2025-07-25 18:00 - 22:00 | Apocalypse Ale Works, 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Come enjoy Forest Friday Cheers at Apocalypse Ale Works!
Kick back, relax, and enjoy a FREE family-friendly evening of live music, food, and fun every Friday!
**Time:** 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
**Location:** Apocalypse Ale Works
Expect:
– **Live Music:** Click here to see who is playing each week!
– **Bounce Zones:** Fun for the little ones with bouncy castles and kid-friendly activities.
– **Beer & Refreshments:** Grab a cold one from Apocalypse Ale Works and enjoy their fantastic selection of local brews.
– **Food by Bunker 42: Delicious eats to fuel your evening of fun and music.
**All Ages Welcome** – Bring the whole family out for a night of great music, tasty food, and unforgettable memories.
Let’s make this Friday a night to remember! See you at Apocalypse Ale Works!

Forest Farmer's Market
2025-07-26 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-02 09:00 - 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!

Gross' Orchard Peach Festival
2025-07-26 09:00 - 17:00 | Gross Orchards, 6817 Wheats Valley Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Enjoy a day filled with fun, food, craft vendors, wagon rides and entertainment. You can pick your own fruit if you choose and indulge in homemade peach pie and ice cream. This is a free event and fun for the whole family!

Live Music at Harvest Moon
2025-07-26 13:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-27 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 each week.

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

Live Music at Drifter's
2025-07-26 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-27 14:00 - 17:00 | Drifter’s, 1617 Crystal Shores Drive, Moneta, VA, 24121
Live music on the water front! Enjoy the beautiful Smith Mountain Lake, great food and awesome music! Click here to see who is playing each week.

Live Music @ Mitchell's
2025-07-26 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-07-27 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-31 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-01 18:00 - 21:00 | Mitchell’s Resturant & Pizzeria, 3553 Trading Post Rd, Huddleston, VA, 24104, United States
Enjoy live music, great food and the beautiful Smith Mountain Lake all in one place! Click here to see who is playing each week.

Judd's Music in the Park
2025-07-26 20:00 - 22:00 | Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 1235 State Park Road, Huddleston, VA, United States
Come enjoy great live music in the park!
The entry fee is $7 per person, and children 12 and under get in free. Parking fee is included in ticket price. Ice cream, drinks and other refreshments will be for sale. Don’t forget lawn chairs. This event is sponsored by the Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park. For more information and to see who is playing click HERE.

Open Farm Day
2025-07-27 12:00 - 17:00 | Lottie J Farm, 4787 Patterson Mill Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
The barnyard at Lottie J Farm will be open where you can visit with goats, alpacas, miniature donkeys, pigs, bunnies and chickens. Feed for animals is included with admission.
Kids love our play barn with swings, slides (including a 40 ft pipe slide), corn pit, Jumparoo, magnetic chalkboard and little people play area.
Pink lemonade will be joining with delicious food and drinks!
Admission is $5 per person and ages 3 and under are free!

Moneta Farmer's Market
2025-07-30 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 features local artisans.

Apocalypse Trivia Night
2025-07-30 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!

Wagon Rides & History Tour
2025-07-31 10:30 - 12:30 | Gross’ Orchard, 6817 Wheats Valley Rd., Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Come to Gross Orchard this summer every Thursday, starting on June 12th for free wagon rides/history tour. Come explore the beauty and the history of this 5 generation orchard.
Tours will run from 10:45-11:30 and 11:45-12:30.

Wine, Balloons & Tunes
2025-08-01 16:30 - 21:00 | Wind Vineyards, 15772 Moneta Road, Moneta
This exciting 2 day event will feature a balloon glow, tethered rides, chartered flights, vendor fair, live music, kid activities, and much more!
Friday night the Balloons will create an extraordinary scene as they fire up and “glow” just after sunset! Come see the balloons, take photos, and enjoy other attractions such as a vendor fair, live music, and enjoy our Jump Pad and other activities for kids!
Live music will be on our big concert stage! Enjoy food trucks and all kinds of beverages! A vendor fair will be available for your shopping pleasure. Grape Crusher Monster Ride Truck will be thrilling riders. Come meet the pilots and check out their balloons or take a tethered balloon ride! A limited number of charter balloon flights will be available. This event will go until 9pm with balloons scheduled for either a glow or flight late in the day (weather permitting).

Advance tickets are recommended and can be found here. Day of ticket sales available only if the event is not sold out, and will be cash only.

Foam & Fun
2025-08-02 10:00 - 14:00 | Layman Family Farms, 1815 Mountain View Church Road, Montvale, VA, 24122, United States
Fun and Foam at Layman Family Farms!

Come enjoy a fun family day with lots of activities including:
-Zip Line
-Water Slide (One for over 7 years old and 2 for 6 and under)
-Carousel
-Jumping Pillow
Stem activities (Hot wheels tracks with cars, Barnyard Building, Sand Art (sand art is while supplies last), science experiments, and more.
Free hot dogs (while supplies last) Serving starts between 11:30pm and 12pm. There will be other items available for purchase.
Shaved ice, ice cream & treats

$11 donation appreciated.
