Spring is such a beautiful season in Virginia! Flowers, trees, and shrubs begin to bloom, the weather grows warmer, and we all spend more time outdoors.
Springtime in Central Virginia: Spring Gardens to Explore - These spring gardens will bring a little extra beauty into your life!
Fall festivals have always been popular in Virginia, but there are also many spring festivals across Virginia to welcome the season.
Here are some favorite spring festivals in the Lynchburg area and around Virginia. Add a few to your calendar this year and welcome springtime!
65th Annual Highland County Maple Festival takes place March 8-9 and March 15-16 in Monterey. Tens of thousands of visitors attend the Highland County Maple Festival each year to observe the process of maple sugar-making. In 2025, there will be 10 open sugar camps with unique techniques and stories for you to explore for free. There will also be arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, and lots of maple foods including pancake and buckwheat cakes, maple doughnuts, and more. Almost everything at the county-wide festival has free entry. Hours are Saturdays from 9 AM - 5 PM and Sundays from 9 AM - 4 PM. See the website for a listing of events and times.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in Washington, DC from March 20 through April 13. Although not technically in Virginia, this popular event is close enough to include in our festival listings. A combination of free and ticketed events take place over a period of several weeks across the District. Some popular family-friendly events include: Family Day at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum, the Blossom Kite Festival on the Washington Monument Grounds, Japanese Culture Day at the Library of Congress, and Petalpalooza®, a free all day celebration of art, music, and play, interactive art installations, hands-on activities, roaming entertainers, fireworks, and more along the banks of the Anacostia River. The cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin are stunning during early spring, but it's tricky to get there at just the right time. You can follow the Cherry Blossom Watch Facebook page or the National Park Service's website for updates about projected peak bloom dates, recently announced as March 28-31.
Thrive Outside Festival takes place April 5 at Falling Creek Park in Bedford. At the festival, you'll meet local vendors, outfitters, camps, clubs, farms, healthcare practitioners, gyms, and non-profits as you learn more about adventure, recreation, agriculture, homesteading, health, and wellness. There will also be group adventures, competitions, and lots of kids activities to enjoy. Thrive Outside Festival hours are from 10 AM - 6 PM. See the Facebook event page for a timeline of events and times.
Spring Blossom Festival at Avoca Museum takes place April 5 in Altavista. This new event welcomes spring in Virginia with local artisans and farmers, an art show, live music, Avoca house tours, food vendors, wine tastings, and more. Walk through the gardens and arboretum and enjoy the beauty of spring. Purchase tickets for this event at the website. Students and children are admitted free. Festival hours are from 11 AM - 5 PM.
Gloucester Daffodil Festival takes place on April 5-6 on Main Street in Gloucester. The 39th Annual Daffodil Festival offers live entertainment, over 200 unique vendors, a variety of food vendors, the 7th Virginia Regiment interpreters, and the new VA250 Mobile Museum, which highlights Virginia’s history. The Daffodil Festival Parade kicks off Saturday morning's festivities at 10 AM. Thousands of visitors will be on hand to celebrate the history and beauty of the daffodil, which has flourished in Gloucester for centuries. Festival hours are Saturday, April 5 from 10 AM - 5 PM and Sunday, April 6 from 12 PM - 5 PM. See the website for a listing of events and times.
Apple Blossom Festival at Gross' Orchard takes place April 12 in Bedford. One of multiple annual festivals, the Apple Blossom Festival always takes place on the second Saturday in April. The Apple Blossom Festival is a day filled with music, food, vendors, wagon rides, and more. Enjoy the beauty of springtime in Bedford's Apple Valley on April 12. Apple Blossom Festival hours are from 10 AM - 4 PM. Watch the website and social media for a timeline of events and times.
13th Annual Tom Tom Founders Festival takes place April 16-20 in Charlottesville. The 13th Annual Tom Tom Founders Festival is a celebration of music, art, and ideas. The Tom Tom Founders Festival includes EVOLVE Conference events April 16-19 at venues on the Downtown Mall; free Downtown Mall Block Party on April 18-19 with music, performances, and a children's zone; Porchella, a series of free acoustic front porch concerts and jam sessions on Sunday evening; and more. See the website for a listing of events and times.
98th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival takes place April 25 - May 4 in Winchester. The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, also known as The Bloom, is held annually in the City of Winchester and Frederick County. More than 250,000 people attend the festival every year. The festival includes days of events, including the Old Town Wine and Fine Arts Festival, Apple Blossom Carnival, dances, parades, band concerts, sporting events, air show, parties, and more. Prices vary for the events, including some which offer free entry. See the website for a listing of events and times.
Vinton Dogwood Festival takes place April 25-26, 2025 in Vinton. The Vinton Dogwood Festival began in 1956 as a fundraiser for new uniforms for the William Byrd High School band. After selling small dogwood trees in 1956 to raise needed funds, Vinton Town Council and town citizens decided to make it an annual event the following year. The 70th Annual Vinton Dogwood Festival kicks off with a concert on Friday night. Saturday's festivities include a craft and vendor show, live entertainment, free Kids Zone, antique car show, festival foods, crowning of the Dogwood Queen at 12 PM, and the Dogwood Strolling Parade, which begins at 2 PM. See the website for a listing of events and times.
