OCTOBER 10 - 12, 2025
County-wide
FALL IS SWEET HERE!
Celebrate the beauty and bounty of fall at the 33rd Hands & Harvest Festival in Highland County, Virginia!
Transport yourself to working farms, arts & crafts, and delicious food amidst outstanding fall foliage.
Enjoy this annual fun, family-friendly weekend in our rural mountain community!
*** Check back often as this page is updated frequently! ***
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!
2025 Sponsors
*** GOLD LEVEL
*** GOLD LEVEL
* Silver 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
* 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.
* County Line Materials
4562 South Valley Pike, Harrisonburg (Located in Rockingham County)
Monday - Friday: 6 am - 5 pm
Fully stocked lumber, metal, and hardware store specializing in manufactured metal.
* DuPont Community Credit Union
410 North Augusta Street, Staunton (Various Other Locations)
DuPont Community Credit Union is a community credit union. That means if you live, work, volunteer, worship, or attend school in the central Shenandoah Valley you can be a member! Visit our website anytime to learn more about the credit union difference.
* PCB (Pendleton Community Bank)
128 N. Main Street, Franklin, West Virginia (Located in neighboring Pendleton County)
PCB, an Independent Community Bank, is dedicated to facilitating financial success for our customers, encouraging professional success for our team members, and stimulating economic growth in our communities, thereby enhancing the value of Your Bank®.
Highland Medical Center
120 Jackson River Road in Monterey
Quality care close to home: primary medical care, nutrition services, dental care, physical therapy, behavioral health and onsite pharmacy
Interested in being listed here as a Sponsor or Official Participant?
Contact the Chamber for details at director@highlandcounty.org or 540-468-2550.
2025 Hands & Harvest Page Navigation
2025 Map with Daily Schedule
Plan your adventure with our map - check back in late September!
During the festival, pick up physical copies at the Courthouse Lawn in Monterey, Highland County Visitor Center at 27 W. Main Street in Monterey, or at various locations around Highland County!
2025 Entertainment
* Furnace Mountain Band
The Highland Center at 61 Highland Center Drive in Monterey
Saturday: 3 pm • $10 adults • $5 students • Free for ages 12 and under
Called "the area's premier acoustic band" by The Washingtonian, Furnace Mountain consists of Aimee Curl on bass and vocals, Dave Van Deventer on fiddle and vocals, and Morgan Morrison on guitar, bouzouki, and vocals, Danny Knicely on mandolin and fiddle. The band creates music that is at times lively and raucous, with spirited fiddle melodies weaving in and around the powerful rhythms of the bass and bouzouki, and other times poignant and poetic, with sublime vocal harmonies beautifully interpreting some of the oldest songs ever written. Furnace Mountain Band has performed throughout the world and plays music from the American Appalachian traditions, as well as original compositions, and songs penned by their favorite song writing friends.
Come on out and enjoy as part of the Highland County Arts Council's Second Saturday concert series.
* Square Dance featuring local talents of Ellen and Eugene Ratcliffe with Hannah Johnson and the Little Switzerland Cloggers with live music
Spruce Street in Downtown Monterey next to the Highland County Courthouse
Sunday: 1 - 3 pm (12:30 pm Beginner Workshop • FREE! • Bring your own lawn chairs!
Enjoy watching and participating in a good ol' fashioned Square Dance. Everyone is welcome to attend - no experience or partner required! 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.
This performance is made possible with support from Mid Atlantic Arts.
2025 Arts & Crafts, Specialty Food
Shop for special gifts and food with the following unique vendors at the Highland County Courthouse Lawn!
165 West Main Street in Downtown Monterey
Friday: Noon – 6 pm • Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm • Sunday: 11 am – 4 pm
26th Annual Sweater Sale from Little Big Dog Rescue
Prepare for winter with our popular sweater sale - for people and dogs - to support this 501c3 nonprofit dog rescue
Acrylicked
Custom pet portraits and handmade jewelry, bookmarks, and suncatchers
Afton Mountain Elderberry
Elderberry juices, jelly, and glaze
Art4All
Original artwork, notecards, ribbon flowers, jewelry, lasercut items, floral items, holiday gifts, candy
B & D Designs
Woodworking, hand crafted tables, painted art, wood art plant-stands, trivets, home décor
Blackthorn Estates Nursery
Lavender value-added products
The Bodging Bigfoot
Handmade baskets, hand carved spoons and other kitchen wares, wooden toys
Colorful Llama
Face painting, DIY Paint Kits, balloon candy cups
Felting Farmer Lady
Fiber arts, needle felted sculpture, flower printing
Flora's Finest at Bolton Farm
Wine charms, wine stoppers, magnets, coasters, bookmarks, hatbands, and jewelry using acrylic paints and alcohol inks (each piece is one-of-a-kind). Unique pieces from paper, gemstones, sea glass, and carnival glass. Fiber art scarves. All-natural aromatherapy products using only essential oils.
