Don’t just take our word about loving Highland! Check out the articles and video coverage below.
Highland County is covered locally by The Recorder newspaper and Allegheny Mountain Radio - check them out for news, entertainment and happenings.
2024
- WDBJ: Discover Highland County (Video by CBS Discover's Dave Parker) (December 2024)
- Governing: Young Adults Fuel the Revival of Rural, Small Towns (November 2024)
- The Travel: 8 Small Towns In The Blue Ridge Mountains For People Who Hate Driving (November 2024)
- VPM: Virginia Rural Newspapers Are Still Fighting To Stay Alive featuring The Recorder (October 2024)
- WDBJ7: Highland Barn Quilt Trail (Video) (October 2024)
- WDBJ7: Hands & Harvest Festival Preview (Video) (October 2024)
- The Travel: 7 Most Affordable Small Mountain Towns on the East Coast for Fall (September 2024)
- WHRO: An Appalachian Publisher Thrives In The Midst Of Industry Upheaval (featuring The Recorder) (September 2024)
- Bearing Drift: View from the Editor's Desk (featuring the Hands & Harvest Festival) (September 2024)
- The Pocahontas Times: Fair Lawn Farm to host 18th Century Trades Fair (August 2024)
- World Atlas: 7 Best Road Trips to Take in Virginia (August 2024)
- Civil War Trails: Virginia Brochure (featuring the Highland County Maple Festival) (July 2024)
- Allegheny Mountain Radio: Highland Tourism Council Updating Barn Quilt Trail Brochure (July 2024)
- CNBC: America’s Top States for Business 2024: The full rankings with Virginia at #1 (July 2024)
- Governor of Virginia: Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces CNBC Names Virginia “America’s Top State for Business” (July 2024)
- Blue Ridge Outdoors: Room for Adventure in Highland County, Virginia (July 2024)
- Virginia Living: Highland County Maple Festival Awarded Best Festival in the Shenandoah Valley Region in Best of Virginia 2024, Page 133 (May 2024)
- Pellicle: At The Crossroads - Big Fish Cider in Monterey, Virginia (April 2024)
- 2024 Virginia Travel Guide: Virginia Mountains Region (featuring the Highland County Maple Festival, Sounding Knob Fire Tower, and Barn Quilt Trail)
- Wine and Country Life: Artisan Portrait: Fair Lawn Farm (March 2024)
- Virginia This Morning: Everywhere You Are: Love from Highland County (Video Section Starts Around 2:10) (March 2024)
- VPM: Highland County Maple Festival: Sweet, Sticky, Vital for Local Economy (March 2024)
- Radio IQ / WVTF: Thousands Flock to Maple Festival in Highland County (March 2024)
- The News Leader: There's Still Time To Enjoy Virginia's Sweetest Event of the Year (March 2024)
- Garden & Gun: In Virginia, Tiny Frogs Mark The End of Maple Syrup Season (featuring Back Creek Farms) (March 2024)
- Bearing Drift: Mountains, Maple Syrup, Sheep...2024 Highland County Maple Festival (March 2024)
- WDBJ7: 7@Four Video with the Highland County Maple Festival (featuring Southernmost Maple) (March 2024)
- WVVA: Highland County to Celebrate Maple Festival Video (March 2024)
- Northern Virginia Magazine: 5 Maple Syrup Festivals Where You Can Have Sweet Weekend Fun (February 2024)
- Economic Recovery Corps: Landdis Hollifield Bio in Highland County, Virginia (February 2024)
- Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide: 10 Fun Things to Do During Winter in Virginia (featuring the Highland County Maple Festival) (January 2024)
- Stacker: Counties with the Most Prewar Homes in Virginia (January 2024)
- Cardinal News: The Joy of Snow (and Winter Fishing) in Highland County (January 2024):
- Cooperative Living: What's Old Is New Again (Highland Inn) (January/February 2024)
2023
- Blue Ridge Outdoors: Peak Pursuits: The 2024 Bucket List featuring the Highland County Maple Festival on Page 33 (December 2023)
- Civil War Digest: McDowell's Mansion - Civil War Site (YouTube Video) (December 2023)
- Cooperative Living: 2023 Holiday Guide (Page 24 & 25) (November/December 2023)
- Virginia.org Blog: Where to Try Hard Cider in Virginia, featuring Big Fish Cider, Co. (November 2023)
