The Shadow
MONTEREY, Va. (VR) – Highland County’s annual Hands & Harvest Festival returns with county-wide fall fun during the weekend of October 10 – 12, 2025, where everyone is invited to celebrate the traditions, harvest, and crafts found in this rural mountain community.
From farms to a fire tower, visitors can experience the sights and tastes of the season while viewing the beautiful countryside of fall foliage. On the self-guided Harvest Trail, the public is encouraged to take part in traditional fall staples like cider pressing or making apple butter at local farms and maple sugar camps, or they can try something different like taking a tour of a mini equine sanctuary or viewing the process of creating colorful barn quilts. Highland County is home to Virginia’s first Barn Quilt Trail that includes 80 barn quilts on its popular brochure to discover while traveling.
Community activities include an exciting 5K Fall Color Run, Valley AeroSpace Team Rocket Launches, the restored Sounding Knob Fire Tower, Highland County Public Library Used Book Sale, 26th Annual Sweater Sale from Little Big Dog Rescue, historic Monterey walking tours starting from the Highland Inn, Charles Pinckney Jones House Museum, and much more. New attractions like a festive Oktoberfest celebration at the Barn at Monterey Inn with vendors, the eclectic barn filled with natural products from Townsend Draft Goods, a yard sale to benefit the Highland County Humane Society, and delicious pizza and chicken from the Highlander restaurant will help create lasting memories. Plus, Virginia’s newest State Park, Hayfields, plans to be open for the first time between sunrise to sunset on Saturday and Sunday on the southeastern side of the county for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and birdwatching opportunities.
Musical entertainment in Monterey is available for the entire family. The Highland County Arts Council presents the Furnace Mountain Band at The Highland Center on Saturday starting at 3 pm. Called “the area’s premier acoustic band” by The Washingtonian, 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. Follow that up on Sunday with a free Square Dance Workshop from experienced local callers Ellen and Eugene Ratcliffe with Hannah Johnson on Spruce Street starting at 12:30 pm, sponsored by Mid Atlantic Arts. Then between 1 and 3 pm, join in the excitement of an old-fashioned street dance by square dancing alongside performances from one of Virginia’s oldest clogging groups, the Little Switzerland Cloggers. Don’t be shy and get out there for some interactive fun!
Get an early start on holiday shopping at the Arts & Crafts Vendor Market located at the courthouse lawn in Monterey featuring talented local and regional artisans. Complete your shopping needs by visiting an old general store or unique venue nestled among the countryside like Sugar Tree Country Store, Blue Grass Mercantile, Ginseng Mountain Farm & Store, The Church at the Old Oak, or the Highland Roots Market.
Bring your appetite, because there will be abundant food options available around the county with seasonal offerings. The Friday Highland Farmers’ Market, Puff’s BBQ, and Shadowlands Farm will be open on the courthouse lawn during various days of the weekend. Also in Monterey, the Bolar Ruritan Club will be serving Brunswick Stew, and the Highland County Girl Scouts will be selling baked potatoes and chili. Fall-themed menus at local restaurants are sure to please. Whether you visit a traditional staple like High’s Restaurant or newer establishments like Claire’s Cakes & Café or The Curly Maple, your tastebuds will thank you! Plus, Big Fish Cider, Co. will be open with their award-winning craft ciders in Monterey.
Many adventures await with a visit to Highland County, Virginia on October 10 – 12, 2025. The full schedule, details, and addresses of all the festival happenings can be found at www.highlandcounty.org/hands-harvest-festival. Maps with daily schedules will be available at the Highland County Courthouse Lawn in Monterey, the Highland County Visitor Center at 27 W. Main Street in Monterey, and local stores throughout the county during the event.
The Hands & Harvest Festival is brought to you by the Highland County Chamber of Commerce. Platinum sponsors of the 2025 festival include JES Foundation Repair and Renewal by Andersen. Gold sponsors are Bath Community Hospital and Southernmost Maple.
The Highland County Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) membership nonprofit organization with a mission to lift up local businesses and entrepreneurs, promote Highland County, and champion economic prosperity and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.highlandcounty.org.