Hopkins Honey
Honey, creamed honey, natural goods
Highland Farmers’ Market
Highland County Courthouse Lawn (Moved from The Highland Center pavilion)
Friday ONLY!
Get your local fresh produce, gifts, and more!
Mill Gap Farms
We are Virginias only organic maple syrup producer. We are also a fiber barn. All yarns, rovings, and handmade products are from the animals we raise here on our farm.
Powhatan Chocolates
Chocolates and chocolate confections
Puff's BBQ from Southernmost Maple
Puff's Maple Pork BBQ, beef brisket, hamburgers, hot dogs, country ham, fries, and chili cheese fries. Dinners include baked beans and coleslaw. Fresh-squeezed lemonade, sweet tea, soda, and water.
Friday and Saturday ONLY!
Sara's Fairy Hair & Hair Feathers
Fairy hair, hair feather extensions, temporary glitter and matte ink tattoos
Shadowlands Farm
Locally-raised smoked maple BBQ ribs, bratwurst, and kielbasa with sides and drinks, locally-raised fresh and frozen chicken and pork
Sun & Spruce Soaps
Handmade soaps (goats, milk, and vegan), scrubs, body butters, candles, wax melts, room sprays, beard oils, bath bombs, sugar scrubs
Young Shiitake
DIY pre-inoculated Shiitake mushroom logs, fresh shiitake mushrooms (in season), dried shiitake mushrooms, mushroom seasoning powders
* NEW FOR 2025! *
Join in the Oktoberfest celebration and shop with the following unique vendors at the Barn at Monterey Inn!
32 West Main Street in Downtown Monterey
Saturday: 3 – 9 pm
Emerald Mountain Sanctuary
Owner and author Annette Naber of Highland County will be selling her new book "Seasons of a Wild Life"
Golden Glory Soaps
Local handmade milk soap from Highland County
Interested in being a vendor?
Fill out our online application by clicking here.
Contact the Chamber for details at director@highlandcounty.org or 540-468-2550.
*** Southernmost Maple
7738 Big Valley Road, Bolar
Friday and Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm (Bluegrass music starting at noon on Saturday)
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, and 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.
* Back Creek Farms
7781 Upper Back Creek Road, Monterey (From Rt. 84, 3.5 miles northeast on Rt. 600)
Friday: 10 am – 4 pm • Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
Bring your own apples and make cider on our cider press throughout the weekend, or help us make apple butter in our copper kettle on Saturday starting at 9 am. Chili, cornbread, and drinks served by donation. Our gift shop includes pure, infused, and barrel-aged syrups, books, toys, puzzles and housewares.
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
Walk the farm and interact with mini equine in residence! Free, with donations appreciated. Sturdy shoes recommended. Pets not permitted.
Fair Lawn Farm (Duff's Sugar House)
3118 Mill Gap Road, Monterey (7 miles south of Monterey in Meadowdale on Rt. 84)
Date and Times: TBD
Bring the entire family to this Victorian homestead, farm, and sugar camp. Sample in-house smoked cheese and taste fresh apple butter and cider.
* 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.
* Mill Gap Farms
2760 Mill Gap Road, Monterey (7 miles south of Monterey in Meadowdale on Rt. 84)
Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm
Tour Virginia's only USDA Certified Organic maple farm. Products for sale on farm and Highland County Courthouse.
* Sugar Tree Country Store
185 Mansion House Road, McDowell
Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Watch the old-time way of making apple butter and pressing cider, tour their maple producing facility, and shop merchandise in the country store.
2025 Activities & Attractions
5K Fall Color Run by the Highland County Recreation Commission
78 Highland Park Drive, Monterey (Pool complex parking lot)
Saturday: 10 am Start Time (In-person registration from 9 - 9:45 am)
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.
* 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 Highland County Public Library returns and includes thousands of books, movies, music, games and puzzles. The 3rd Annual Community Tiny Art Show will be open for display in the library meeting room.
* Historic Highland Inn Renovation Information and Monterey Walking Tours
68 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday: 3 - 5 pm • Saturday and Sunday: 11 am - 3 pm (Walking tours both days at noon)
Stop by the historic Highland Inn where volunteers will give updates on the renovation project. At noon on Saturday and Sunday you are also invited for a free walking tour of historic Monterey. Tours last approximately 30 minutes.
* Oktoberfest Celebration at the Monterey Inn * NEW! *
32 West Main Street, Monterey
Saturday: 3 – 9 pm
Join in the Oktoberfest celebration with specialty food to include brats, beer, and pretzels. Enjoy Oktoberfest-themed clothing on staff and the overall fun atmosphere with vendors. Live music by a local talent.
