From when we started the raffle in 2017 to 2023, we have had 328 prizes awarded (not including early birds). Of that number, 9 people have won twice, and one person won 3 times! So while some folks have won multiple times there are WAY more who win than you might have expected (over 300!). Below is a list of prize winners from our previous five raffle seasons.

2023 Winners:

2022 Winners:

2021 Winners:

2020 Winners:

2019 Winners:

This year’s raffle is now over. Typically raffle seasons begin at the end of April/beginning of May with the main raffle drawing taking place the last Saturday in July. Please sign up for our email and text alerts for updates on when we have dates for the 2025 season.

It’s simple! If you buy your Friendly City Fortune raffle ticket by midnight the night before the Early Bird drawing date, you will be entered to win cash and additional raffle tickets in a bonus prize drawing.

So, if you are a previous raffle ticket holder and purchase a ticket online between April 25 and 11:59 PM on April 28, you will be entered into the Early Bird drawing on April 29, along with the three additional Early Bird drawings on May 17, June 21 and July 12, and the main raffle on July 27. Plus, every ticket has TWO different numbers that could be called, doubling your chance to win!

If you win during an Early Bird drawing, your ticket number is still eligible for other Early Birds and any of amazing the prizes during the main raffle at the end of July plus you will have additional entries into the raffle!

Early bird drawings will be held at 217 S Liberty St. #204, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 and livestreamed at fb.com/downtownharrisonburg. Early Bird drawings will take place at 1 PM. You do not need to be present to win.

There are three ways that you can get free raffle tickets!

1. When you purchase nine tickets, you get a tenth free! The tenth ticket will automatically be sent to you if you purchase your tickets in one transaction. If you spread out your purchases during the raffle season, please email downtownharrisonburg@gmail.com for your bonus ticket.
2. You can win additional tickets by purchasing your ticket early! All tickets purchased by midnight the day before the Early Bird drawings will automatically be entered to win $1,000 cash and five free raffle tickets. Click “How do Early Bird Drawings work?” to learn more.
3. Raffle tickets are being given away this season from our media partners at iHeart Media and Harrisonburg Radio Group. Listen to local stations around the Early Bird drawings to learn how to enter.

No! You do not need to live in Harrisonburg, or even Virginia, to enter the Friendly City Fortune raffle! Tickets can be purchased online from anywhere in the United States here.

If you win a prize that you do not want, you can instead accept half the cash value of the prize as your award. For example, if you win the Bike Adventure Tour Package for Two
and opt to take the cash payout, you will get half of the MRSP value of $4,000 as a check (~$2,000).

Proceeds from the Friendly City Fortune go towards HDR’s mission to build Downtown Harrisonburg as a destination where businesses thrive and people enjoy memorable experiences. Here is some of what past raffle proceeds have helped fund:

• Small Business Assistance – small businesses can apply for Bricks & Clicks grants through HDR that help improve their marketing and build their business as a downtown destination. Past recipients include:
  • Dinamic Cuts – modernized its business operations with a new Point of Sale System to help with bookkeeping and easy payments, online scheduling, and a new sign
  • Bittersweet Bakery – installed a walk-up window for improved customer pick-up service
• Beautification Projects – we strive to make downtown a beautiful space with public art and other projects
  • Language of Love sculpture – located behind the Arts Council building, the vision for the installation was for the piece to be a welcoming area where people could sit and enjoy lunch or coffee or children could play on it. It is teeming with people on nice days and during the farmers market so we are excited it was a bit hit!
  • Northern Gateway Installation – we are contributing funds and time towards the development of a new installation near Merge Coffee to welcome visitors from the north side of town into downtown
  • Committee of Joy Projects – this committee is working on miniature installations for public viewing
• Festivals & Events – HDR puts on a series of annual events that help bring the community together including the Independence Day Fireworks. HDR partners with the City of Harrisonburg to have a firework celebration for public viewing and raffle proceeds help make sure that the display is spectacular.
• Showcasing Downtown Harrisonburg – from holiday campaigns, commercials, and dining guides, we are able to showcase the wonderful asset that Downtown Harrisonburg is to our local and neighboring communities through raffle proceeds

What are we looking to fund this year? Here are some of the projects that are on the horizon:

• Even more downtown mural art to reflect downtown’s vibrant culture
• Implementing an accessible downtown initiative to make downtown more welcoming to people with disabilities
• Updated light pole banners project featuring duck designs from local students

To select the winners of the four Early Bird drawings and main prize drawing on Saturday, July 27, we use four electronic bingo ball machines to draw four balls numbered from zero to nine. Numbers are drawn at random and checked against the ticket database to verify they are sold ticket numbers and to whom. All numbers drawn will be recorded, including unsold numbers. If unsold numbers are drawn, new numbers will be drawn. Winning sold-ticket numbers will be verbally announced during the drawing, and posted on HDR’s social media, and www.friendlycityfortune.com.

The drawing will be livestreamed online and a link to the video will be posted on www.friendlycityfortune.com. Ticket holders may also attend the live drawing on Saturday, July 27, barring any public health considerations that make gathering hazardous. HDR employees will call and/or email the winners directly to arrange to claim the prize during the week following the drawing. You can see previous livestreams on our YouTube and Facebook playlists.

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is authorized to conduct the Friendly City Fortune mega raffle by the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs under the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under permit number G-25-38093-111395.

Each $100 raffle ticket gives you TWO numbers to win cars, trips, cash, and more on Saturday, July 27!

Plus, all proceeds benefit Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance’s mission to build downtown Harrisonburg as a destination where independent businesses thrive and people enjoy memorable experiences. It’s a win-win!