Roanoke’s Best Family Festivals & Annual Events in 2026 

If there’s one thing the Roanoke Valley doesn’t run short on, it’s a reason to gather. Downtown fills up for music festivals, small towns throw their own fairs, and neighborhoods host seasonal traditions that some families have been showing up to for years.

This guide rounds up the best annual festivals in Roanoke and the surrounding Valley for 2026, from GO Fest and the Strawberry Festival to seasonal favorites like the Blue Ridge Kite Festival and Illuminights. Bookmark this one, festival season sneaks up faster than you’d think.

Spring Family Festivals & Events

St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Shamrock Festival
March 14, 2026 | Downtown Roanoke | St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Shamrock Festival

One of the region’s signature early spring traditions, featuring the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, live music, vendors, and a festive Shamrock Festival celebrating Irish and Celtic heritage. 

Down by Downtown Music Festival
April 16-19, 2026 | Elmwood Park | Down by Downtown Music Festival

This live music festival highlights regional performers and brings energy to downtown Roanoke for all to enjoy.

Blue Ridge Kite Festival
April 18, 2026 | Green Hill Park | Blue Ridge Kite Festival

Grab the kids and head outdoors for this colorful spring tradition, where skies fill with kites and families enjoy hands-on seasonal fun and fresh-air adventure. 

Vinton Dogwood Festival
April 24-25, 2026 | Downtown Vinton | Vinton Dogwood Festival

This long-running Vinton tradition is filled with arts, crafts, local food, and live entertainment in the heart of downtown. 

Pride in the Park
April 26, 2026 | Elmwood Park | Pride in the Park

Celebrate inclusion with live performances, diverse vendors, and family-friendly activities that bring people of all ages together for a welcoming day of community connection. 

Strawberry Festival
May 1-2, 2026 | Elmwood Park | Strawberry Festival

Celebrate strawberry season with fresh shortcakes, chocolate-covered berries, food trucks, live local music on Saturday, and 15-20 artisan vendors offering unique finds each day. 

Daisy Art Parade
May 9, 2026 | Rivers Edge Park | Daisy Art Parade

Explore Roanoke’s vibrant art community with a day filled with creative costumes, interactive public art, and lively family-friendly performances that bring the streets to life. 

PLAY-Palooza Summer Celebration
May 30, 2026 | Fallon Park Pool | PLAY-Palooza

Kick off summer with a free family festival featuring music, games, art activities, and free timed pool access. 

Taubman Museum Sidewalk Art Show
May 30-31, 2026 | Taubman Museum | Sidewalk Art Show

Watch the streets surrounding the Taubman Museum of Art transform into a premier outdoor fine art marketplace, featuring regional artists, original works for sale, and a wide range of paintings, sculpture, photography, and crafts. 

Summer Family Festivals & Celebrations

Hello Summer Festival
June 5, 2026 | Green Hill Park | Hello Summer Festival

This seasonal kickoff celebration of summer features live entertainment, food vendors, and family-friendly activities that welcome the community outdoors. 

Noke Fest
June 12-14, 2026 | Garrett Farms | Noke Fest

Celebrate art, music, and the outdoors with the whole family at this annual three-day event. 

Juneteenth Freedom Jubilee
June 19-20, 2026 | Daleville | Juneteenth Freedom Jubilee

Honor freedom and heritage with live music, food vendors, and educational programming engaging visitors of all ages. 

Star City Motor Madness
June 27, 2026 | Downtown Roanoke | Star City Motor Madness

Explore Jefferson Street as it is filled with over 300 cars on display, food and artisan vendors, and stroll through Roanoke’s City Market.

Buchanan Community Carnival
June 25 – July 4, 2026 | Buchanan Town Park | Buchanan Community Carnival

This beloved summer tradition brings small-town energy to life with rides, games, live music, classic fair food, and fireworks. Closed Sundays. 

Freedom Festival & Fireworks 
July 3, 2026 | River’s Edge Park | Freedom Festival & Fireworks

Celebrate our nation’s birth with live music, food trucks, and a family Fun Zone featuring inflatables, face painting, and kids’ activities, leading up to a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. 

