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Hands & Harvest Festival

 

*** THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR AN OUTSTANDING 2023 FESTIVAL! OUR 2023 INFORMATION WILL REMAIN BELOW, BUT CHECK BACK WITH UPDATES CLOSER TO OCTOBER 11-13, 2024! *** 




 

2023 FESTIVAL INFORMATION

OCTOBER 6 - 8, 2023
County-wide

Celebrate the beauty and bounty of fall with the annual Hands & Harvest Festival in Highland County, Virginia!
Enjoy a fun family-friendly weekend in our rural mountain community!

*** Check back often as this page is updated frequently until the festival begins! ***

For more updates, follow us at   www.facebook.com/HighlandCounty  or  www.instagram.com/highland_county_va.

 

 

 

Click to view and download our promotional rack card.  To order a physical copy, visit our brochures page.

 

virginia.org

Want to know when fall colors will peak across Virginia? Check out this Fall Foliage Report and sign up to receive updates!

2023 Sponsors

*** GOLD LEVEL

*** GOLD LEVEL

*** GOLD LEVEL

* Silver Level

* Silver Level

* Silver Level

* Silver Level

* Bronze Level 

* Bronze Level

* Bronze Level

* Bronze Level

* Bronze Level

* Bronze Level

* Bronze Level

 

* Bronze Level

 

* Bronze Level

 

* Bronze Level

 

* Bronze Level

 

* Bronze Level

 

* Bronze Level

* Bronze Level

 

* Bronze Level

 

* Bronze Level

 

*** Bath Community Hospital
106 Park Drive, Hot Springs  (Located in neighboring Bath County)
Emergency Care: 24/7
At Bath Community Hospital, we take the health of our community to heart. Our providers, nurses, and staff are committed to improving health and wellness in our community.  We offer a wide range of services to include four primary care locations, a rehab and wellness center, a pharmacy, and round-the-clock emergency services at the main hospital in Hot Springs.

*** Highland County Arts Council
61 Highland Center Drive off of Spruce Street in Monterey
The Highland County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization that believes the arts are essential to our communities.  Join us for 2nd Saturdays @ 7 concerts every month, Highland Arts Academy Workshops, the annual Artist’s Weekend, and more!

* The Highland Center
61 Highland Center Drive off of Spruce Street in Monterey
The Highland Center preserves Monterey’s historical school building as a community center to cultivate economic, cultural, and social opportunities for Highland County.

Interested in being listed here as a Sponsor or Official Participant?  CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE!

2023 Hands & Harvest Events

2023 Map with Daily Schedule

Plan your adventure!  View and download the front and back of our official 2023 map by clicking on the images above.
During the festival, pick up physical copies at the Courthouse Lawn in Monterey or at various locations around Highland County!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PRINT A 3-PAGE DAILY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

2023 Entertainment

Eyes on Him
Friday at the Courthouse in Monterey during Arts & Crafts Show between 3 - 7 pm  •  Saturday Bluegrass Music starting around noon at Southernmost Maple • FREE!
Enjoy traditional bluegrass music while you shop!

Andy's Bug Train
165 West Main Street in Downtown Monterey next to Courthouse Lawn
Saturday: Noon - ? • FREE!
All aboard!  Calling all kids to take a short ride on Andy's Bug Train next to the Arts & Crafts at the Highland County Courthouse.  Rides start around noon for a few hours.

Street Dance featuring the Little Switzerland Cloggers and Square Dance Callers Ellen and Eugene Ratcliffe
Spruce Street in Downtown Monterey next to the Highland County Courthouse
Sunday: 1 - 3 pm • FREE!  •  Bring your own lawn chairs!
Enjoy watching and participating in a good ol' fashioned Street Dance, featuring The Little Switzerland Cloggers and experienced local callers Ellen and Eugene Ratcliffe.  The Little Switzerland Cloggers, one of the oldest Clogging groups in Virginia, began performing in 1985 and enjoy entertaining audiences at fairs, festivals, events, parties, and corporate events throughout Virginia and West Virginia.  Since they strive to have something for everyone in their shows, their routines feature a wide variety of music from bluegrass and country to oldies and today’s top hits. Whether you’re 8 or 80, you'll enjoy their performance!  For more information on the Little Switzerland Cloggers or their studio classes, visit www.sundancestudio.net.

