Fun in the Valley: August 26’
AUGUST 1st: FRO RO VINTAGE MARKET - This vintage market was thoughtfully organized and is executed month-to-month by the owner of Fleetwood Vintage in Front Royal which is located on Main Street. This market is composed of curated vintage clothing (*size inclusive which i LOVE*), houseware items, jewelry, and much more! You can find vendors at the Main Street Gazebo as early as 10am all the way through to 4pm so if you’re not an early bird - no worries! I had the pleasure of meeting Taylor (owner of Fleetwood Vintage) back in June when we visited her shop for a friend’s birthday and I was stunned at how carefully thought out her shop was and not to mention how warm and welcoming Taylor herself was even in the midst of a busy work day. Taylor took the time to talk to us and personally invited us to experience this new event she’s worked so hard to share with us. Grab a coffee at one of the local coffee shops in Front Royal, brings your friends, and shop local!
August 8th: 21st Annual Route 11 Yard Crawl - I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW. Most of us locals of all ages are aware of the yard crawl and I know I can confidently say that most of you choose to opt out and stay indoors… BUT NO MORE! When you forget about the traffic and the summer heat (I know I’m not pitching it very well but give me a minute), it can actually be a really cool way to discover a hole-in-the-wall eatery that you didn’t know existed, a new antique/thrift store, or simply just think of it as a way to get your steps and Vitamin D in (remember to reapply your SPF though!). Personally, I love to go out to a different town each year and immerse myself into their sales and food stands - last year we hit Middletown and the year before that Mount Jackson! There is no official starting and end point but you can find sales from New Market all the way up to Stephen’s City. Shoppers are out as early as 7am with the crowds dissipating around 3-4pm.
August 8th: Marker Miller Orchard’s Peach Festival - See? I told you I would have other options other than the Yard Crawl for all my ladies who would rather run the other way… run towards Marker Miller Orchards in Winchester! The orchard is welcoming the community with FREE ADMISSION to its annual peach festival which will feature fresh peaches, homemade peach treats, live music, local vendors, delicious barbecue, and pick your own flowers! UM HELLOOOO? Sounds like a dream. The farm will start to welcome the public at 9am and will commence at 5pm, so plan accordingly! Okay I’ve used three too many exclamation marks so yes obviously I will be there along with my family because I am a HUGE fan of peach festivals and I have a wonderful childhood memory of attending Mackintosh Fruit Farm’s (Berryville) peach festival one year and it was actually a high I’ve been trying to reach ever since.
August 6-8th: Friends Market @ the McLeod House - This Friends Market will feature small local vendors of a wide variety some of which include Bold Buffalo Candle Company, whose founder is a the raddest gal - love ya Becky! Check out their antique mart if you plan on making your way through the Yard Crawl festivities, grab some produce from the Stephen’s City Farmers Market, and bring your friends! More information can be found at lagrangefamilyfarm on Instagram.
August 21st: Rt. 11 Chips and Wine Pairing at Shenandoah Vineyards - I am so excited for this particular event that is being hosted at Shenandoah Vineyards on Friday the 21st at 6pm where you’ll be able to enjoy a guided tasting of featured wines paired with Rt. 11 potato chips! It’s bound to be a night full of good fun and yummy pairings, you can find tickets at $25 per person (only $15 per person if you’re a club member) at www.shenandoahvineyardsva.com or in the tasting room located at Shenandoah Vineyards.
August 25th: Girls Night Out at Suzanne’s Studio - Located in the heart of Woodstock, Suzanne’s Studio is the perfect place to go for a date night, girls night, or kids night. No seriously, they are also hosting another event - a pizza and paint night for the littles (August 14th)! You can reserve your seats at Suzannes-studio.net and remember that no matter the occasion and no matter your age, you’ll be guaranteed to find something just for you. Start that group chat now and coordinate with your girls, and maybe I’ll see you all there (;
August 28th - September 1st: Shenandoah County Fair - I mean c’mon you guys, you know I had to include this one in here because personally, I feel like it would’ve been a crime to our community if I didn’t! The county fair is filled with something for everyone in the family whether you’re there for the thrill of the fair rides or simply just checking in for the food, there’s always something else to check out. Our family makes a trip every year, only once or twice, and we always make it a point to stop by and say hi to the animals as well as pick up any food that catches our eye but you can be sure that every single year we grab a fresh squeezed lemonade or two - my favorite! Again, I know plenty of locals who steer clear due to traffic and crowds but remember divas… we’re building community! You can find access to tickets for all events at shencofair.com and if you have any questions, answers can most likely be found under the “FAIR Info” tab on the homepage!
