Harrisonburg area
Around Harrisonburg area
Photo: Strawser · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · Virginia · 267k people
Harrisonburg area
Locals say the Valley · “The Friendly City”
The heart of the Shenandoah Valley
JMU royal purpleJMU gold
Welcome to the Valley, where the mountains meet the campus. Get ready for apple orchards, Dukes football, and friendly faces.
Clubs for Harrisonburg area
No clubs for Harrisonburg area yet.
The room
Harrisonburg area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Harrisonburg's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Harrisonburg. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Harrisonburg area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- James Madison University Home of the Dukes, a large public university.
- Bridgeforth Stadium JMU football stadium.
- Atlantic Union Bank Center JMU basketball and events arena.
- Edith J. Carrier Arboretum Public botanical garden with walking trails.
- Shenandoah National Park Scenic park with Skyline Drive.
- Harrisonburg Farmers Market Open-air market in downtown.
- Outdoors Hike Massanutten
- Outdoors Shenandoah National Park
- With kids Explore More Discovery Museum
- With kids Harrisonburg Farmers Market
- Evenings Downtown bars on Court Square
- Evenings Live music at Clementine Cafe
- Locals love farmers markets
- Locals love mountain trails
Through the year
- Rockingham County Fair August County fair with rides, livestock, and food.
- Rocktown Beer Festival Summer Craft beer tasting event with local breweries.
- First Fridays Downtown Monthly Monthly art walks and gallery openings.
- JMU Dukes Football Games Fall Home games at Bridgeforth Stadium.
- JMU Dukes Basketball Games Winter Home games at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
Four distinct seasons with hot summers and cold winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “the Valley”
- The Shenandoah Valley region.
- “Rocktown”
- Nickname for Harrisonburg.
- “Dukes”
- James Madison University sports teams.
- “Massanutten”
- The mountain and resort area.
Getaways
- Staunton Historic downtown and American Shakespeare Center.
- Charlottesville Monticello, UVA, and local wineries.
- Elkins Mountain town with outdoor recreation.
- Winchester Apple country and historic downtown.
Local flavour
Teams
- James Madison Dukes NCAA Division I (Sun Belt)
- Harrisonburg Turks Valley Baseball League
Eat and drink
- Virginia ham Country ham, often served in biscuits or with red-eye gravy
- Apple butter A staple of the Shenandoah Valley's apple orchards, often sold at farm stands
- Apple cider Fresh-pressed cider from local orchards, especially in autumn
- Shenandoah Valley turkey The region is a major turkey producer, and turkey dishes are common at local diners and family tables
Where people go
- Apple orchards
- Farmers markets Local produce, crafts, and community gathering spots, like the Harrisonburg Farmers Market
- Country stores Old-fashioned general stores and roadside stands selling local goods
- Mountain trails Hiking and scenic overlooks in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park
Heritage and traditions
The Valley is proud of its rural heritage, from apple orchards to Mennonite farms, and its welcoming, diverse community.
This time of year in Harrisonburg area
- Apple picking September-October Orchards open in fall
- Mennonite relief sale October Fall gathering
- Leaf peeping October Fall colors in the valley
- Mennonite Relief Sale October Quilts and food for charity
Say it like a local: “a right smart while” — a long time
Festivals
- Shenandoah Valley Heritage Festival September Celebrates local history and folk culture
- Rocktown Music Festival May Live music across downtown venues
- Harrisonburg Restaurant Week January Tasting menus at local eateries
- Valley Arts Festival June Artists and craftspeople in the park
- Mennonite Relief Sale October Quilts and food for charity
- International Festival April Food and dance from many cultures
Landmarks with a story
- Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Civil War sites preserved
- Harrisonburg Old Court House Greek Revival, now a museum
- Woodrow Wilson Birthplace In Staunton, nearby
- Mennonite Meetinghouse Plain meetinghouse, still active
- Shenandoah Caverns Show caves with historic formations
- Fort Harrison Colonial fort site, now a park
Food traditions
- Apple butter making Stirred in copper kettles at community gatherings
- Shenandoah Valley turkey dinner Sunday roast with dressing and gravy
- Virginia ham on biscuits Country ham, salty and sliced thin
- Mennonite potpie Chicken and vegetables with homemade noodles
- Shoofly pie Molasses crumb pie from Pennsylvania Dutch roots
Music and arts
- Old-time string band music Fiddle and banjo, mountain heritage
- Bluegrass jams Pickin' in parks and festivals
- Mennonite quilting Intricate patterns, community craft
- Folk pottery Stoneware and jugs
A little history
- 1700s Settled by Germans and Scots-Irish
- 1862 Battle of Harrisonburg during Civil War
- 1780 Founded as a town
- 1800s Mennonite and Amish migration
- 1880s Railroad arrival spurred growth
Rivalries
- JMU vs. Richmond Football and basketball rivalry.
- JMU vs. William & Mary In-state CAA rivalry.
- Harrisonburg vs. Staunton Friendly competition between valley towns.
- Dukes vs. Liberty Regional matchup in football.
- Game day JMU football tailgates
- Game day Harrisonburg Turks baseball
- Outdoors Hike to the top of Massanutten
- Outdoors Tube the Shenandoah River
- With kids Shenandoah Heritage Village
- With kids Massanutten Resort activities
A Southern Appalachian accent with a drawl, plus German-influenced words and Mennonite plain speech.
Only here
- The Valley is a top turkey-producing region.
- The term 'Rocktown' comes from local limestone.
- Harrisonburg is a sanctuary city, diverse.
- The Shenandoah River flows north.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the slow pace; it's part of the charm.
- Try apple butter on biscuits—it's a local staple.
- Learn to say 'Harrisonburg' with a soft 'g'.
- Visit the farmers market early for the best produce.
- Be ready for four seasons; pack layers.
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Areas in Harrisonburg area
Nearby
Every areaLurayVirginiaMountain quiet, cavern deep, valley warm.LexingtonVirginiaWhere mountain ridges cradle a storied valley.CharlottesvilleVirginiaA small city with a big spirit, nestled in the Blue Ridge.Potomac HighlandsWest VirginiaHigh country, deep woods, and friendly towns.WoodstockVirginiaWhere the mountains hold the storiesLynchburgVirginiaA hilltop haven where the Blue Ridge meets the James.LouisaVirginiaWhere Lake Anna's waters meet rolling hills.Alleghany HighlandsVirginiaMountain air, small-town heart.
Harrisonburg-Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.