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Best events in
Harrisonburg

For events and things to do in Harrisonburg, VA, the city's scene blends college-town energy with the Shenandoah Valley's cultural landscape. The walkable downtown core, recognized as both a Cultural and Culinary District, serves as the main stage for much of the action. From morning farmers markets at Turner Pavilion to evening performances at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, the city's rhythm is steady and diverse.

A typical downtown evening might involve grabbing a craft cider at Sage Bird Ciderworks before heading to a show at The Golden Pony or Court Square Theater.
The local brewery scene is a hub for more than just drinks, with spots like Brothers Craft Brewing hosting recurring comedy nights and monthly metal shows.
On the James Madison University campus, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts presents a range of theater, dance, and music performances throughout the academic year.

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Popular in Harrisonburg

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Shenandoah Valley Real Estate Wealth Workshop (In Person Sign-Up) primary image

Shenandoah Valley Real Estate Wealth Workshop (In Person Sign-Up)

Tomorrow • 1:00 PM + 11 more

1962 Evelyn Byrd Ave

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Let Her Fly - Harrisonburg primary image

Let Her Fly - Harrisonburg

Sunday • 5:00 PM

The Loft at Liberty St.

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The Nations Worship primary image

The Nations Worship

Sunday • 6:00 PM

Divine Unity Community Church

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BARREL BEATS: OPEN DJ DECKS primary image

BARREL BEATS: OPEN DJ DECKS

Mon, Oct 12 • 8:00 PM + 11 more

Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions

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Cecilia primary image

Cecilia

Thu, Oct 15 • 5:30 PM

The Little Grill

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Endgame (Friday) primary image

Endgame (Friday)

Fri, Oct 23 • 7:30 PM

EMU University Commons - Main Stage

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FALL INTO YOUR GLOW | An Interactive Beauty Experience primary image

FALL INTO YOUR GLOW | An Interactive Beauty Experience

Wed, Oct 28 • 4:00 PM

1951 Evelyn Byrd Ave suite i

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Halloween at The Loft primary image

Halloween at The Loft

Sat, Oct 31 • 8:00 PM

The Loft at Liberty St.

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Shenandoah Valley Real Estate Wealth Workshop (In Person Sign-Up) primary image

Shenandoah Valley Real Estate Wealth Workshop (In Person Sign-Up)

Tomorrow • 1:00 PM + 11 more

1962 Evelyn Byrd Ave

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Let Her Fly - Harrisonburg primary image

Let Her Fly - Harrisonburg

Sunday • 5:00 PM

The Loft at Liberty St.

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The Nations Worship primary image

The Nations Worship

Sunday • 6:00 PM

Divine Unity Community Church

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BARREL BEATS: OPEN DJ DECKS primary image

BARREL BEATS: OPEN DJ DECKS

Mon, Oct 12 • 8:00 PM + 11 more

Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions

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Cecilia primary image

Cecilia

Thu, Oct 15 • 5:30 PM

The Little Grill

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Endgame (Friday) primary image

Endgame (Friday)

Fri, Oct 23 • 7:30 PM

EMU University Commons - Main Stage

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FALL INTO YOUR GLOW | An Interactive Beauty Experience primary image

FALL INTO YOUR GLOW | An Interactive Beauty Experience

Wed, Oct 28 • 4:00 PM

1951 Evelyn Byrd Ave suite i

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Halloween at The Loft primary image

Halloween at The Loft

Sat, Oct 31 • 8:00 PM

The Loft at Liberty St.

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Online Events

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry primary image

A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Tomorrow • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube primary image

AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube

Thursday • 6:00 PM EDT

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Perfectionnement en programmation Python [en ligne, PYT102] primary image

Perfectionnement en programmation Python [en ligne, PYT102]

Thu, Oct 15 • 9:00 AM EDT

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HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism primary image

HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 1:00 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett primary image

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry primary image

A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Tomorrow • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube primary image

AI Kids Music Video Studio: Produce Black Nursery Rhyme for YouTube

Thursday • 6:00 PM EDT

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Perfectionnement en programmation Python [en ligne, PYT102] primary image

Perfectionnement en programmation Python [en ligne, PYT102]

Thu, Oct 15 • 9:00 AM EDT

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HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism primary image

HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 1:00 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett primary image

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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This Weekend

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Swinging Into Fall primary image

Swinging Into Fall

Friday • 6:30 PM

Creative Art Studio and Event Center

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Harrisonburg Shenandoah Secrets Quest primary image

Harrisonburg Shenandoah Secrets Quest

Friday • 4:00 PM + 8 more

212 S Main St

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Spooky Season: Harrisonburg Downtown Haunted Secrets primary image

Spooky Season: Harrisonburg Downtown Haunted Secrets

Friday • 4:00 PM + 8 more

80 Court Square

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2026 SVMI-Shenandoah Valley Marching Invitational at Harrisonburg HS primary image

2026 SVMI-Shenandoah Valley Marching Invitational at Harrisonburg HS

Saturday • 9:00 AM

Harrisonburg High School

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Harrisonburg Hustle Scavenger Hunt primary image

Harrisonburg Hustle Scavenger Hunt

Saturday • 11:00 AM + 3 more

Black Sheep Coffee

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Let Her Fly - Harrisonburg primary image

Let Her Fly - Harrisonburg

Sunday • 5:00 PM

The Loft at Liberty St.

