Destination Bedford

Live Music @ Apocalypse Ale Works
2026-09-11 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-09-18 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-09-25 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-10-02 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Apocalypse Ale Works, 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Come to Apocalypse Ale Works for great beer and live music. For more information and to see who is playing each week, click here. Food by Bunker 42 Bar Bites will also be available for purchase!

Bedford Farmers Market
2026-09-12 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-19 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-26 08:00 - 12:00 | Bedford Farmers Market, Washington and Center Streets, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
The Bedford Farmers Market will have fresh produce, vegetables, baked goods, artisan crafts and a variety of Bedford and locally grown products! Free off-street parking. The market is open Every Saturday!
Click here to see which vendors will be on site each week!

Forest Farmers Market
2026-09-12 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-19 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-26 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-03 08:00 - 12:00 | Forest Farmers Market, 15583 Forest Road, Forest, VA, 24523, United States
Enjoy locally grown produce, meats, honey, flowers along with breads and local artisan goodies. You can also find breakfast sandwiches and a coffee truck most weeks. The market is open the last week in April until the last week in October every Saturday behind the Forest Library.

Roots and Reconnection Festival
2026-09-12 10:00 - 15:00 | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Join the Poplar Forest’s African American Advisory Group, interpretation and archaeology staff, and the Board of Directors for the Roots and Reconnection Festival, a special event to honor, celebrate, and educate about the life, culture, and history of the enslaved Africans who lived and worked on the plantation, as well as the culture and life of African Americans today. This festival highlights the profound connection between the past and the present, providing a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate our rich heritage.
What to Expect:

Music and Dance: Enjoy vibrant musical and dance performances showcasing the talent and creativity of the African American community.
Exhibits and Tours: Explore informative exhibits and participate in tours that offer deep insights into plantation life and the evolution of African American culture.
Food and Celebration: Savor a variety of food while celebrating the rich culture of African Americans.
Conversations: Engage in meaningful conversations that promote understanding and appreciation of our shared history and its impact on the present.

Admission to the Roots and Reconnection Festival is free and open to the public. Food vendors will be onsite selling lunch throughout the day.

Live Music at Harvest Moon
2026-09-12 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-13 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-19 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-20 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-26 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-27 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-10-03 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-10-04 13:00 - 17:00 | Harvest Moon Marketplace, 14917 Moneta Rd, Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Come see live music at Harvest Moon Marketplace! Click here to see who is playing this weekend!

Enjoy beer, wine, meads, ciders, and non-alcoholic drinks, along with delicious food and great shopping at the Marketplace. Free admission and free music!

Thunder Ridge Band in Montvale
2026-09-12 16:00 - 18:30 | Old Montvale School, 11575 W. Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike, Montvale, United States
Join the Montvale School Preservation Foundation for an evening of live music!

Live Music at Benjamin’s
2026-09-18 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-25 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-10-02 18:00 - 21:00 | Benjamin’s Restaurant, 14900 Forest Rd., Forest, 24551, United States
Come to Benjamins for great food and live music every Friday! Click here to see who is playing each week.

Lakeside Local
2026-09-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Halesford Center, 16483 Moneta Rd., Moneta, United States
Boutique-style farmers market experience celebrating retail, art, and wellness at the heart of SML! A destination for both locals and visitors, offering a thoughtfully curated mix of vibrant local talent and a meaningful space for connection and gathering!

Bedford Centerfest
2026-09-19 10:00 - 16:00 | Downtown Bedford
This is one of Central Virginia’s largest street festivals. The event features a family friendly atmosphere with vendors, food trucks, live music, artisan market, children’s activities, and more! For more information and event updates, click here.

Jefferson's Curiosities
2026-09-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
About the Series: Thomas Jefferson was a man of many varied interests. Join us at Jefferson’s “best dwelling house in the state” as we delve into topics he found particularly fascinating from travel to culinary, leadership to religion. Each talk in the series includes a wine and cheese reception following the presentation.
Tickets are $25/each or $100 for all five Curiosities Series talks
2026 Jefferson’s Curiosities Series Events:

Jefferson’s Travel through the Germanies (Travis McDonald): February 19, 2026 6:30 p.m.

What Made Jefferson a Great Leader? (Dr. John Ragosta): March 26, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson and Trist’s Wild Mississippi Scheme (Karen Chase): May 7, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson’s Curiosities: Hearth Cooking (Rachel Deddens): June 11, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson & Religion (Nathan Taylor): September 24, 2026 6:30 p.m.

Blue Ridge Jeep Invasion
2026-09-26 09:00 - 18:00 | Sedalia Center, 1108 Sedalia School Road, Big Island, VA, 24526, United States
Blue Ridge Jeep Invasion is back again this year! This will be a full weekend with camping available thru the event center, bands, food and merch vendors, off site guided trail rides and parkway rides, raffles , 50/50 and much more. This is a 100% charity non-profit event. This years charity to support TBD.

Wander & Awe Foraging Clinic
2026-09-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Bedford County Parks and Recreation, 1257 County Farm Rd, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Come learn what tasty treats and healing properties nature can provide while you explore the original grocery store, the great outdoors!
Wander: They will have a short intro into foraging safety and wildcrafting etiquette, following by a short hike where we explore what edible & medicinal plants & fungi are in season!
Awe: You will cover different resources, tools, ways to ID, look-alikes, various uses, history, and traditional practices regarding the plants & fungi. Plan on learning 10-15 different plants/Fungi each session.
Families are encouraged and all ages are welcome! You will be typically hiking less than 1 mile each session unless otherwise noted in the event discussion.
Meetings will be the LAST Tuesday of each month, Mar-Oct Sessions start at 6:30pm.
Sometimes the locations will change, click here for any updates.

First Fridays at Falling Creek Park
2026-10-02 18:30 - 21:00 | Falling Creek Park, 1257 County Farm Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
The First Fridays concert series is back at Falling Creek Park, brought to you by Bedford County Parks & Recreation.
Come to the park for live music, kids activities and a food truck every first Friday of the month, May – October.
The music starts around 6:30 p.m.
Bring a chair or blanket. You can also bring your own food.
Admission is free!
Click here to see who is playing each month.
