2024 Graduation Insider
Your guide to celebrating graduation with food, friends, and family.
FOOD
Food is a huge part of celebrating any occasion. See what downtown has to offer with safe dining options for your guests.
Outdoor & Group Dining
Whether you just want to enjoy the weather outside or are trying to accommodate dining for a small group, Downtown Harrisonburg has several options to satisfy your particular needs. Want a full list of outdoor dining locations? Visit our Outdoor Dining Directory for more dining locations with outdoor seating.
Mashita
Rocktown Kitchen
The Golden Pony
Sage Bird Ciderworks
Beyond
Magpie Diner
Pale Fire
Capital Ale House
Clementine
Duke’s Bar & Grill
Heritage bakery & Cafe
Local Chop & Grill House
Urgie’s Cheesesteaks
Jimmy Madison’s
Benny Sorrentino’s Pizza
Reservation Policies
| Blue Ridge Florist Tea Room 540-434-9931 165 North Main St Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Menu |
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| BMC Bakes 540-830-2587 157 N Main St Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Menu |
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| Sage Bird Ciderworks 540-607-8084 325 N Liberty St Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Menu |
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| Ruby’s Arcade 540-615-5351 165 S Main St #100b Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Menu |
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| Clementine Cafe 540-801-8881 153 S Main St Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Menu |
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| Mashita 540-810-1875 105 N Liberty St Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Menu |
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| Cuban Burger 540-820-6486 70 W Water St Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Menu |
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| Taj of India 540-615-5888 34 S Main St Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Menu |
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| Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions 540-480-1500 86 W Gay St Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Menu |
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| Magie Diner 540-383-4813 85 W Gay St Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Menu |
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| Monty’s Restaurant 540-217-2280 710 S Main St #149 Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Menu |
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| Rocktown Kitchen 540-217-2425 217 S Liberty St #101 Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Menu |
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Pickup & Delivery
Visit our Pickup and Delivery Guide by visiting our website at downtownharrisonburg.org!
Hidden Gems
While you may have your favorite spots downtown, why not try something new? Check out these hidden gems and view the full Downtown Directory here.
BoBoKo Indonesian Cafe
Urgie’s Cheesesteaks
Ott Street Eats
Aristocat Cafe
SHOPPING & ACTIVITIES
Need something to pass the time during graduation weekend? Need to purchase some last-minute grad gifts? This section has got you covered!
Special Deals and Promotions
Many downtown businesses are offering specials and discounts to students specifically for graduation. Here are some of what downtown has to offer new grads.
Did You Know?
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is hosting its annual Friendly City Fortune raffle fundraiser this summer! Consider purchasing a ticket. Each $100 raffle ticket has TWO chances to win cars, trips, electronics & cash! Tickets are available online at friendlycityfortune.com starting April 29th.
Firefly Emporium
Firefly Emporium has a storewide spring sale with up to 50% off for the month of May.
16 S Main St
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-476-3377
Website »
Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions
For Spring 2024 graduates, Rootstock will be giving a glass of sparkling wine on their graduation day.
86 W Gay StHarrisonburg, VA 22801
Grad Gifts
Check out these local retailers for graduation gifts for everyone on your list!
The Frame Factory & Gallery
The Frame Factory & Gallery carries a large selection of custom matting and framing options, including wood and metal ready-made frames. They also have framed mirrors, as well as framed and unframed art. Stop in with whatever you have to frame for a design consultation and free estimate.
139 N Liberty StHarrisonburg, VA 22802
Friendly City Food Co-op
The co-op has a variety of gifts available for new graduates. From graduation cards, flowers, JMU wine and beer, and more, Friendly City Co-op offers something for everyone!
228 S Liberty StHarrisonburg, va 22801
Horizon Gifts
Horizon Gifts offers an assortment of gifts including rocks, gems, fossils, art, board games, and historical prints.
60 W Market StHarrisonburg, VA 22801
The Lady Jane
The Lady Jane is a vintage-inspired home and gift shop located in historic downtown Harrisonburg. The store is also a platform for 30+ Virginia-based artisans and their jewelry, art, + designs.
165 S Main St Suite #101Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Lineage
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Website »
OASIS Fine Art & Craft
OASIS Fine Art and Craft is a cooperative of talented local artists. Our vibrant, newly renovated gallery features work in many media, styles, and price ranges. We offer original art and fine crafts, an opportunity to meet the artists, and programs that enhance the local art scene.
