Arts Incarnate is associated with the Church of the Incarnation, an Anglican church located on Liberty Street. Although Arts Incarnate is associated with a church, their commissioned artists do not need to be Christian. Their criteria for art for submission and commissioning is that the art must convey beauty, truth, or justice. Arts Incarnate and the Church of the Incarnation will be moving to their new location, 87 S Mason St, later this fall. The new location will feature a custom-built gallery for commissioned artists and the sanctuary will be repurposed as a music hall for concerts and the performing arts. more
It’s that time of year again! The Friendly City Fortune raffle is entering its fifth year of giving contestants fabulous prizes and funding downtown programs. With each ticket giving you TWO chances to win cars, getaways, and cash with proceeds benefiting Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, entering the raffle really is a win-win. Are you still on the fence about whether the raffle is a good fit for you? Let’s see if we can change your mind. Here are seven (lucky) reasons why you should consider purchasing a ticket this year. more
Through the inspiring teamwork of Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed and owner of Magpie Diner, Kirsten Moore, Juneteenth will be a celebration for the entire Harrisonburg community. Moore, owner of Magpie Diner, opened the diner in 2020 as an opportunity for the community to connect around food. In addition to being the Mayor of Harrisonburg, Mayor Reed is also a member of The Perch at Magpie and a good friend of Moore's. They struck up a friendly conversation while Mayor Reed was attending a lunch meeting at the diner, Moore wanted to learn more about street closures for events, Mayor Reed pitched an idea for a Juneteenth event. With determination, willingness, and collaboration, planning for Magpie Diner’s Juneteenth Celebration was underway. Councilman Christopher Jones was brought into the event planning, assisting Officer Westhall and Officer Howard in laying out the event’s footprint, shutting down Gay and Liberty Street, and assisting in selecting the music performances. more
It's been over a year of sheltering in place and quarantining, but now that more people are getting vaccinated and state regulations are being lifted, we are revving up to welcome everyone back to in-person events in downtown Harrisonburg! Whether you are into live music, trivia, happy hours, BINGO, art workshops, or something else, downtown Harrisonburg has something for you. The downtown Events Calendar is updated weekly with new additions, but there is also a number of weekly events to keep you entertained throughout the week. Check back as we will update weekly events here throughout the spring and summer! more
How appropriate is it that Mother’s Day and Earth Day are so close together? Check out how businesses downtown can help you celebrate Mother Earth and every other kind of mother in your life in the upcoming weeks ahead. more
Are you interested in supporting Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance during the Great Community Give? Here are four reasons why you should support HDR on April 21st! more
As flowers start blooming and the weather starts warming up this week, local businesses are ready to welcome you downtown to celebrate Easter and the spring season! Check out these activities and promotions below and plan your trip downtown to enjoy the warm sunshine. more
Pack away the Thanksgiving leftovers and kick off your holiday shopping in downtown Harrisonburg! Many downtown businesses are offering sales and specials for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. For the full downtown holiday shopping experience, be sure to check out our holiday gift guide and online shopping directory! more
NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center's annual Taste of the World celebration is coming back to Downtown Harrisonburg this year on Saturday, March 21st at First Presbyterian Church! Ahead of the festivities, we had a chat with NewBridges' Communications and Development Coordinator Abigail Bush-Wilder to learn more about this delicious fundraising event and how it supports the great work NewBridges does in our community. more
By Katie Mitchell / Photos by Philip Meador: Remember that Disney/Pixar movie Ratatouille, the one where a rat lives inside a chef’s hat and shows the chef how to cook? The idea of rodents anywhere near my food is repulsive, but somehow I found myself loving those little scoundrels by the end of the film. The best part, of course, is when the food critic Anton Ego finally relaxes and reveals a covert truth: “In the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.” He admits, at last, what renowned chef Auguste Gusteau stated at the beginning of the film, that “anyone can cook.” Those words are a distant shout to the ordinary guy who aspires to greatness, arriving only as a barely audible yet soul-stirring whisper: JUST TRY. So often a fear of failure or criticism keeps us from trying something new. But the creators of Harrisonburg’s Making Space sincerely believe anyone can create, and they invite you and everyone you know to check your fears at the door and enjoy a couple of hours of free, low-stakes art-making. more