It’s been a few years since we had a chance to celebrate downtown milestones and the amazing partners and businesses who make our downtown the vibrant place we love so much. Join us as we recap our 2022 Celebration and Donor Reception event and take a look back at all that we have accomplished together in Downtown Harrisonburg. more
Minimalism and holiday gifting - two things that, on the surface, don’t seem to go together, right? Guest blogger Morgan Paixao of Humble Home Organizing wouldn’t be so sure. Read more for gift ideas for conscientious gift-givers that also support small businesses. Time to think outside the box! more
Join downtown Harrisonburg in welcoming back our very own international Spikeball champion- Becca Graham! Becca and her partner Alli Kauffman Rogers just recently returned from Brussels, Belgium where they represented team USA in the first ever roundnet World Championship. After four days of intensive competition against 33 represented countries, team USA destroyed the competition by placing first in each of the five categories! The power duo, Becca and Alli, placed number 1 in the team bracket with a resounding score of 10 wins and 0 losses. more
Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University is excited to announce its first event of the semester, Malika Booker: Open Mic & Poetry Reading on September 29, 2022 at The Golden Pony in Downtown Harrisonburg. more
Welcome Eastern Mennonite University students to Downtown Harrisonburg! We are excited for you to discover our downtown community during Royal's Do Downtown - EMU’s Block Party event on Thursday, September 22 from 5 - 8 PM at Turner Pavilion. In the meantime, let us introduce you to some of the friendly faces of the Friendly City who graduated EMU. Read on for favorite memories and words of wisdom. more
Calling all problem solving fanatics–do you have what it takes to solve the puzzle that makes up downtown’s popular new attraction? Downtown Harrisonburg is ecstatic to welcome Escapism Escape Rooms into our community! Sam Lambert and Suzanne have put together their efforts to make multiple unique and interactive rooms–each room combining technology and storytelling to fully immerse the guest in an adventurous experience! more
James August Warsing Jr., also known as TJ from “TJ’s Dermagraphics” here in downtown Harrisonburg, is excited to announce a change in his field of work. After over 50 years of working in the tattoo industry, he is teaming up alongside his wife Bernadette Moreno-Krause and friend Carson William Rinker to start their own specialized business in the memorial industry. more
Just a few months ago, the HDR office welcomed some new neighbors next door. A vibrant cultural hub home to many nonprofits and local businesses, the Ice House building is now also home to an organization advocating for a largely underrepresented community within our region. The Friendly City Safe Space (FCSS) aims to make downtown a destination where all LGBTQ+ people thrive through inclusivity, programming, and a unique space that celebrates community. more
In the location many once associated with the family-owned store Horizons Gifts, a new dog is in town–or should I say cat? Opening this fall, Harrisonburg is welcoming its very first cat café, Aristocat Café! more
And that’s a wrap! Downtown Harrisonburg’s annual Downtown Dinner Party was a huge success! After a couple years away, our community was eager to come together once again in a beautiful celebration of our cities' various culinary expertise and wow–what a beautiful sight it was! With more than a dozen delicious different tasting centers, partygoers were able to get a glimpse into the vast array of options downtown Harrisonburg has to offer as Virginia’s first culinary district! more