103 S Main StHarrisonburg, VA 22801
Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn
Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn is downtown Harrisonburg’s only locally-made, gourmet popcorn store. Their popcorn is made in small batches, and you’ll always be invited to sample before you buy. Some of their most popular flavors are their Caramel To Die For and their Caramel Nut Cluster, as well as their flavors of the month.
102 S Main StHarrisonburg, virginia 22801 United States
Sparrows Floral Design
Sparrows Floral Design is a Harrisonburg-based floral design studio specializing in weddings and events, plants, terrariums, dried flowers, and everyday arrangements. They also offer delivery by vehicle as well as bike delivery by our friends at GiddyUp Courier!
38 E Market StHarrisonburg, VA 22801
Ten Thousand Villages
This shop is a perfect place to find a unique gift. They carry artisan jewelry, pottery, art, children’s toys, and home décor, as well as globally sourced teas, chocolates, coffees, and more. Each of their products is unique and specially made. Often, the backstory of the product is shared, giving customers the opportunity to learn more about how the item was made and where it is from.
181 S Main StHarrisonburg, VA 22801
withSimplicity
withSimplicity offers natural and organic beauty products handmade in Harrisonburg, VA. Their goal is to create products for people who are looking for safe, sustainable, and effective alternatives to what is already laying around the house. As a result, all products are free of artificial fragrances, colorants, parabens, bismuth, fillers, gluten, soy, and toxins. In addition, withSimplicity makeup and skincare products are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and contain therapeutic grade essential oils.
66 E Market StHarrisonburg, VA 22801
Grad Outfits
Need something to wear under your graduation robes? Check out these boutiques for unique items to wear and accessorize with on your special day.
Charlee Rose Boutique
Charlee Rose Boutique is an independently owned women’s clothing boutique in the heart of Downtown Harrisonburg. Established in March 2018, the owner’s daughters are the namesake and the inspiration behind the brand. Always at your fingertips or at our store location, Charlee Rose is your one-stop-shop for dresses, shoes, and all fashion accessories. New styles arrive weekly!
100B, 165 S Main StHarrisonburg, VA 22801
Dart Resale & Trade
Dart Resale & Trade carries a variety of affordable modern and vintage secondhand clothing. Their goal is to involve the community in the resale of secondhand clothing and buy items every Tuesday and offer cash payout or provide trade in the form of store credit.
205 South Liberty St. Suite E
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Yellow Button
The Yellow Button is the place for clothing & accessories for every woman. They showcase the best of the latest trends while keeping their racks stocked with timeless classics.
122 S Main St #102Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Grad Photos
Looking for some cool backdrops to take your graduation pictures? Downtown has a variety of murals and backdrops to make you look good!
@alyssafaith.photography
@daniannajjar
@amandacollphotography
@brenna___smith @miragephotography
@ braxtenjoness
@miss_torijay @janaelizphotography
@j.whetzel_99
@sophia._lynn 2
@anniewegh
@alexawalshh
@sophia._lynn
@ jane.gerrard @lexie._.b
Did You Know?
Downtown Harrisonburg is on Facebook and Instagram! Tag @downtownharrisonburg in your pictures and get featured in our story.
PARKING & TRANSPORTATION
Need to know the best place to park to get to your destination? Here is all the information you need to know.
Walking to Downtown
It is a short 8-minute walk into downtown from Hotel Madison on JMU’s campus. We encourage you to enjoy the beautiful weather during graduation weekend by walking from campus using the sidewalks and crosswalks.
Types of Parking Downtown
Public parking downtown is free, with time limits. In general, the closer you are to your destination, the shorter your time limit will be. On-street parking is two-hour, surface lots are two and ten-hour, and downtown’s two parking decks are three and ten-hour. There are also a few 30-minute spaces found at the ends of parking rows for your quick, in-and-out errands. In addition, Harrisonburg Downtown Parking Services provides free parking in the Municipal Parking Lot for up to 24 hours. All parking spaces have designated signs that state the time limit.
You can park for free in permit parking spaces after 5 pm only. Parking downtown is enforced on the 7-7-6 Plan: 7 am to 7 pm, 6-days per week. Enjoy evenings, Sundays, and holidays without restrictions.
Enforcement Times
City owned parking and street parking downtown is regulated Monday through Saturday 7:00am to 7:00pm. The fine for overtime parking is $20.
Parking Map
Note: additional parking is available in the municipal lot behind the visitor’s center. Visit the Hardesty-Higgins House for more information about downtown.
Accessibility Map
View this accessibility map of downtown Harrisonburg here.
