Due to COVID-19, many music festivals and live music venues have postponed their events to later dates or have canceled entirely. As vaccinations continue, other festivals are going on as planned. Please note, some festivals may be requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to gain entrance. Check with the individual festivals for more information.
FloydFest
Status: Still planned for July 21-25, 2021
One of Virginia’s biggest and best music festivals, FloydFest is a five-day festival in the mountains of Floyd. Attendees can camp in the trees of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the festival and take in live music with more than 100 artists on eight stages, outdoor adventure, local vendors offering everything from artisan-made goods, workshops, healing arts seminars, and children’s activities.
Red Wing Roots Music Festival
Photo Credit: Jay Sansone
Status: Still planned for July 9-11, 2021
The Red Wing Roots Music Festival is held over three days at the scenic Natural Chimneys Park in Mt. Solon, is a family-friendly event that blends bluegrass and folk music. Multiple stages allow a wide array of regional and national bands to continuously play various genres during the festival, and there are tons of organized outdoor events as well such as bike rides, hiking, fun runs and interactive kids activities.
Rooster Walk
Photo Credit: Ryan Guite
Status: Festival canceled for 2021, but Rooster Walk Reunion, a three-day festival, will take place October 8-10, 2021.
The Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival features musical performances across several different genres, including bluegrass, rock, reggae, jazz, country and Americana – all in a family friendly environment. In addition to music, explore several vendor booths to partake in arts and crafts.
Virginia Arts Festival
Status: Rescheduled for various dates in 2021.
- Virginia International Tattoo, originally scheduled for April 15-18, 2021 at Norfolk Scope Arena, will now take place June 3-6, 2021 at Old Dominion University’s Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
- Williamsburg Live still planned for June 19, 2021.
Every year, the Virginia Arts Festival, brings the world’s great artists to performance venues throughout the Hampton Roads area. The big event is the Virginia International Tattoo, which pays tribute to the United States Military. Presented in the grand tradition of the world’s oldest tattoos, this Tattoo is an all-American show of patriotism and pride – one international sensation.
Patriotic Festival
Status: 2021 Festival canceled; rescheduled for 2022
On the last weekend of May, Virginia Beach hosts the Patriotic Festival, an annual event that honors our armed forces personnel and their families. The Patriotic Festival is a three-day-long event featuring concerts from country music stars, military expos, and displays.
Shenandoah Valley Music Festival
Status: Still planned for July-September 2021
Held over summer weekends at the beautiful historic retreat and conference center of Shrine Mont, the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival has brought countless talented musicians to the region, with past artists including LeAnn Rimes, Bruce Hornsby and The Temptations.
Hampton Jazz Festival
Status: 2021 Festival canceled; new dates June 24-26, 2022
The annual Hampton Jazz Festival attracts the nation’s top blues, soul, pop and jazz performers. Each June, tens of thousands of loyal fans from all over the nation converge in Hampton to be a part of this three-day celebration.
Friday Cheers
Status: 2021 season still planned for May and June with special pod seating.
Richmond’s summer concert series, Friday Cheers, brings regional favorites to Brown’s Island every Friday night in in May and June. Access to the festival series is sold in 2-person, 4-person, and 8-person pods.
HoustonFest
Status: 2021 Festival canceled, moved to June 10-11, 2022
Held annually in memory of young local musician Houston Caldwell, HoustonFest is a two-day festival in Southwest Virginia that features more than 30 bands, with musical genres ranging from Bluegrass to Gospel. Along with the music, skilled artisans and local vendors have workshops and sell homemade goods.
Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention
Status: Still planned for August 9-14, 2021
Photo credit: Emily Miller
The oldest and largest fiddlers’ festival in the world, the Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention pays tribute to the region’s rich culture and mountain music roots. Since 1935, this festival has brought musicians and bluegrass fans from around the world to discover the sound that defines the Blue Ridge Mountains. After 80+ years, the festival is still one of the most affordable, fun events anywhere on the east coast, providing a family-friendly vacation option for those looking to learn more about Southwest Virginia’s extensive musical background.
