Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance presents
ARE YOU READY TO HAVE THE BEST. WEEKEND. EVER.?!
Friday, September 3 – Sunday, September 5, 2021
Downtown Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is planning a three-day, Labor Day event in downtown Harrisonburg September 3 – 5 called Best. Weekend. Ever. The main event on Saturday will have a variety of activities and entertainment spread throughout the district from noon – 9 PM. This will be a family-friendly event with fun things planned for all ages. There will be live music, face painters, community art projects, arts and crafts activities, walking tours, balloon twisters, food specials at restaurants, sidewalk sales, touch-a-truck, fireworks, evening dancing under the Pavilion, and more!
Get Best. Weekend. Ever. Updates on Facebook
Join HDR’s Best. Weekend. Ever. Facebook group for updates and announcements about the event in real-time.
Are you interested in becoming a Best. Weekend. Ever. event sponsor?
Do you want to pitch an activity?
Are you interested in becoming a vendor?
Email jennifer.bayes@harrisonburgva.gov or fill out the BWE Vendor Application Form.
View the Schedule of the Events Below:
Friday, September 3 | Saturday, September 4 | Sunday, September 5
View the Schedule of the Events Below:
Friday, September 3
Saturday, September 4
Sunday, September 5
Friday, September 3, 2021
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is planning a three-day, Labor Day event in downtown Harrisonburg September 3 – 5 called Best. Weekend. Ever. The main event on Saturday will have a variety of activities and entertainment spread throughout the district from noon – 9 PM. This will be a family-friendly event with fun things planned for all ages. There will be live music, face painters, community art projects, arts and crafts activities, walking tours, balloon twisters, food specials at restaurants, sidewalk sales, touch-a-truck, fireworks, evening dancing under the Pavilion, and more!
| Time | Activity | Location |
| All Day |
Downtown Art Walk Grab a brochure or access the digital guide at https://downtownharrisonburg.org/artwalk for a self-guided tour of the public art in downtown Harrisonburg.
|
Downtown Harrisonburg |
| 9 AM – 1 PM |
Plein Air Painting in the ‘Burg Learn the art of Plein Air Painting with Peg Sheridan. Meet outside at Harrisonburg Farmers Market. Each painter will find a spot to paint the vibrant colors and life of the market– includes color lessons, demonstrations, and individual help. |
Turner Pavilion |
| TBD (Morning) | Rock Painting with The Making Space | Court Square |
| TBD |
First Friday Start off your Best. Weekend. Ever. with First Friday! see a collection of local art and enjoy life music throughout downtown Harrisonburg. |
Downtown Harrisonburg |
| TBD |
Dancing Under the Pavilion Get your dancing shoes ready! Friendly City Dance Room is having open dance lessons and live music under at Turner Pavilion. No previous dance experience necessary. |
Turner Pavilion |
| TBD | Art at Gaines Group | The Depot |
Saturday, September 4, 2021
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is planning a three-day, Labor Day event in downtown Harrisonburg September 3 – 5 called Best. Weekend. Ever. The main event on Saturday will have a variety of activities and entertainment spread throughout the district from noon – 9 PM. This will be a family-friendly event with fun things planned for all ages. There will be live music, face painters, community art projects, arts and crafts activities, walking tours, balloon twisters, food specials at restaurants, sidewalk sales, touch-a-truck, fireworks, evening dancing under the Pavilion, and more!