Ashland Train Day takes place April 26 from 10 AM - 4 PM along the railroad tracks in Downtown Ashland. The Ashland Train Day event is a free, fun street festival perfect for train lovers of all ages. You'll enjoy live music, games, model trains, children's train rides, history, arts and crafts, local food, storytelling, and CSX freight and Amtrak passenger trains passing through downtown. See the website for a listing of events and times.
The 45th Annual Community School Strawberry Festival takes place May 2-3 on Elmwood Park's South Lawn in Downtown Roanoke. The free family-friendly festival celebrates the strawberry and kicks of spring festival season in the Roanoke Valley. The Community School Strawberry Festival attracts people from across the Mid-Atlantic region. In addition to homemade strawberry shortcake and other yummy foods, you'll enjoy artisan and local business vendors, musical entertainment and more. Strawberry Festival hours are Friday, May 2 from 11 AM - 7 PM and Saturday, May 3 from 10 AM - 4 PM. See the website for a listing of events and times.
International Festival takes place May 3 at Riverfront Park in Downtown Lynchburg. The International Festival is a free event, featuring live music, dance performances, international cuisine, global arts, crafts and cultural displays, The Parade of Nations, and family-friendly fun for all ages. Festival hours are from 11 AM - 4 PM. See the website and social media for a timeline of events and times.
The 30th Antique Rose Festival takes place May 3 at Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg. Old City Cemetery is home to the largest public collection of heirloom roses in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Cuttings from many varieties of antique roses will be available for purchase. In addition, visitors are welcome to tour the grounds, including the plantings along the cemetery’s old 1860’s brick wall. In previous years, there have been food trucks, craft vendors, family and kid activities as well. Festival hours are from 9 AM - 2 PM. Watch the website and social media for a timeline of events and times.
Atlantic Coast Kite Festival takes place May 3-4 on the beach from 16th-18th Streets at Virginia Beach. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Atlantic Coast Kite Festival. Kite enthusiasts from Virginia and beyond will participate in the two-day free festival. Individuals of all ages and skill levels are invited to take part in the Best Kite Contest with either self-made or purchased kits. Families are encouraged to join kite-building workshops which include free materials and instructions. In addition, American Kitefliers Association members from across the East Coast will share their expertise with kite demonstrations, routines, and flying of their giant kites. Admission to the Atlantic Coast Kite Festival is free. Atlantic Coast Kite Festival hours are Saturday, May 3 from 10 AM - 4 PM and Sunday, May 4 from 11 AM - 4 PM. See the website for a listing of events and times.
Dominion Energy Riverrock Festival takes place May 16-18 along the James River in Downtown Richmond. Dominion Riverrock is one of the world’s largest outdoor sports and music festivals. The Riverrock Festival offers something for everyone, including mud runs, bike races, white-water kayaking, bouldering competitions, stand up paddle boarding, Ultimate Airdogs, exhibitions and displays, and more. There are fees to participate in some events; however, it's free to try all of the activities in the Adventure Zones. Events take place at Kanawha Plaza, Brown's Island, and various pop-up locations around Richmond. This is a fun, family-friendly and dog-friendly event for all ages. Festival hours are Friday, May 16 from 5 PM - 9 PM, Saturday, May 17 from 7 AM - 9:30 PM, and Sunday, May 18 from 7 AM - 5 PM. See the website for a listing of events and times.
Danville Festival in the Park takes place on May 17-18 at Ballou Park in Danville. Festival in the Park began in 1973 and is a staple on the Southside of Virginia. The festival is always held the weekend after Mother's Day. Danville Festival in the Park events include crafts, live music, performing arts, children's activities, rides, food vendors, and more. Festival hours are Saturday, May 17 from 10 AM - 10 PM and Sunday, May 18 from 1 PM - 6 PM. See the website for a listing of events and times.
Here's more ways to Find Your Family Fun® this spring
10 Lynchburg Area Places to Spring Into Outdoor Fun with Your Family - Get outside and play together!
March in Central Virginia: Spring Gardens to Explore - Plan a family photo shoot site or just enjoy the colors of spring in these pretty area gardens.
Wharton Garden Offers Beauty and Fun for All Ages in Any Season - Wharton Garden in Bedford includes a Children's Literacy Garden, Reading Walk, playhouse, and more!
Lynchburg VA Area Spring Hikes - Hiking is a great way to spend family time outdoors. Explore these family hikes in the Lynchburg area!
Lynchburg VA Spring 2025 Day Trips, Staycations, and Road Trips - Find Your Family Fun® in Lynchburg, Central Virginia, and beyond!
Lynchburg VA Spring Break Events and Activities - April 14-18 - Enjoy these fun events and activities in Lynchburg and Central Virginia for Spring Break!
Find Your Family Fun® in March 2025 in Lynchburg and Central Virginia - Spring forward into fun in March 2025 with Read Across America, St. Patrick's Day, and more!
Find Your Family Fun® in the Lynchburg Area During April - April is a great time to get outdoors with the family. Enjoy these fun activities and local events!
Lynchburg Macaroni Kid top events for the week - In our newsletter each week, you'll find our top choices from the many events included in our FREE event calendar. The complete calendar is on our website and we're constantly adding events, so check it often!
Follow us on Facebook for lots of local events and activities, subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter to be first to know what's happening around town, and check the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid website anytime to Find Your Family Fun® in Lynchburg and Central Virginia!