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Ben Between Africa + Postcard Writing Workshop primary image

Ben Between Africa + Postcard Writing Workshop

Sunday • 3:00 PM

VMRC - Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community

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The Nations Worship primary image

The Nations Worship

Sunday • 6:00 PM

Divine Unity Community Church

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Swinging Into Fall primary image

Swinging Into Fall

Friday • 6:30 PM

Creative Art Studio and Event Center

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Harrisonburg Shenandoah Secrets Quest primary image

Harrisonburg Shenandoah Secrets Quest

Friday • 4:00 PM + 8 more

212 S Main St

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Spooky Season: Harrisonburg Downtown Haunted Secrets primary image

Spooky Season: Harrisonburg Downtown Haunted Secrets

Friday • 4:00 PM + 8 more

80 Court Square

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2026 SVMI-Shenandoah Valley Marching Invitational at Harrisonburg HS primary image

2026 SVMI-Shenandoah Valley Marching Invitational at Harrisonburg HS

Saturday • 9:00 AM

Harrisonburg High School

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Harrisonburg Hustle Scavenger Hunt primary image

Harrisonburg Hustle Scavenger Hunt

Saturday • 11:00 AM + 3 more

Black Sheep Coffee

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Let Her Fly - Harrisonburg primary image

Let Her Fly - Harrisonburg

Sunday • 5:00 PM

The Loft at Liberty St.

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Ben Between Africa + Postcard Writing Workshop primary image

Ben Between Africa + Postcard Writing Workshop

Sunday • 3:00 PM

VMRC - Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community

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The Nations Worship primary image

The Nations Worship

Sunday • 6:00 PM

Divine Unity Community Church

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Music events

BARREL BEATS: OPEN DJ DECKS primary image

BARREL BEATS: OPEN DJ DECKS

Mon, Oct 12 • 8:00 PM + 11 more

Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions

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Bluestone Fall Festival primary image

Bluestone Fall Festival

Sat, Oct 24 • 3:00 PM

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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Live Music: Sat, Nov 7th primary image

Live Music: Sat, Nov 7th

Sat, Nov 7 • 9:00 PM

104 E Wolfe St

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The Savage Hearts and Bet Williams presented by Small Time House Concerts primary image

The Savage Hearts and Bet Williams presented by Small Time House Concerts

Fri, Nov 13 • 6:30 PM

Small Time House Concert Series

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BARREL BEATS: OPEN DJ DECKS primary image

BARREL BEATS: OPEN DJ DECKS

Mon, Oct 12 • 8:00 PM + 11 more

Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions

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Bluestone Fall Festival primary image

Bluestone Fall Festival

Sat, Oct 24 • 3:00 PM

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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Live Music: Sat, Nov 7th primary image

Live Music: Sat, Nov 7th

Sat, Nov 7 • 9:00 PM

104 E Wolfe St

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The Savage Hearts and Bet Williams presented by Small Time House Concerts primary image

The Savage Hearts and Bet Williams presented by Small Time House Concerts

Fri, Nov 13 • 6:30 PM

Small Time House Concert Series

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Points of Interest near Harrisonburg

Hillandale Park

James Madison University Mineral Museum

Virginia Quilt Museum

Explore More Discovery Museum

Frequently asked questions about Harrisonburg

Where are the best spots for comedy shows in Harrisonburg?

Brothers Craft Brewing is a top venue for regular comedy events. The brewery hosts the recurring Next Stop Comedy showcase, bringing in different stand-up acts. For an annual event, the Cave Comedy Fest takes place at the unique Melrose Caverns.

What kind of live music events can I find downtown?

Downtown Harrisonburg offers a diverse range of live music events for any taste. The Golden Pony and Clementine Cafe feature indie bands and DJs, while Ruby's Arcade is known for live blues. For intimate sets, Pale Fire Brewing Co. hosts singer-songwriters.

How can I experience the local art scene?

The monthly First Fridays of the Valley art walk is the best way to dive into the local scene. On these evenings, downtown galleries and businesses host art openings and cultural experiences. The Court Square Theater also presents independent films and live performances.

Are there good date night ideas in Harrisonburg?

A classic Harrisonburg date involves the walkable downtown district. Start with dinner, see a performance at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts or Court Square Theater, and then grab a cider at Sage Bird Ciderworks to round out the evening.

What is a popular free event in Harrisonburg?

The Harrisonburg Farmers Market is a fantastic free community event to attend. Held year-round at the Turner Pavilion, it offers a chance to browse local goods and connect with producers. It runs on Saturdays and adds Tuesdays seasonally.

Does Harrisonburg have an active nightlife?

Yes, the city's nightlife is centered around its walkable downtown area. The scene includes live music venues like The Golden Pony, craft breweries such as Pale Fire Brewing Co., and spots like Ruby's Arcade that combine games with a bar atmosphere.

Which annual events define the city's character?

The MACROCK festival is a key annual music event for the independent scene. This multi-venue DIY festival takes over downtown each April. For comedy enthusiasts, the Cave Comedy Fest provides a unique experience at Melrose Caverns.

Can you suggest some family-friendly things to do?

The Harrisonburg Farmers Market is a great outing for all ages. Beyond the market, catching a family-oriented performance at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts or enjoying the games at Ruby's Arcade are other popular choices for a fun day out.