2023 Arts & Crafts

Shop for a special gift with the following unique vendors at the Highland County Courthouse Lawn!  On Friday, enjoy acoustic music off the porch of the courthouse from local band Eyes on Him!
165 West Main Street in Downtown Monterey
Friday: 3 – 7 pm  •  Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm  •  Sunday: Noon – 5 pm

 

24th Annual Sweater Sale from Little Big Dog Rescue
Prepare for winter with our popular sweater sale to support this 501c3 nonprofit dog rescue

APixxie's Art
Original paintings, cards printed from original art, candy, sewn items, 3D printed items, jewelry and assorted artistic home décor items

Cedar Creek Blacksmithing
Blacksmith and historic reproductions

Especially for You!
Unique one-of-a-kind earrings and hand-painted goblets by local crafter Donna Gardner

Highland Farmers’ Market
Highland County Courthouse Lawn (Moved from The Highland Center pavilion)
Friday ONLY!
Get your local fresh produce, gifts, and more!

Martinez Kitchen
Tacos, quesadillas, steak and cheese, sodas, and water

Mill Gap Farms
Maple products, as well as alpaca and merino wool items. Hats, gloves, scarves, handwoven shawls, and farm house décor

PaperPie
Award-winning Usborne and Kane Miller Books, Learning Wrap Ups, and Smart Lab toys for infants through Middle School age children!

Puff's BBQ from Southernmost Maple
Puffs Pork BBQ, beef brisket, country ham, hot dogs/chili dogs, french fries, baked beans, coleslaw, sweet tea, fresh-squeezed lemonade, soda
Friday and Saturday ONLY!

Silly Jaguar Cards
Homemade blank notecards for all occasions! Categories include miscellany, flora, fauna, food and drink, “laugh a little," seasons, and holidays.

 

Interested in being a vendor? Get full details and apply online by clicking here or contact us at director@highlandcounty.org or call 540-468-2550.

2023 Harvest Trail

Back Creek Farms
7781 Upper Back Creek Road, Monterey (From Rt. 84, 3.5 miles northeast on Rt. 600)
Friday: 10 am – 5 pm  •  Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm  •  Sunday: Noon - 4 pm
Apple butter making on Friday, shopping, food and drinks available at this sugar camp with pure, infused, and barrel-aged syrups.
* Experience a tour and get your passport stamped here as part of the Virginia Maple Syrup Trail!

 

* Elegius Mini Equine Sanctuary
4661 Doe Hill Road, McDowell (5 miles northeast of McDowell on Rt. 654)
Friday: 1 - 4 pm  •  Saturday: 1 - 5 pm  •  Sunday: 1 - 4 pm
Meet resident mini equine and learn about the care and needs of miniature horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules. Educational centers will be placed about the grounds. This year, we are offering a paper scavenger hunt for visitors to complete as they find information about the minis and the sanctuary.
* Sturdy shoes and warm clothing recommended.  Wheelchair accessible.  Pets not permitted.
* Elegius Mini Equine Sanctuary is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival

 

*** Fair Lawn Farm (Duff's Sugar House)
3118 Mill Gap Road, Monterey (7 miles south of Monterey in Meadowdale on Rt. 84)
Friday and Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm  •  Sunday: 9 am - 3 pm
Bring the entire family to this Victorian homestead, farm, and sugar camp to pick a pumpkin in the pumpkin patch, sample in-house smoked cheese, and taste fresh apple butter and cider.
*** Fair Lawn Farm is a Gold Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival
* Experience a tour and get your passport stamped here as part of the Virginia Maple Syrup Trail!

