Happy new year Downtown Harrisonburg! HDR can’t wait to spend another year supporting the downtown community and continuing to build a vibrant, beautiful future for Downtown Harrisonburg. Every year we work to put on various events that keep people engaged with our work and visiting Downtown Harrisonburg. Before the year gets busy, we wanted to give you the lowdown on the annual events we’ll be hosting this 2025 that you surely won’t want to miss. Find out more about these events down below and click the links attached to go to the event page!
Spring Events
Our 2025 events start in the Spring with celebrations our downtown foodies are bound to love!

Taste of Downtown Month
Did you know that Downtown Harrisonburg is Virginia’s first Culinary District? To celebrate this accomplishment and the amazing food throughout Downtown Harrisonburg, HDR has named March Taste of Downtown Restaurant Month! This March, we’ll be highlighting downtown restaurants and chefs through culinary events, dining guides, exclusive social media content, and more! It’ll be a special time for food in Downtown Harrisonburg, so if you’re a foodie, make sure to keep up with HDR on our Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with our Restaurant Month content!
Downtown Dinner Happy Hour
As if having a month dedicated to downtown restaurants wasn’t enough, HDR is also hosting a Downtown Happy Hour to mark the beginning of Taste of Downtown Month! On Friday, March 7 from 6-9pm, HDR will transform The Loft at the Liberty Street Mercantile into a culinary playground where you can indulge in food and drinks from your favorite Downtown Harrisonburg restaurants, while also connecting with fellow downtown foodies and the chefs and owners of the establishments you love. This is a ticketed event, so make sure to stay connected with HDR so you know when they drop!

Summer Events
School’s out, the sun is beaming, everyone’s outside, and HDR is hosting an event almost every week! What’s not to love about summertime in Downtown Harrisonburg?

Best.Weekend.Ever.
There’s no better way to start the summer than with Best.Weekend.Ever! On Saturday, June 14, HDR is transforming Downtown Harrisonburg into a block party for the ages with entertainment and activities for all ages. For the adults, Sip & Stroll will be back, giving you the opportunity to explore all Best.Weekend.Ever. has to offer while enjoying your alcoholic drink of choice. There will also be food trucks and restaurant food specials for all to enjoy, live music, local vendors, and more! Best.Weekend.Ever. just gets better every year, so mark your calendars for the Downtown Harrisonburg’s best summer festival!

Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series
HDR has been able to provide Downtown Harrisonburg with free live music during the summer for the past two years through the Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series! Summer 2025 will be the third year of HDR providing free summer concerts thanks to the supports of our downtown community and the Levitt Foundation. This summer, from June 25 to September 10, a live concert will be held at Turner Pavillion every Wednesday* at 6:30pm. There will be food vendors and a beer garden at the event, but you’ll also be able to bring your own food as well as lawn chairs and picnic blankets to really make the experience memorable! The performers are TBD, so check the Levitt AMP Harrisonburg website or follow HDR on social media for updates.
*There will be no concerts on July 23 or August 27
Independence Day Fireworks
On Saturday, July 5, after a special Saturday edition of the Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Concert Series, there will be a fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day! Be sure to attend the concert at 7pm and stick around for an amazing fireworks show. We’ll share the best viewing locations throughout Downtown Harrisonburg on our website and social media so you can have the best view of the fireworks.


Friendly City Fortune
The Friendly City Fortune is back for another summer, and we can’t wait to share the prizes with you all! Every summer, HDR hosts the Friendly City Fortune Mega Raffle where one $100 ticket puts you in the running to win incredible prizes. From vehicles, electronics, vacations, to cold hard cash, the Friendly City Fortune Mega Raffle gives away $250,000 worth of cash and prizes. Stay tuned for ticket releases and the raffle date. It’ll be livestreamed on our YouTube channel, and you’ll also be able to watch it live in person!
Block Party In The ‘Burg
To end the summer and usher in the fall, HDR puts on the Block Party in the ‘Burg to welcome incoming JMU students to Harrisonburg. On Saturday, August 25, JMU Class of 2029 will experience the greatness of Downtown Harrisonburg. The Marching Royal Dukes will lead the new students through downtown where there will be vendors and activities to help our new Townies explore Downtown Harrisonburg. Keep an eye out for more information on our social media and website!

Fall Events
The weather may be cooling down but HDR isn’t loosing steam this fall! Our two fall events are one’s the whole family can enjoy.

Skeleton Festival
HDR loves to usher in Spooky Season with our pre-Halloween celebration, Skeleton Festival! Happening on a Saturday in October (Date TBD), Skeleton Festival is a family friendly festival that starts off with trick-or-treating at downtown businesses and ends with a block party. Start preparing your costume (and your dog’s costume!) now so you can participate in the all ages (and pets!) costume contest! We’ll also have food and drinks, including Sip & Stroll, along with other fun activities to help get the Downtown Harrisonburg community into the Halloween mood.
Veterans Parade
Every November, HDR wants to celebrate those who have served our nation in war and peacetime. On Sunday, November 9, our Downtown Harrisonburg community will line Main Street during out Veterans Parade to honor those who make our freedom possible. Veteran groups and community members are invited to participate in the parade and show their support during an event that brings our community together to thank those who have served.

Winter Events
HDR likes to end the year on a high, celebrating Downtown Harrisonburg and the community that comes with it. We can’t wait to end the year with you all at these winter events!

Winter Wonderfest and Cookie Tour
Is there a better way to end the year than a winter celebration and cookies? On Saturday, December 6, HDR will be hosting the Winter Wonderdest, an afternoon to help us bring in the holiday season! You’ll be able to Sip & Stroll while participating in family-friendly activities like carriage rides, holiday shopping, live performances, photos with Mr. & Mrs. Claus, and more. You can enjoy Winter Wonderfest on its own or grab tickets to the popular Cookie Tour. This sell-out event gives you the chance to collect holiday treats from local bakers. The tour takes place during the festival, so you can enjoy your holiday treats while enjoying all Winter Wonderfest has to offer.
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance can’t wait to spend the year with you all and we hope to see you at these events. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates on these events and for any new things that may pop up. You can also always check our website for any information you need. See you downtown!