SUMMER FESTIVALS, EVENTS, THINGS TO DO + MORE
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A food truck rodeo, a week of beer, a movie in the vineyard, and more hot dates for your June calendar.
ON THE COVER:
COVER: The A - Z Summer Guide
Summer 2017 is going to be one to remember — start making your plans with our A - Z Summer Guide. Cover art by Erin Robinson/ The Winchester Star.
Musicals, wild animals, and cocktails, oh my! We map out what to have on your summer agenda.
THE ROUNDUP: Festivals
We couldn't fit it all in the A - Z Guide. Here's a roundup of summer festivals to fill in your weekends.
PROFILES: Andy Gyurisin
Find out his degree of separation to Kevin Bacon, and his personal Best Film award.
Special thanks to the Jordan family of Winchester for being our models; the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre for supplying promotional artwork.
JENNY BAKER
Special Projects access@winchesterstar.com ACCESS MONTHLY is published by The Winchester Star
PROFILES: SheRae Hunter
SheRae tells you the best spot for photos, and a good summertime tradition to start with kids.
NEXT ISSUE: JUNE 28th Local summer beers, food trucks, events, and more
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upcoming U P CO M I N G
JUNE
Heat up your calendar with these hot dates
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WINCHESTER CRAFT BEER WEEK
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SUMMER SOIREE
Take a walk on the wild side with the opening of Art and the Animal at the Summer Soiree. A garden cocktail party, you'll dance to the sounds of the Funky Urban Southern Ensemble, and enjoy hors d'oeuvres by Village Square and cocktails like the Snow Leopard. 7:30 p - 10:30 p.m., Museum of the Shenandoah Valley $40 - $50. themsv.org
Three cheers for a week full of beer events. Beer dinners, tap takeovers, movies, meet-the-brewer events, and even a few educational events thrown in for good measure. Various locations and prices. winchestercraftbeerweek.com
HOP BLOSSOM
Cap off Winchester Craft Beer Week with the Hop Blossom Festival. Over 40 craft breweries from Virginia and beyond, all there for your enjoyment. Noon - 6 p.m., Old Town Winchester, $25 - $75 (VIP) hopblossom.com
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MOVIE NIGHT
. . . at the vineyard. Wine, stars, and "The Confirmation." 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. Veramar Vineyard, $8
"OKLAHOMA!"
A high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys in a turn-of-the-century territory makes a colorful setting for the romance between the handsome cowboy, Curly, and the winsome farm girl, Laurey. The road to true love never runs smooth, and with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love’s journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. 2:30 + 8 p.m. showtimes, June 22 - July 2, Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre at Shenandoah University, $18 - $36
veramarvineyard.com
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JEANS + TONIC
A casual summertime affair with plenty of gin + tonics and art to keep you cool. You can even get your jeans painted live by an artist. 7 - 10 p.m., ShenArts, $40 per person, $75 couple. shenarts.org
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FOOD TRUCK + MUSIC JAMBOREE
With food trucks like Sexi-Mexi and the Mac Shack, who needs a turkey sandwich? Benefiting the Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter. 3 - 8 p.m., ERA Oakcrest Parking Lot $15
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ART IN THE BARN
This juried art show and sale features area artists and will include paintings, drawings, pottery, and photography, glass pieces, quilts and jewelry. Get a sneak peek at the Preview Party on June 23 (7 - 9:30 p.m.; $25), where you can bid on the art in a silent auction before the weekend event. The 1918 Barn at Belle Grove Plantation, bellegrove.org
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FRENCH QUARTER FĂŠTE
How often can you get alligator on a stick around here? Have yourself a fun and funky afternoon with the Deja Blue Blues Band, authentic 'Nawlins food from Sweet NOLA's, arts and crafts, friends, and most definitely, good wine. Noon - 6 p.m., James Charles Winery Advance: $14 members; $16 non-members; $20 gate jamescharleswinery.com
Get more events with Access Weekly. Sign up at winchesterstar.com
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cover story
by JENNY BAKER
Ah, summer. A season for flip flops, dining al fresco, ice cream, and swimming pools. And so much more — a full alphabet's worth, to be exact. We're lucky to live in an area with so much to do, from tourist attractions and farmer's markets to outdoor concerts and breweries. Join us for an alphabetical summertime journey through Winchester and Frederick and Clarke counties.