 

Hazy Hollow Farm
1784 Cowpasture Road N., Headwaters (On Rt. 614 just under 2 miles north of Rt. 250)

Saturday and Sunday: 8 am - 5 pm
Visit this working cattle farm and purchase 100% grass fed Angus Meat directly from the farmers.

 

* Highland Barn Quilts Studio
2608 Meadowdale Road, Monterey (On Rt. 640 between Meadowdale and Hightown)
Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
At this open studio, view the process of painting barn quilts (painted quilt designs on wood) with artist Margie Boesch.
* Did you know that Highland County is home to Virginia's first barn quilt trail?  Click here to discover more about the Highland County Barn Quilt Trail.
* Highland Barn Quilts is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival

 

Laurel Fork Sapsuckers Sugar Camp
10677 Mountain Turnpike, Hightown (10 miles west of Monterey on Clay Hise Lane)

Friday: 1 - 5 pm  •  Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm  •  Sunday: 9 am - 1 pm
Friday apple peeling; Saturday apple butter cooking and sugar camp tours with lunch for sale; Sunday Blueberry Pancake Breakfast!
* Experience a tour and get your passport stamped here as part of the Virginia Maple Syrup Trail!

 

* Mill Gap Farms
2760 Mill Gap Road, Monterey (7 miles south of Monterey in Meadowdale on Rt. 84)
Friday: 3 - 6 pm  •  Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm  •  Sunday: 12:30 – 3 pm
Tour Virginia's Only USDA Certified Organic Maple Syrup Farm.  Products for sale on farm and Highland County Courthouse.
* Mill Gap Farms is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival
* Experience a tour and get your passport stamped here as part of the Virginia Maple Syrup Trail!

 

* Southernmost Maple
7738 Big Valley Road, Bolar
Friday and Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm
Family fun!  Enjoy old-fashioned apple butter and cider making, a free trout pond for kids, and a country store offering Puffs Maple BBQ, sauces, maple syrup, Maple Donuts, cheeses, jams, jellies, baked goods, Amish-made rockers.  Browse vendors and view old-fashioned blacksmith demonstrations.  Bluegrass music starts at noon on Saturday.  Hot food served all day with inside dining available.  Handicapped accessible.
* Southernmost Maple is a Silver Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

* Sugar Tree Country Store
185 Mansion House Road, McDowell
Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Step back in time at our country store and browse locally-sourced products. Help boil apple butter and press apple cider!
* Sugar Tree Country Store is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival
* Experience a tour and get your passport stamped here as part of the Virginia Maple Syrup Trail!

 

The Virginia Maple Syrup Trail is a program that allows visitors to tour 7 local maple sugar camps, get a passport stamped at each one, and receive a free gift if you visit them all!  The program is ending on March 31, 2024.  5 of the 7 participating camps are open during the Hands & Harvest Festival, so swing by to get your passport stamped!  Learn more at www.virginiamaplesyrup.com.

 

2023 Activities & Attractions

5K Fall Color Run by the Highland County Recreation Commission
78 Highland Park Drive, Monterey
Saturday:  10 am Start Time (In-person registration from 9 - 9:45 am) - Register in advance directly by clicking here!
Join in the fun with the 5K Fall Color Run!  The 5k Fall Color Run is a five-kilometer, untimed event.  Color Runners are covered from head to toe in fall colored powder.  Participants wear white at the starting line and finish the race plastered in fall color. Registration includes an official shirt, color band, and color packet.  Adults (18 years and older) - $35.  Child (17 years and younger) and Student Athletes - $25.

 

Charles Pinckney Jones House Museum
145 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday: 11 am - 4 pm  •  Saturday:  9 am - 4 pm  •  Sunday: 10 am - 4 pm
The community’s new museum! Tour the beautiful renovations of this historic Highland County home and gardens.

