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Downtown News

Sweet&Tasty Brings Ukrainian Flavors to Downtown Harrisonburg

March 17, 2025 by Sarah Golibart Gorman

East Market Street is getting sweeter and sweeter! Sweet&Tasty, a new cafe with a special spotlight on Ukrainian cuisine, brings the flavors of Europe to downtown Harrisonburg. Owned and operated by Nataliia Kyryliuk, along with her son, daughter, and cousin, Sweet&Tasty offers pastries, cakes, savory snacks, espresso drinks, milkshakes, and mocktails. After leaving their home in Ukraine during the war, the Kyryliuk family found a fresh start in Harrisonburg. more

Rise and Shine: Crack O’ Dawn Opens a Second Gluten-Free Spot in Harrisonburg

March 5, 2025 by Sarah Golibart Gorman

Crack O' Dawn Bakery & Bistro has officially arrived in downtown Harrisonburg, bringing its dedicated gluten-free menu of breakfast and lunch favorites to East Market Street. Known for its from-scratch baked goods and satisfying comfort food, the Waynesboro-based eatery opened its second location in November 2024. more

2025 The Love that Downtown Built

February 14, 2025 by Noussaiba Garti

Happy Valentine's Day from all of in Downtown Harrisonburg! We are back with a third year full of stories of love, friendship, and community building right in the heart of our friendly downtown. Swing by our Facebook and Instagram to see some of the cutest love stories that have blossomed right here in our sweet community and dive into this incredible collection of stories below! more

2025 Valentine’s Day Roundup

January 22, 2025 by Lauryn Moore

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, a holiday filled with desserts, flowers, food, and love! Whether you’re spending this Valentine’s Day with your partner, family, best friends, or having some solo time, Downtown Harrisonburg has you covered with all your holiday needs! This roundup is a one stop shop for all the Valentine happenings in Downtown Harrisonburg. Make sure to read carefully because you may need to make reservations for events or preorder these sweet treats!  more

Open for Business: Downtown Harrisonburg Guide for Family Weekend, International Festival & More!

September 20, 2024 by Emily Winter

Harrisonburg will be bustling on Saturday, September 28, 2024, during JMU Family Weekend, the Harrisonburg Farmers Market, and the Harrisonburg International Festival. You can find local foods and goods, explore boutiques, enjoy the festival or just have a great meal out. Downtown is ready to welcome you! more

Friendly Faces of the Friendly City: Charles Hendricks of The Gaines Group Architects

April 3, 2024 by Meghan Johnson

Welcome to the Friendly Faces of The Friendly City! In celebration of Architecture Week April 14 - 20, today's interview is with Charles Hendricks, Principal Architect, Sustainability Director, Marketing Director, and Business Manager of The Gaines Group Architects located here in downtown Harrisonburg. more

Dinner and a Show

October 13, 2023 by Maggie Ronan

With the Forbes Center of Preforming Arts and Downtown Harrisonburg being only a 5-minute drive apart, it only makes sense to elevate your night with both dinner and a show. This year, enjoy a wide variety of talented performances hosted by James Madison University and indulge in some of Downtown Harrisonburg’s best restaurants. more

Decades of Flavor: 20 Years of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Celebrated at the Downtown Dinner Party

June 15, 2023 by Sarah Golibart Gorman

Nestled within the vibrant Turner Pavilion, a space usually reserved for Harrisonburg’s bustling weekly Farmer's Market, a remarkable transformation occurred. Instead of rows of fresh vegetables and tempting local treats, an array of global flavors emerged, courtesy of Harrisonburg's finest local restaurants. Since its inception in 2018, Harrisonburg Virginia’s Downtown Dinner Party has become a cherished tradition, captivating the palates of locals and visitors alike. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR), it's only fitting to honor this milestone with an unforgettable evening filled with delicious delights. more

APRIL FOOLS: Downtown Harrisonburg Becoming “The Dog-Friendly City”

April 1, 2023 by Emily Winter

Get ready for a new movement to build Downtown Harrisonburg as a destination where dog-friendly businesses thrive and pets enjoy memorable experiences! On this twentieth anniversary year, we are delighted to announce a new focus for the future of Downtown Harrisonburg: developing programs and events that are dog-forward as well as welcoming new dog-focused businesses to the Downtown Harrisonburg community. We look forward to working on this new focus to make Harrisonburg known nationally as "The Dog-Friendly City." more

Black Sheep Coffee Moving to East Market Street this Summer

March 21, 2023 by Guest

People who visit Downtown Harrisonburg know that coffee shops are a large part of our downtown community’s scene. We are excited to share that one of our neighborhood staples, Black Sheep Coffee, will be moving from its original home in the ICE House on Liberty Street to a different location on East Market Street this summer. more