| Time | Activity | Location |
| TBD | Free Pilates Class with The Grace | TBD |
| TBD | Yoga Session with The Center Yoga | TBD |
| TBD |
Sidewalk Sale A variety of downtown merchants will be having special collections outside for purchase along with fun surprises like live models. Participating retailers include:
|
Downtown |
| TBD |
Henna Tattoos at Ten Thousand Villages Come for the henna tattoos, stay awhile for coffee and food samples, plus special in-store promotions! |
Ten Thousand Villiages |
| 8 AM – 1 PM |
Harrisonburg Farmer’s Market Family Fun Enjoy live music, fresh produce, face painting, and henna art all under Turner Pavilion. |
Turner Pavilion |
| 11 AM – 6 PM |
IncARTnate Join the Church of Incarnation for an Art Market and Live Music throughout the day. |
Church of Incarnation (Mason Street) parking lot |
| TBD | Costumed Character Fun with Glen’s Fair Price! | TBD |
| TBD |
Self-Guided Tours of Museum Of American Jewelry Design and Manufacturing Walk through a free self-guided tour of the recently reopened Museum Of American Jewelry Design and Manufacturing at Hugo Kohl. |
Ice House |
| TBD |
Roots Run Deep Tour The Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project will be facilitating an African American history tour of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. This tour has 24 stops. It starts in what was the historic jail hill area where freeborn families owned and built homes in the early 1800s and ends back downtown at Harry Solomon’s Shoe Shine Parlor. A well-known musician, we will end our tour with music and the Arts. Along the way, you will learn where the churches, schools, businesses were, how much of it was destroyed during the 1960s and what remains today. |
TBD |
| All Day |
Downtown Art Walk Grab a brochure or access the digital guide at https://downtownharrisonburg.org/artwalk for a self-guided tour of the public art in downtown Harrisonburg. |
Downtown |
| TBD |
Stilt Walkers Spot the stilt walkers in downtown Harrisonburg, only during Best. Weekend. Ever.! |
TBD |
| 12 – 4 PM |
Get to Know Your Library Curious about what the local library has to offer? Check out this booth for special tours, treats, and kids’ activities. Plus, you can sign up for a free library card, |
Massanutten Regional Library |
| TBD |
Community Sculpture Painting Community members are invited to put the last touches on the Language of Love Art Installation behind the Smith House. |
Language of Love Sculpture |
| TBD | Carnival Games with Gaines Group and Eastern Mennonite School | TBD |
| TBD | History Tours at the Depot | The Depot |
| 11 AM – 1 PM |
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX…with Matchbox! Matchbox Realty & Property Management will be hosting an Open House, at our downtown location. Stop by and learn about various Matchbox properties, PLUS you’ll have the opportunity to take a guided tour of our current project, the historic Kavanaugh Hotel Annex. The Kavanaugh Flats & Lofts will feature 1 and 2-bedroom units, as well as commercial space. Celebrate with us the history and revitalization of our vibrant downtown community! |
202 N Liberty Street, Suite 101 |
| 11:30 AM – 2 PM |
Make Your Own Lip Scrub with withSimplicity Join withSimplicity outside their storefront for a fun, “Make Your Own Lip Scrub” station that’s fun for all ages. They’ll provide the container and ingredients…you’ll provide the creativity.
|
withSimplicity |
| TBD |
Hemp Bracelet Making and Cornhole with Shenandoah Hemp Supply Try free samples, play cornhole and make your own hemp bracelet with Shenandoah Hemp Supply. |
Shenandoah Hemp Supply |
| 12 – 5 PM | Best. Weekend. Ever. KID ZONE!!! In Partnership with Explore More Discovery Museum and OASIS Fine Art & CraftFrom face painting and sand art, to rockets and bubbles, there is plenty of fun to be had for kids of all ages at the B.W.E. KID ZONE! Join us on Saturday, Sept. 4 from Noon – 5 PM, with kids activities located in the SBC/Jimmy Madison parking lot, along Main Street in front of Explore More, and on Newman Avenue next to Explore More. Children will enjoy a wide variety of arts and crafts, STEM activities, and an outdoor open play area with jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, and more! Activity fees may apply. |
SBC/Jimmy Madison parking lot |
| TBD |
Dancing Under the Pavilion Get your dancing shoes ready! Friendly City Dance Room is having open dance lessons and live music under at Turner Pavilion. No previous dance experience necessary. |
Turner Pavilion |
| 6 PM | Pinata fun at El Paisano Bakery | El Paisano Bakery |
| 7 PM |
Cahoots at Dart Resale and Trade Enjoy the evening with live music at this indoor/outdoor show at Dart Resale and Trade. |
Dart Resale and Trade |
| ~9 PM |
Fireworks Enjoy a festive light show, courtesy of HEC. |
Downtown |
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is planning a three-day, Labor Day event in downtown Harrisonburg September 3 – 5 called Best. Weekend. Ever. The main event on Saturday will have a variety of activities and entertainment spread throughout the district from noon – 9 PM. This will be a family-friendly event with fun things planned for all ages. There will be live music, face painters, community art projects, arts and crafts activities, walking tours, balloon twisters, food specials at restaurants, sidewalk sales, touch-a-truck, fireworks, evening dancing under the Pavilion, and more!
| Time | Activity | Location |
| 7 – 9:30 PM |
Downtown Dinner Party Downtown Dinner Party is an inspired celebration of the Valley’s love for downtown Harrisonburg and our culinary stars. Highlighting the exceptional array of restaurants in Virginia’s first Culinary District, the Dinner Party invites you to mix and mingle, enjoy more than a dozen delicious tasting stations, sip local beer and wine, and join in the best outdoor dance party around. Purchase a ticket here. |
Turner Pavilion |