Something in the Water
Status: 2021 Festival cancelled
Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams’ music and culture festival, Something in the Water, takes place on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and features a huge amount of national touring artists and plenty of homegrown talent in different genres including hip hop, R&B, rock and many others.
Richmond Jazz and Music Festival
Status: Cancelled for 2021; 2022 dates TBD.
Experience the world’s best jazz and R&B music set against the beautiful rolling hills of the historic grounds of Maymont at the Richmond Jazz & Music Festival.
Staunton Music Festival
Status: Still planned for August 13-22, 2021
The Staunton Music Festival brings 60 of the world’s most acclaimed musicians to perform in more than 20 concerts in historic venues throughout downtown Staunton. The daily concerts range from eclectic and feature chamber music from the Middle Ages to world premieres, performed by vocalists and instrumentalists from across Europe and the U.S. There are also free pre-concert talks and special offers with numerous downtown restaurants and hotels.
Blue Ridge Music Center Summer Concert Series
Status: The 2021 Summer Concert Season is planned for Saturdays in June-September.
The Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax features a state-of-the-art amphitheater on the Blue Ridge Parkway and hosts concerts each weekend June through September.
Dr. Ralph Stanley’s Hills of Home Music Festival
Status: 2021 Festival canceled, moved to May 25-28, 2022
Dr. Ralph Stanley’s Hills of Home Music Festival is located in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia at Dr. Ralph Stanley’s “home place” in McClure. The three day festival is a great opportunity to see traditional bluegrass bands.
LOCKN’ Festival
Status: Rescheduled into three smaller weekend festivals at the LOCKN’ Farm, Aug. 13-15, Aug. 20-22 and Aug. 27-29, 2021
The LOCKN’ Festival is a music festival taking place at LOCKN’ Farm with an emphasis on music from jam bands, camping, outdoor activities, regional food, beverages and artisans. LOCKN’ is one of Virginia’s largest music festivals and many of the artists perform over multiple days and be featured in unique and exciting artist pairings.
Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion
Photo Credit: Cora Wagoner
Status: Still planned for September 10-12, 2021
A three-day festival along Downtown Bristol’s State Street, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion celebrates Bristol’s heritage as the Birthplace of Country Music, where some of the most noteworthy and influential musical recordings ever created. Catch more than a hundred bands playing on 19 stages during the festival, filling the streets of Bristol with Americana, country, bluegrass, rock, blues, and several other genres that trace their roots to the Bristol Sessions.
The FESTY
Status: Events scheduled through November 2021.
The FESTY is an outdoor, socially distanced concert series held at Chisholm Vineyards in Earlysville, less than 10 miles from Downtown Charlottesville. Access to the festival series is sold in 2-person, 4-person, and 6-person pods.
Appaloosa Festival
Status: Planned for August 13-15, 2021.
The Appaloosa Festival is a roots music and outdoors experience set at the Skyline Ranch Resort among the beautiful backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hosted by Scythian, Appaloosa features some of the most critically acclaimed up-and-coming artists from all over the country.
Richmond Folk Festival
Photo Credit: Dave Parrish, IG account: @rvaphotog
Status: October 8-10, 2021
Celebrating the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional craft and food, the Richmond Folk Festival features more than 30 performing groups on seven live music stages, along with a Virginia Folklife demonstration area, children’s activities, a folk arts marketplace, regional and ethnic foods and more. The free three-day festival is one of the largest events in Virginia.
Blue Ridge Rock Festival is Sept 9-12th in Danville, VA with one of the biggest lineups in the country.
Is the rock concert in danville in sept requiring proof of covid shots or testing ??
14 yr old has tickets but neither of above info
Hey Londa, these types of decisions are ever-changing at the moment so I recommend keeping an eye out on their website for the most updated information here. https://blueridgerockfest.com/general-faq/
Great to see live music is coming
back. Looking forward to the
16th year for the Richmond
Folk Festival.