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Surrounded by mountains and located along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Roanoke in Virginia’s Blue Ridge offers a metro mountain adventure that is that embraces and beats the summer heat. Cool off throughout one of our various stunning waterways, take in the views with a bike ride along our 35+ miles of paved greenways, or learn more about the culture of Virginia’s Blue Ridge by attending one of the many summer festivals taking place, and more.
Summer Fairs and Festivals in Virginia’s Blue Ridge
- Take a lap through Virginia’s oldest outdoor art show this summer. The Sidewalk Art Show (May 31-Jun 1) in Downtown Roanoke. Hosted along the downtown streets surrounding the Taubman Museum of Art, this show fills entire blocks with art ranging from prints, watercolors, sculptures and more.
- Featuring over 700,000 sunflowers surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, stop by the Town of Buchanan to visit the Beaver Dam Sunflower Festival, this September. In addition to 20 acres of sunflowers, the largest sunflower festival on the East Coast includes hay wagon rides, a farm animal petting area, over 120 unique handmade craft and food vendors, photo booths, and live music.
- Experience the largest free-gate fair in Virginia, the Salem Fair (July 2-13)! The Salem Fair is home to all fair-favorites, whether you like the thrill of a roller coaster, the taste of fair food, live music, stunt shows, and more, everyone is guaranteed to find something they enjoy.
Waterways and Greenways
- Join Franklin County at Twin Ridge Recreation for their 2025 free summer concert series, Concerts by Canoe. With live music right on Philpott Lake, bring your canoe, kayak, or float and paddle to the perfect view. (June 13, June 20, July 11, August 8)
- The scenic Upper James River Water Trail offers Class I and II rapids, which can be easily navigated by beginners, and tubing sections for those hoping to lay back and relax. Twin River Outfitters allows you to relax by providing everything needed for an exceptional paddling, tubing, or riverside glamping excursion along the James.
- Roanoke Mountain Adventures is the go-to for all types of outdoor adventures in Roanoke. Located within the city, rent a tube, kayak, or stand-up paddle board and float through the relaxing Roanoke River. Try a new type of adventure and take a scenic tour of the Roanoke River Greenway and stop by three local breweries with their Views and Brews E-Bike Tour.
Cannot Miss Outdoor Events
- Virginia’s Blue Ridge is set to host the 2025 and 2026 USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships, with seven days of racing events and over 1,500 athletes (July 14 – 20, 2025). The spectator-friendly races will go through the trails of Explore Park, Elmwood Park (Downtown Roanoke), and Carvins Cove.
About Virginia’s Blue Ridge
Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR) is nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the Blue Ridge Parkway, providing a metro mountain mix of exciting outdoor adventure with refined culture. Visit VBR is the official destination marketing organization for Virginia’s Blue Ridge which includes the Cities of Roanoke and Salem and the Counties of Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke. The region is easily accessible via the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA), Interstate-81, and Amtrak’s northeast regional route. For more information, go to www.VisitVBR.com.
Editors’ Note: Dropbox Link includes high-resolution photography and photo credit information.
Media Contacts
Kathryn Lucas
Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge
Director of Public Relations
(540) 342-6025 x129
klucas@visitvbr.com
Grace Needham
Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge
Public Relations Coordinator
(540) 342-6025 x122
gneedham@visitvbr.com