- Virginia Rider Magazine: Highland County, VA (Cover and Page 10) (October 2023)
- Richmond Magazine's RVA Traveler: Virginia's Least Populous County Welcomes You! (Page 9) (October 2023)
- WDBJ7: Hands & Harvest Festival Returns to Highland County (October 2023)
- Virginia Rider Magazine: Great Places to Ride featuring Highland County on Page 6 (September 2023)
- NPR: Wave of cider makers are branching out from the juicy, sweet stuff in grocery stores, featuring Big Fish Cider, Co. (September 2023)
- VPM: At their core, some Virginia cidermakers are wild, featuring Big Fish Cider, Co. (September 2023)
- Andrew McKnight Blog: It has begun (personal reflection of Second Saturdays at 7 visit to Highland County) (September 2023)
- PBS NewsHour: The Connections Between Decline of Local News and Growing Political Division, featuring The Recorder (August 2023)
- Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond: Regional Collaboration Helps Mountain Towns Get Creative (August 2023)
- USDA Rural Development: Grant Funding and Farmers Market Sales Support the Sweet Success of Tonoloway Farm (August 2023)
- Blue Ridge Outdoors: Get Away From It All in Highland County, Virginia (July 2023)
- West Virginia Public Broadcasting Inside Appalachia: Tree Syrup - Folkways Story by Clara Haizlett YouTube Video (June 2023)
- West Virginia Public Broadcasting Inside Appalachia: Tree Syrup Producers Experiment With Techniques And Traditions Amidst A Warming Winter (June 2023)
- Virginia Living: Highland County Maple Festival Awarded Best Festival in the Shenandoah Valley Region in Best of Virginia 2023, Page 131 (May 2023)
- WHSV: The Only Tornado on Record in Highland County (April 2023)
- WFXR: Foodie Friday: Back Creek Farms (3-part Video Series) (March 2023)
- WDBJ7: Highland County Maple Festival Offers Two Weekends of Entertainment (March 2023)
- WHSV: Highland County Maple Festival Back This Weekend and Next (March 2023)
- Cooperative Living Magazine: Not Just Another Syrup Column featuring the Highland County Maple Festival and Southernmost Maple on Page 32 (March 2023)
- Southern Living: 11 Southern Events, Festivals, and Happenings Not To Miss This Spring featuring the Highland County Maple Festival (February 2023)
- Staunton News Leader: Highland County's Maple Festival Makes March the Sweetest Month (February 2023)
- Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine: Best of the Blue Ridge: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards featuring the Highland County Maple Festival as Unique Festival Winner (February 2023)
- At Ease Magazine: The Maple Masters of Highland County, Virginia (February 2023)
- Recreation News: A Festival That Celebrates "Virginia's Sweet Spot *Click on page 18 and 19 of the "02/01/2023" issue [Full article also available by clicking here](February 2023)
- Only in Your State: Visit These 12 Incredible Charming Small Towns In Virginia, One For Each Month Of The Year (January 2023)
2022
- Virginia Tech Economic Impact Study Report of 2022 Highland County Maple Festival: One-page summary. Full report. (December 2022)
- The Culture Trip: The Most Beautiful Towns in Virginia (featuring Monterey) (November 2022)
- WDBJ7: 7@four Previews Hands and Harvest Festival (October 2022)
- Elizabeth Larson Photography Blog: Wanderlust: Scenic Highland County, VA (August 2022)
- Country Folks: Breeds that work (Maloy Valley Farm in McDowell, Virginia (August 2022)
- Northern Virginia Magazine: Road Trip to a Land of Beauty and Maple in Virginia's Least Populous County (August 2022)
- Blue Ridge Outdoors: Find Solitude Amidst Nature in Highland County, Virginia (July 2022)
- Elizabeth Larson Photography Blog: Student Work - Highland Arts Academy Photography Workshop (May 2022)
- Alexandria Living Magazine: Edible Virginia (May 2022)
- Virginia Rider Magazine: YouTube Video Tour of Allegheny MotoCamp in Highland County, Virginia (May 2022)
