Blacksburg–Christiansburg
Around Blacksburg–Christiansburg
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Metro area · Virginia · 182k people
Blacksburg–Christiansburg
Locals say New River Valley · “Hokie Nation”, “NRV”
Blacksburg · Christiansburg · Radford
Where the mountains meet the Hokie spirit.
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Welcome to the New River Valley! Whether you're here for the mountains, the river, or the Hokies, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors and good food. Grab a local brew and enjoy the scenery.
Clubs for Blacksburg–Christiansburg
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The room
One room for everyone around Blacksburg–Christiansburg. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
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Marketplace
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Things to do
- Virginia Tech Campus Sprawling campus with iconic Burruss Hall and the Drillfield.
- Lane Stadium Home of the Hokies, famous for the Enter Sandman entrance.
- Hahn Horticulture Garden Six-acre public garden with themed areas and seasonal displays.
- Blue Ridge Parkway Scenic highway with overlooks and trailheads along the mountains.
- New River One of the world's oldest rivers, popular for kayaking and fishing.
- Claytor Lake State Park Lake park with boating, swimming, and camping in Dublin.
- Outdoors Hike the Cascades
- Outdoors Kayak or tube the New River
- With kids Easy hikes like the Cascades
- With kids Virginia Tech Duck Pond
- Evenings Brewery taprooms
- Evenings College bars on Main Street
- Locals love Craft breweries
- Locals love Hiking trails
Through the year
- Virginia Tech Football Games Fall Fall Saturdays at Lane Stadium with the iconic Enter Sandman entrance.
- Radford Highlanders Basketball Winter Winter home games at the Dedmon Center with a lively student section.
- Pulaski River Turtles Baseball Summer Summer collegiate baseball at Calfee Park, a historic ballpark.
- Steppin' Out Street Festival August Blacksburg's annual arts and crafts festival with live music and food vendors.
- New River Valley Fair July County fair in Pulaski with rides, livestock shows, and fair food.
Four distinct seasons with mild summers and cold winters. Snow is common in winter, while fall is the most pleasant. Best: Fall is the best time with crisp air and colorful foliage.
Talk like a local
- “Hokie”
- A Virginia Tech student or fan.
- “NRV”
- Abbreviation for the New River Valley.
- “Hokie Stone”
- The distinctive limestone used on campus buildings.
- “The Drillfield”
- The central open space on the Virginia Tech campus.
Getaways
- Roanoke City life, museums, and the Mill Mountain Star.
- Bluefield Historic downtown and the East River Mountain overlook.
- Mount Airy Mayberry-themed attractions and Andy Griffith's hometown.
- Beckley Gateway to the New River Gorge, with outdoor adventures.
Local flavour
Teams
- Virginia Tech Hokies NCAA Division I (ACC)
- Radford Highlanders NCAA Division I (Big South)
- Pulaski River Turtles Appalachian League (collegiate summer)
Also rooting for Washington Commanders (NFL), Carolina Panthers (NFL)
Eat and drink
- Appalachian comfort food (e.g., biscuits and gravy, pinto beans and cornbread) Hearty mountain fare
- Virginia peanuts Boiled or roasted, a local staple
- Country ham Salty, cured Appalachian ham
- Local craft beer From breweries like Rising Silo and Eastern Divide
- Macado's Regional sandwich chain beloved by students and locals
Where people go
- College town Blacksburg's vibrant downtown and campus life
- Mountain towns Historic communities nestled in the Blue Ridge
- River towns Radford and Pulaski along the New River
- Craft breweries A thriving local beer scene
- Hiking trails Access to the Appalachian Trail and Cascades
- Historic downtowns Christiansburg and Wytheville's preserved main streets
- Blue Ridge Parkway Scenic drives and overlooks
Heritage and traditions
The New River Valley is proud of its Appalachian heritage, the beauty of the New River, and the spirit of Virginia Tech.
This time of year in Blacksburg–Christiansburg
- Hokie football Saturdays Fall Tailgating and game day traditions at Lane Stadium.
- Apple butter making Fall Community gatherings to make apple butter.
- Christiansburg Apple Butter Festival October A fall tradition with apple butter made in copper kettles, crafts, and music.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something
Festivals
- Blacksburg Brew Do September A celebration of local craft beer with live music and food vendors.
- Wytheville Chautauqua Festival Summer A week-long festival with crafts, music, and food in downtown Wytheville.
- Christiansburg Apple Butter Festival October A fall tradition with apple butter made in copper kettles, crafts, and music.
Landmarks with a story
- Fort Chiswell An 18th-century frontier fort in Wythe County, a stop on the Wilderness Road.
- Christiansburg Historic District A downtown area with 19th-century architecture, including the Montgomery County Courthouse.
- Radford Historic District A neighborhood with Victorian-era homes and tree-lined streets.
- Wytheville Historic District A collection of 19th- and early 20th-century homes and commercial buildings.
- Pulaski Historic District A downtown area with a railroad heritage, including the old train station.
- Wilderness Road The route used by early settlers through the Cumberland Gap, passing through the region.
Food traditions
- Apple butter making A fall tradition where families gather to stir apple butter in large copper kettles over open fires.
- Sorghum molasses Sorghum cane is pressed and boiled down to make a sweet syrup, a mountain tradition.
Music and arts
- Old-time and bluegrass music The region has a strong tradition of Appalachian string-band music.
- Appalachian crafts Quilting, woodworking, and basket-making are practiced and celebrated.
A little history
- 1872 Virginia Tech founded
- 1910 Radford University founded
- 1864 Battle of Cloyd's Mountain
- 18th century Wilderness Road era
- 1755 Mary Draper Ingles' escape
Rivalries
- Virginia Tech vs. UVA The Commonwealth Cup in football is the biggest rivalry.
- Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia Historic rivalry, especially in football, with close proximity.
- Game day Hokie football tailgating
- Game day Enter Sandman at Lane Stadium
- Outdoors Float the New River
- Outdoors Trout fish in mountain streams
- With kids Visit the Lyric Theatre in Blacksburg
- With kids Go to the farmers market
People speak with a Southern Appalachian accent, with a drawl and distinct vocabulary. You'll hear 'y'all' and 'fixin' to,' and local terms like 'crick' for creek and 'holler' for hollow.
Only here
- The New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world, flowing north.
- Virginia Tech's 'Hokie' nickname originated in 1896.
- Hokie Stone, a limestone used on campus, is quarried locally.
- The New River Valley has a unique 'mountain culture' that blends Appalachian and college-town life.
New here? A few tips
- Get used to mountain weather; it can change quickly, so layer up.
- Embrace Hokie football; game days are a big deal, so plan for traffic.
- Explore the New River; it's a great place to kayak or float.
- Try the local craft beer; there are several breweries in the area.
- Use 'y'all' and you'll fit right in.
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Nearby
Every areaRoanokeVirginiaWhere the mountains meet the starGreenbrier ValleyWest VirginiaWhere the mountains meet the river.WythevilleVirginiaWhere the mountains keep their secrets and the music never stops.BluefieldWest VirginiaTwo states, one mountain home.Alleghany HighlandsVirginiaMountain air, small-town heart.MartinsvilleVirginiaRacing heart, Piedmont soulMount AiryNorth CarolinaWhere Mayberry lives on, with a touch of granite.BeckleyWest VirginiaWhere the hills are steep and the welcome is warm
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA. 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.