WA Fest
August 21-23, 2026 | Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing | WA Fest

Discover a weekend of live music across two stages. Plus enjoy on-site camping, food vendors, tubing, disc golf, and scenic hiking trails. 

SWVA Bee Festival
August 22, 2026 | Elmwood Park | SWVA Bee Festival

Learn the importance of bees and environmental awareness with pollination education, honey and mead tastings, live music, food trucks, and more than 40 craft vendors.

Fall Family Festivals & Special Events

Beaver Dam Sunflower Festival
September 11–20, 2026 | Beaver Dam Farm | Beaver Dam Sunflower Festival

Beaver Dam Farm transforms into a golden field of sunflowers. Experience hayrides, live music, artisan vendors, food trucks, and hands-on activities for all ages.

Boones Mill Apple Festival
September 12, 2026 | Town of Boones Mill | Boones Mill Apple Festival

Discover historic Boones Mill with artisan vendors, crafters, live music, local food, and family-friendly fun, all supporting Healing Strides of Virginia and its equine-assisted therapy programs. 

Olde Salem Days
September 12, 2026 | Downtown Salem | Olde Salem Days

Enjoy artisans, food vendors, and live entertainment, while celebrating Olde Salem Days, one of the region’s favorite traditions.

Rocky Mount Festival
September 19, 2026 | Downtown Rocky Mount | Rocky Mount Festival

This lively community festival fills downtown with live music, food trucks, vendors, and family-friendly activities celebrating small-town spirit in Franklin County.

Botetourt County Honey Festival 
September 26, 2026 | Buchanan Town Park| Botetourt County Honey Festival 

This beloved community event brings together local beekeepers, artisans, food vendors, and live music for a fun-filled day. Learn about the vital role of honeybees and shop local. 

Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival
September 26-27, 2026 | Smith Mountain Lake | Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival

Experience two days of Virginia wineries, craft beer and cider, live music, artisan vendors, and lakeside views. 

Jeter Farm Fall Festival
Weekends, September 26–October 25, 2026 | Jeter Farm | Jeter Farm Fall Festival

Kick off the fall season with pumpkin picking, hayrides, seasonal treats, and family-friendly activities at Jeter Farm, open every Saturday and Sunday during the festival. 

Bent Mountain Fall Festival
October 3, 2026 | Bent Mountain Center | Bent Mountain Fall Festival

Explore the Bent Mountain community charm with local crafts, live entertainment, seasonal food, and family-friendly fall fun.

Vinton Fall Festival
October 10, 2026 | Downtown Vinton | Vinton Fall Festival

Celebrate the sights, sounds, and flavors of fall with live entertainment, local vendors, seasonal food, and family-friendly activities.

Roanoke GO Outside Festival
October 16–18, 2026 | Elmwood Park & Explore Park | GO Outside Festival

Get outside with this outdoor adventure festival featuring hands-on activities, gear demos, films, and interactive recreation experiences for all ages. 

Blue Ridge Folklife Festival
October 24, 2026 | Ferrum College | Blue Ridge Folklife Festival

This annual heritage festival showcases traditional crafts, music, storytelling of Appalachian culture. 

Smith Mountain Lake Chili Festival
November 7, 2026 | Bridgewater Plaza | Smith Mountain Lake Chili Festival

Embrace the cooler fall air and colorful foliage at this lively lakeside chili cook off, where visitors enjoy live music, craft vendors, and waterfront shopping 

Winter Family Festivals & Holiday Specials

Illuminights
November 2026–January 2027 | Explore Park | Illuminights

Explore the magic of the season with this festive half-mile wooded light trail featuring over 650,000 lights, seasonal displays, an artisan market, campfires, and select-night visits with Santa. 

Delta Dental Dickens of a Christmas
December 2026 | Downtown Roanoke | Dickens of a Christmas

Downtown Roanoke transforms into a holiday celebration over three Friday nights in December, complete with a tree lighting, parade, live entertainment, kids’ activities, festive vendors, and glowing holiday lights. 

Winterfest Beach Bash

February 6, 2026 | Salem Civic Center | Winterfest Beach Bash

The Salem Civic Center transforms into an indoor beach party featuring live beach music from Band of Oz, dancing, and high-energy entertainment for a packed winter crowd.