- Virginia Living: Highland County Maple Festival Awarded Best Festival in the Shenandoah Valley Region in Best of Virginia 2022, Page 131 (May 2022)
- Virginia Main Street: Highland County EDA Awarded $30,000 Rural Community Development Initiative Grant (May 2022)
- Discovery Channel: Moonshiners Season 11, Episode 21 "Burning Down the House" featuring Tonoloway Farm (March 2022)
- WFXR News: 62nd Maple Festival underway in Highland Co. (March 2022)
- WDBJ7: Mill Gap Farms: Virginia’s first and only maple syrup producer certified USDA organic (March 2022)
- WDBJ7: Duff's Sugar House: Maple syrup the old-fashioned way (March 2022)
- WSLS10: Feel Good Friday: Highland County Maple Festival returns this weekend featuring Puffenbarger's Sugar Orchard (March 2022)
- WSLS10: The Highland County Maple Festival returns with an in-person celebration this weekend featuring Puffenbarger's Sugar Orchard (March 2022)
- WFXR News: Highland County Maple Festival Returns After 2 Year Hiatus (March 2022)
- Virginia Living: Maple Syrup Season (March 2022)
- WDBJ7: Highland County sanctuary growing as safe haven for mini horses featuring Elegius Mini Equine Sanctuary (March 2022)
- Augusta Free Press: The Official Maple Festival of Virginia Returns (February 2022)
- Staunton News Leader: Maple festival back in Highland County after two year hiatus due to COVID (February 2022)
- Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine: Best of the Blue Ridge: 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards featuring the Highland County Maple Festival as Unique Festival Runner Up, Hiner Town Trout Fishing as the Private Trout Fishing Waters Winner, and Big Fish Cider, Co. as Cider Runner Up (February 2022)
- Pretending I'm Retired Blog: A Sweet Escape: Virginia's Maple Syrup Trail (January 2022)
2021
- Allegheny Mountain Radio: Highland County Chamber of Commerce 2021 Summary: Part 1 and Part 2 (December 2021)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Scenic Virginia's 2021 Photo Contest featuring winning entry "Blue Grass Road" by Michael Bedwell (December 2021) You can also view 2021 Virginia Vistas Photo Contest Album of Winners by clicking here. An Honorable Mention entry "When the Cows Come Home" by Annette Naber is also from Highland County.
- Beyond the Tower Podcast from The Omni Homestead: Part 2: Tap Into The Sweet Flavors of Highland County (October 2021)
- Beyond the Tower Podcast from The Omni Homestead: Part 1: Find Your Sweet Spot in Highland County (October 2021)
- WDBJ7: It's Time For Some Foliage Fun in Highland County (October 2021)
- WDBJ7: Centenarians Roll Through Highland County (October 2021)
- Allegheny Mountain Radio: Larnell Starkey & The Spiritual Seven Perform in Monterey on October 9 (October 2021)
- Allegheny Mountain Radio: Highland County's Hands & Harvest Festival is October 8 - 10 (October 2021)
- Allegheny Mountain Radio: Special Markets to Finish Up Highland Farmers Market Season (September 2021)
- Blue Ridge Outdoors: Solitude Awaits You On The Hiking Trails in Highland County, VA (October 2021)
- WDBJ7: Apple Harvest Begins For Big Fish Cider (September 2021)
- Virginia Farm Bureau's Real Virginia Television Show Video Segment: Maple Syrup Sweetness (September 2021)
- Virginia Farm Bureau's Real Virginia Television Show Video Segment: Farm Focus Highland Co Maple Festival (September 2021)
- Lynchburg Living: Virginia's "Switzerland" Offers Rural Charm (September 2021)
- Shenandoah Valley Partnership: Shenandoah Valley Life Podcast - "Calling a Rural Community Home: A Conversation with Chris Swecker & Bruce Folks" (September 2021)
- Virginia Living: 2021 Best of Virginia Awards featuring the Highland County Maple Festival as the audience-voted winner of Best Food or Drink Festival in the Shenandoah Valley Region (September 2021)
- Daily News-Record: 2021 Best of the Valley featuring the Highland County Maple Festival as the audience-voted winner of the Best Family Entertainment Category on page 4, with accompanying ad on page 11 (August 2021)