 

* Heart and Soul Massage School Gemstone Mining
125 West Mill Alley, Monterey
Friday:  2 - 5 pm  •  Saturday:  10 am - 3 pm  •  Sunday: 11 am - 2 pm
Sand buckets are filled with crackable geodes, raw crystals, tumbles, and more to explore.  Gift shop goodies available for home.
* Heart and Soul Massage School is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

* Highland County Public Library Annual Used Book Sale
31 North Water Street, Monterey
Friday:  9 am - 6 pm  •  Saturday:  9 am - 5 pm  •  Sunday: 11 am - 3 pm
The popular Annual Used Book Sale to benefit the library returns!
* The Highland County Public Library is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

* Historic Highland Inn Renovation Information and Monterey Walking Tours from the Blue Grass Resource Center
68 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday: 3 - 6 pm  •  Saturday and Sunday:  11 am - 3 pm with Historic Monterey Walking Tour both days at Noon!
Historic Highland Inn Renovation Project volunteers will be available to talk about what has been done and what is to come! Literature will also be available from a display in front.  Stop in at noon on Saturday and Sunday for free Historic Monterey Walking Tours!  Tours last approximately 30 minutes.
* The Blue Grass Resource Center is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

Sounding Knob Fire Tower
On top of Jack Mountain (just east of Monterey) up a gravel drive up Sounding Knob Road just 1.3 miles south of its intersection with Rt. 250
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: Sunrise to sunset
Climb over 100 steps for a lasting memory – and maybe some wobbly legs!  This restored fire tower boasts breathtaking views.
* Please be sure to exit right when leaving Sounding Knob Road and entering Rt. 250.  Vehicles with very low clearance may have difficulty with water breaks on Sounding Knob Road, but most vehicles have no issues.

 

Valley AeroSpace Team Rocket Launch
Launch is held at Jack Mountain Village, just 3 miles south on Rt. 220 from the Monterey intersection of Rt. 250 and Rt. 220. It is located on the eastern side of Rt. 220 at an approximate address of 3003 Jackson River Rd, Monterey, VA 24465.
Saturday: 11 am – 5 pm  •  Sunday: 11 am – 3 pm * Weather permitting both days *
Attendees can launch their own rockets under VAST's experienced supervision, launch one of the club’s extra rockets, or simply watch!
* Lawn/camp chairs and a canopy recommended!

 

2023 Shopping, Dining, & Lodging

* Big Fish Cider, Co.
59 Spruce Street, Monterey
Friday: 4 – 7 pm  •  Saturday: 12 – 7 pm (Apple pressing 1 - 4 pm weather permitting)  •  Sunday: 1 – 7 pm
Taste the award-winning ciders made with unsprayed Highland County apples. We are a micro cidery that focuses on quality and not making a mass produced canned ciders. Our ciders are much more like fine wines than the sweet flavored versions found on supermarket shelves. Come by and taste the difference.
* Big Fish Cider is a Silver Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

* Blue Grass Mercantile
2558 Blue Grass Valley Road, Blue Grass
Friday and Saturday: 9 am - 7 pm  •  Sunday: 12 - 5 pm
BBQ and other hot food, grocery items, maple products, local honey, beer, wine, Big Fish Cider, and more!
* Blue Grass Mercantile is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

* Blue Grass Valley Bank
132 East Main Street, Monterey
2583 Blue Grass Valley Road, Blue Grass
Monday - Thursday: 9 am - 4 pm  •  Friday: 9 am - 6 pm  •  Saturday: 9 am - Noon  •  ATM available in Monterey 24/7
Since 1915, we have provided service unlike any other.  Keep your business local with a Bank that appreciates your community.  Stop by for a wide variety of products and services, or visit our website. Come see why we are “The Best Little Bank in the Virginias.”
* Blue Grass Valley Bank is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