Jones McCoy House Museum
144 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday: 11 am - 4 pm • Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm • Sunday: 11 am - 4 pm
Historic Highland County house museum, period clothing, furnishings, and interpreters.
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; Lawn/camp chairs and a canopy recommended!
Attendees can launch their own rockets under VAST's experienced supervision, launch one of the club’s extra rockets, or simply watch!
2025 Shopping, Dining, & Lodging
* Art on Main at the 3rd Space
132 West Main Street, Monterey
Times: TBD
View and shop at this beautiful juried art gallery of local artists.
* Big Fish Cider, Co.
59 Spruce Street, Monterey
Friday: 3 – 7 pm • Saturday: 10 am – 7 pm (Apple cider pressing 11 am - 3 pm) • Sunday: 12 – 5 pm
Taste award-winning ciders made with unsprayed Highland County apples. Big Fish Cider is a micro cidery that focuses on quality and not making mass produced canned ciders. Their ciders are much more like fine wines than the sweet flavored versions found on supermarket shelves. Come by and taste the difference. Enjoy apple cider pressing on Saturday afternoon.
* 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!
* The 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.”
* Bolar Ruritan Scholarship Foundation Food
11 East Main Street, Monterey
Friday: 11 am - 5 pm • Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm • Sunday: 11 am - ?
Eat for a good cause! Serving Brunswick Stew in the parking lot of Highland Roots Market.
* Burke & Herbert Bank
195 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday: 9 am - 5 pm • ATM is available 24/7
Burke & Herbert Bank has been part of Virginia’s story since 1852. We believe banking should feel personal, and that strong communities start with strong relationships. Whether you’re opening your first account or growing a business, we’re here to help every step of the way. 24/7 ATM available across from the Monterey Courthouse.
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
Renovated country church with local vendors selling baked goods, jewelry, wood, handsewn, knitted, crocheted, handcrafted décor, accessories, and more.
* Claire's Cakes & Café
107 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9 am - 2 pm
Open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, assorted pastries, & barista style coffees. Special seasonal items available!
* The Curly Maple
174 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday: 11 am - 4 pm • Saturday: 8 am - 4 pm • Sunday: 8 am – 3 pm
Fall market highlighting local provisions, merchandise, breakfast and brunch menu, gluten-free items, fall-inspired lunch specials, coffee and teas.
* Ginseng Mountain Farm & Store
6359 Potomac River Road, Blue Grass (6 miles north of Monterey)
Friday: Noon - 5 pm • Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm • Sunday: Noon - 5 pm
"New time" country store! Grass-fed beef and lamb, sheepskins, braided rugs, honey, maple syrup, books, and more. On Saturday: samplings of local goods from their grilling marinade to hand-churned apple butter! All three days: pop-up thrift shop that includes housewares, antique clothing, and the latest fashions out of Megan’s Closet.
Highland County Girl Scouts Food and Crafts at Monterey Presbyterian Church (Indoor/Outdoor Seating)
50 Spruce Street, Monterey
Saturday: 11 am - 5 pm
Baked potatoes with toppings, chili, drinks, and baked goods.
Highland County Humane Society Benefit Yard Sale * NEW! *
58 Potomac River Road, Monterey
Saturday: 8 am - 4 pm
Name your price furniture, household items, vintage pet supplies, and more located at the Highland County Volunteer Department.
* Highland Roots Market
11 East Main Street, Monterey
Friday and Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm • Sunday: 12 - 5 pm
Maple syrup variety, cinnamon rolls and baked goods, craft beer, BBQ, fresh pressed cider, locally harvested goods, music, local pastured meats, locally roasted coffee, Halloween pumpkins, healthy snacks, natural food market
* Highlander * NEW! *
27 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday and Saturday: 11 am - 9 pm • Sunday: 11 am - 6 pm
Pizza, fried chicken, desserts, and souvenirs.
- The Highland County Visitor Center is located within the Highlander for local brochures and information!
* High's Restaurant
73 West Main Street, Monterey
Friday and Saturday: 11 am - 8 pm • Sunday: 11 am - 7 pm
As seen on America’s Best Restaurants Show and CBS Discover, High’s offers superb burgers, trout, Italian delights, phillies, tenders, steaks, sandwiches, desserts and gluten-free options.
* Townsend Draft Goods * NEW! *
10677 Mill Gap Road, Monterey (14 miles south of Monterey in Mill Gap on Rt. 84)
Friday and Saturday: 11 am - 5 pm • Online 24/7
Natural goods and products that support a healthy lifestyle in an eclectic barn. Goods are rooted in nature and the practice of Ayurveda, yoga, and herbalism.