- Virginia Farm Bureau: Virginia Syrup Producers Can Join New Statewide Association featuring Tonoloway Farm (July 2021)
- Virginia Living: Maple Leaves featuring Back Creek Farms (June 2021)
- Foodie Travel USA: 6 Great Farm Tours featuring the Virginia Maple Syrup Trail (May 2021)
- YouTube: Sounding Knob Fire Tower has the best views in Virginia! from Cody Carr (April 2021)
- Only In Your State: Take The Virginia Maple Syrup Trail For The Sweetest Adventure Through Highland County (April 2021)
- Virginia's Travel Blog: A Guide to Green Travel: Eco-Friendly Vacations in Virginia featuring Laurel Fork Sapsuckers Farm (April 2021)
- Heritage Family Market: Southernmost Maple Syrup - Facebook Video (March 2021)
- Virginia Home Grown: Tonoloway Farm in Highland County Featured in Facebook Livestream (Their segment begins at 28:40) (March 2021)
- Modern Farmer: The International Humanitarians Listening to the Land in Appalachia (March 2021)
- Virginia Living: Made in Virginia 2020: Food Winners (Pantry): Back Creek Farm's Vanilla Cinnamon Maple Syrup (March 2021)
- Only In Your State: Sounding Knob Fire Tower (March 2021)
- Recreation News: Take an Epic Road Trip Through Virginia's Western Highlands (March 2021)
[View and download the entire March issue by clicking here and choosing 03/01/2021 in the upper left corner.] - Cooperative Living Magazine: Ode to "Liquid Gold" (March 2021)
- Virginia Living: Sappy Trails (February 2021)
- Virginia Farm Bureau's Real Virginia Television Show Video Segment: Highland County Closeup (February 2021)
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources: Highland Wildlife Management Area Video (February 2021)
- CSPDC: Highland County State Park Feasibility Study (February 2021)
- Blue Ridge Outdoors: 2021 Best of the Blue Ridge: Runner-up in Best Festival Food for Maple Doughnuts from the Highland County Maple Festival (January 2021)
- Blue Ridge Country: Barn Quilts: A Story in Wood and Paint (January 2021)
- 2021 Virginia Travel Guide: Virginia Mountains Region (View entire guide or order your own at www.virginia.org/plan-your-trip/virginia-travel-guide/)
2020
- WSLS10: Highland County Barn Quilt Trail (Also available on YouTube) (October 2020)
- WSLS10: Virginia Maple Syrup Trail (Also available on YouTube) (October 2020)
- WDBJ7: Highland County Barn Quilt Trail (October 2020)
- Shenandoah Valley Partnership Virtual Fall Economic Development Forum: Featuring Information about The Highland Center, The Highland Inn Restoration, The Highland County Chamber of Commerce and more (October 2020)
- Blue Ridge Outdoors: WanderLove - Relax, Recharge, and Reset in Highland County (September 2020)
- Virginia's Travel Blog: WanderLove - A Road Trip Through Highland County (September 2020)
- Northern Virginia Magazine: Small Town Adventures - Your Guide to Monterey, Virginia (May 2020)
- Virginia Living: 2020 Best of Virginia Awards featuring the Highland County Maple Festival as the audience-voted winner of Best Food or Drink Festival in the Shenandoah Valley Region (2020)
- WSLS10 Daytime Blue Ridge: Highland County Maple Festival Video (March 2020)
- Tour of Honor: Monterey's "Walk of Honor" Listed As A 2020 Memorial Site on this Motorcyle Adventure for Charity (2020)
2018
- Richmondmag.com: Sweet Celebration (March 2018)
- Cooperative Living: The Highland Maple Festival and Blue Grass, Virginia (February 2018)
2016
- Blue Ridge Country: Barn Quilts in the Mountains (November 2016)
2014
- Roanoke.com: See Roadside gems in Barn Quilts of Highland County Tour (May 2014)
2012
- WTOP: Highland Co. Festival features all things maple (March 2012)
2010
- Washingtonpost.com: Escapes: Monterey, Virginia’s ‘Little Switzerland’ (October 2010)
1989
- Washingtonpost.com: And In Western Virginia, Another Kind of Highland Fling by Donald McCaig (January 1989)
General
- Library of Congress Local Legacies: Highland Maple Festival (Highland County)
- Loghome.com Authentic Cabin Remodel | A Small Good Thing