Blog
Fun Festivals in MHC
There are always many ways to have “fun in record time” in Martinsville-Henry County, VA. Our annual festivals are no exception. From multi-day music festivals to community heritage celebrations, there is a festival for everyone to enjoy in MHC!
6th Annual Pig Cookin Contest will have lots and lots of delicious fresh cooked BBQ with lots of entertainment and attractions. Awards will be presented to the contestant whom the judges think follows the rules and guidelines of the NC Pork Association.
New this year will be a special concert by the Dry Hill Draggers from Franklin County VA. The Dry Hill Draggers have been playing ole-time music for more than 30 years. The band today is the new Generation Dry Hill Draggers and members are still carrying on the ole-time sound of this region with three second generation members: Stacy Boyd on doghouse bass, Jamie Boyd on claw-hammer banjo and vocals, Jason Hambrick on guitar and vocals and ole-time fiddle player Chris Prillaman.
Get up. Get out. Enjoy the great outdoors! Join the Virginia Museum of Natural History for the 2017 Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at J. Frank Wilson Park in Martinsville. Enjoy a plethora of games, crafts, face painting, temporary tattoos, and live music by Kim and Jimbo Cary and their all natural instruments. The event is absolutely free to attend! The festival is provided by the Virginia Museum of Natural History and Martinsville Parks and Recreation.
The Fieldale Heritage Festival is part of a community revitalization effort and to promote community pride while sharing history. Having been established in 1917, Fieldale is a historic district that was named for its famous founder, Marshall Field, Sr. All types of festivities are planned for this fun packed day.
Enjoy DJ music on the lawn during the day and live music in the afternoon. The festival also includes artisan demonstrations, delicious food, and activities for children including a bounce house and pony rides from Infinity Acres Petting Ranch.
The Colonel George Waller Chapter SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) will be in period costumes and there will be a Cruz-In in front of the Community Center featuring antique cars. Plus The Virginia Home Inn will be holding an Open House in conjunction with the Festival.
This fun-filled family event is free and open to the public.
Rooster Walk 9The 9th Annual Rooster Walk (RW9) Music and Arts Festival will be held at the beautiful, 151 acre, Pop's Farm (off of Hobson Road in Axton, VA) on May 25-28, 2017. Rooster Walk is very family friendly and was named one of the Top 5 rock festivals in the state of Virginia by the Richmond Times Dispatch (May 2016). Musical genres will include funk, rock, bluegrass, country, blues, reggae, jazz, Americana and more. In addition to music, there will be food, children activities and arts & crafts.
Primitive camping available. Campers are welcome, including RVs, tow-behinds & popups, no electricity. Children 12 & under free admission with a paying adult.
Performers:
Greensky Bluegrass & The Wailers (Reunited) top the Rooster Walk 9 band lineup! Other performers include: Anders Osborne, Anderson East, Mandolin Orange, the Motet, Marcus King Band, Billy Strings, Eric Krasno Band, YARN, Susto, Erin & the Wildfire, the Trongone Band, Mission in the Rain, Juliana Macdowell, Mipso, Josh Shilling and more!
For this first time, Dino Day becomes a two day festival, so make tracks to the Virginia Museum of Natural History for a festival of Jurassic proportions! Dinosaur skeletons and fossils, as well as dino-themed games, crafts and presentations will make this an event not to be missed for the dino-lover in your family!
Of course, no festival would be complete with a plethora of games and activities for children, as well as the opportunity to dig inside the museum's Dino Dig Pit and the opportunity to take your picture with the museum's mascot, Cera the Triceratops!
Run, paddle and bike your way to fun at Smith River Fest! Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this annual festival is held in Martinsville - Henry County, Virginia, and it is truly a celebration of all things associated with the Smith River.
Paddle the river, participate in the 4.8 mile long river race and 5K Mud Run, browse vendor booths, enjoy children's activities, watch live demonstrations and much more. There really is something for everyone at Smith River Fest!
The festival is located at the Smith River Sports Complex, 1000 Irisburg Road in Axton, just off the Hwy 58 Bypass.
- Live Demonstrations of Fly-tying and Casting
- On-site Rentals
- Free Shuttles
- Guided Paddle Trips
- Kids Village
- Live Music
The Annual Bassett Heritage Festival, sponsored by the Stanleytown Ruritan Club, will be held Saturday, September 9th. Come out to this great community event full of food, fun, and activities. There will be vendors with food, snow cones, popcorn, jewelry, flowers, gifts, crafts, baked goods, t-shirts, and more. You will find "Red Pole" Stone's hot dogs-it's the chili. The sale of these legendary hot dogs benefits the Bassett Fire Department.
The Stanleytown Ruritan Club also participates with a Pancake Breakfast. There is a Classic Car Show, lots of music, free rides for children sponsored by Bassett Industries and a parade.
The festival is held rain or shine. The Historic Train Depot will be open during the festival. Stop in and explore the historic exhibits. Displays include Native-American artifacts, photography, historic displays and more.
Annual Spencer Community Fair & Craft Fair
Spencer-Penn Centre will be hosting Craft and Collectible Fair on Saturday, September 16 to compliment the Spencer Community Fair. The Craft Fair was a huge success for the past four years with craft vendors of many different pieces from woodworking to jewelry!
The Spencer Community Fair will be celebrating their 81st anniversary so lots of people will come. The Spencer Community Fair is known area wide for their lip smacking Brunswick Stew while also serving homemade desserts, chicken and dumplings and fried chicken. Live music is available in the afternoon, and an auction starts at 6:00 p.m.
Oktoberfest
Martinsville Uptown presents the 2017 Oktoberfest International Arts and Culture Festival. There will be two streets of vendors offering everything from free balloons to fine art, plus lots of kid-friendly activities including inflatable bounce houses and a petting zoo.
"Little Germany" will also offer a beer garden selling craft beer as well as traditional German foods like delicious bratwurst. Loaded with amazing crafters and talented artisans, this street fair has something for everyone. A variety of food vendors will be on site with everything from hotdogs to snow cones.
The Broad Street stage will showcase an assortment of talent as well. Don’t miss it!
Brewster Walk
Love craft beer? Then you don’t want to miss Brewster Walk, a craft beer festival on the streets of Uptown Martinsville in front of the Rives Theatre. This very popular festival is celebrating its third year and is expected to sell out in advance.
The event, organized by community nonprofit Rooster Walk Inc., will feature over 60 varieties of craft beers from across the country, as well as musical performances from amazing artists. A portion of event proceeds will be donated to the Penn-Shank Memorial Scholarship Fund at Martinsville High School and the Rooster Walk Band Instrument Program for entry-level band students at Martinsville, Laurel Park and Fieldale-Collinsville middle schools.
For these festivals and other exciting Martinsville-Henry County events, please visit our online events calendar at www.visitmartinsville.com/events/calendar.