* Bolar Ruritan Scholarship Foundation Food
11 East Main Street, Monterey
Friday: 11 am - 6 pm  •  Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm  •  Sunday: 11 am - 4 pm
Eat for a good cause! Serving Brunswick Stew and Country Ham Sandwiches in the parking lot of Highland Roots Market.  Brunswick Stew is $18 per quart, and you can preorder until September 29th by calling 540-468-3668 or emailing lee@leebrauer.com.
* The Bolar Ruritan Scholarship Foundation is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

* Claire's Cakes & Café
107 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9 am - 2 pm
Join Tuesdays through Sundays for breakfast, lunch, assorted pastries, & barista style coffees. Special seasonal items available!
* Claire's Cakes & Café is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

Ginseng Mountain Farm & Store
6359 Potomac River Road, Blue Grass (6 miles north of Monterey)
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 12 – 5 pm
"New time" country store! Grass-fed beef and lamb, sheepskins, local crafts, braided rugs, honey, maple syrup, country books, and more.

 

Highland Roots Market
11 East Main Street, Monterey
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10 am - 6 pm
Back to basics grocery store with locally sourced food, beer, wine, cider, and great snacks!  Plus, decorate locally-grown pumpkins!

 

* High's Restaurant
73 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday and Saturday: 11 am - 8 pm  •  Sunday: 11 am - 7 pm
Voted One of the World's Best Affordable Restaurants by Tripadvisor! Inch-thick ribeye steaks, local trout, gourmet burgers, desserts, & more.

 

* Hull’s Hideaway Restaurant & Tavern
37 Potomac River Road, Monterey
Friday and Saturday: 8:30 am - 8:30 pm with new breakfast from 8:30 - 10:45 am  •  Sunday: 11 am - 1:30 pm
Maple BBQ ribs, Maple BBQ sandwich, fried catfish dinner, pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll, pumpkin spice pound cake, and more.
* Hull's Hideaway Restaurant & Tavern is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

Jenny Wren Gatherings
81 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10 am - 6 pm
Antiques, vintage, local arts & crafts store.

 

* Monterey Inn
32 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 7 am - 8 pm with Breakfast from 7 – 10 am and Lunch from 11 am - 3 pm
New lodging and restaurant in a beautifully-restored 1905 Victorian!  Restaurant open Thursday through Sunday.
* Monterey Inn is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival

 

* Summit Community Bank
195 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday: Bank from 9 am - 6 pm and ITM from 7:30 am - 6:30 pm  •  Saturday: Bank from 9 am - Noon and ITM from 8 am - 2 pm •  ATM is available 24/7
Summit is committed to providing our communities with the best banking value, service and convenience possible. We will strive to ensure the customer's experience exceeds their expectations by providing the best products and services in the industry.  ATM and ITM available in Monterey for your shopping needs!
* Summit Community Bank is a Silver Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival

 

The 3rd Space
132 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday: GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION AT 2:30 pm, then open until 7 pm  •  Saturday and Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
This new local artist gallery and workspace features beautiful handmade items from Highland artists. View demonstrations all weekend!

 

* The Cabin at Petra
4001 Strait Creek Road, Monterey  (3 miles north of Monterey just off Rt. 220)
Stay in a restored 1830’s log cabin 3 miles from Monterey with modern amenities and historic charm!  Enjoy beautiful Highland County during the festival or throughout most of the year (closed December 1 - March 1.)
* The Cabin at Petra is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival.

 

The Church at the Old Oak
3898 Meadowdale Road, Monterey  (7 miles south of Monterey in Meadowdale just off Rt. 84 on Rt. 640)
Friday: 1 - 5 pm  •  Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm  •  Sunday: 11 am – 4 pm
Food and local crafters in a charmingly restored old church building and event venue.

 

* The Curly Maple
174 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday: 10 am - 7 pm  •  Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Gourmet coffee, homemade hot chocolate, fall-inspired breakfast and lunch menu, local provisions (maple syrup, honey, cider)
* The Curly Maple is a Bronze Sponsor of the 2023 Hands & Harvest Festival

 

 

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