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Get your art fix by doing a self-guided "tour" of the Top of Virginia Artisan Trail. Organized through the Artisans Center of Virginia's Artisan Trail Network, the trail connects art-gazers to artist studios, galleries, museums, festivals and agri-artisans like farms, markets, vineyards, and breweries. Discover new artists, art forms, and experiences you didn't know existed in your own backyard. Visit www.artisanscentervirginia.org and look for the Top of Virginia Artisan Trail to find local trail “stops.”
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If summer could be spelled out with sights and sounds, it would be a baseball game on the home turf with a hot dog in your hand and the cheers following a home run. The home team of the Valley Baseball League gets underway on June 2 with the Winchester Royals facing off against the Front Royal Cardinals at Jim Barnett Park. View the VBL's full schedule at www.valleyleaguebaseball.com
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Live music — whether outdoors or in — is always a good idea in the summer time. From bluegrass and Americana at the Barns of Rose Hill to tribute bands of Johnny Cash and Dave Matthews at the Bright Box, the Bluemont Concert Series, the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, and live music at local restaurants, there’s enough live music to fill your calendar all summer. Some highlights: June 3 Crowded Street: The Dave Matthews Band Experience Bright Box June 16 Town Mountain Bluegrass + BBQ Barns of Rose Hill
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Who doesn’t love a kitschy roadside attraction? This one on U.S. 522 in White Post has been enchanting visitors since 1967. Besides more than 50 fiberglass dinosaurs, you’ll find a shark, 70-foot octopus, King Kong, and other surprises. Be sure to bring the camera (and the kids). www.dinosaurland.com
June 25 Cash Unchained: The Music of Johnny Cash Bright Box June 28 Souled Out Rose Hill Park
July 7 Charm City Junction Bluemont Concert Series July 21 Arlo Guthrie Shenandoah Valley Music Festival August 5 Country Dance Party Bright Box August 12 The Midtown Men Shenandoah Valley Music Festival
Visit www.barnsofrosehill.org, www.brightboxwinchester.com, www.bluemont.org, www.musicfest.org for full schedules of performances.
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One of the best parts of summer is eating outdoors. Old Town Winchester is blessed with a pedestrian mall, meaning that 15 restaurants on that one strip can offer outdoor dining; however, there are over 30 outdoor dining locations in the Winchester-Frederick-Clarke area. (We wish we could list them all, but don’t have the space.)
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Friday nights are big nights in this area. On the first Friday of each month, there’s First Fridays in Old Town Winchester — a time when local galleries and shops stay open later and live music hits the streets. The second Friday of each month is Gardens at Night at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley ($10; free for members). More than one thousand people attend each of the outdoor concerts, which take place from June through September. On the third Friday of each month, Old Town hosts Friday Night Live, a monthly concert series. Visit www.themsv.org and www.oldtownwinchesterva.com for more details.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE
GARDENS AT NIGHT
June 16 Dynamo + Threesound Jazz, rock, funk
June 9 Adrian Duke Project Motown, soul, and rock-and-roll
July 21 Robbie Limon Classic rock
July 14 Another Level Classic rock and contemporary hits
August 18 Thom Shepard + Coley McCabe Country + Bud’s Collective Bluegrass
August 11 The Real Genuises ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s
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Sitting outside enjoying a glass of Virginia wine is a fine way to spend a summer afternoon. We’ve got several to choose from: James Charles Winer y and Valerie Hill Winer y in Frederick County, and 612 Vineyard and Veramar Vineyard in Clarke County. But who said you had to choose? Try them all. Besides regularly hosting live music and outdoor movies (see “O”), check out special events at the wineries, like: June 9 La Luna at Veramar Vineyard June 10 Valerie Hill’s 5th Birthday Bash June 24 New Orleans Festival at JCW
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September 8 Alter Eagles Eagles tribute band
The beer aficionado will get his fill of great local crafts at our local breweries — Alesation Brewing Company (21 N. Loudoun St.), Backroom Brewer y (150 Ridgemont Road, Middletown), Broken Window Brewing Co. (14 W. Boscawen; opening July), Escutcheon Brewing (142 W. Commercial St.), and Winchester Brew Works (320 N. Cameron St.). Besides local breweries, you can experience over 40 craft breweries from around the U.S. at Hop Blossom, a craft beer festival held in Old Town Winchester on June 10. Even better? Winchester Craft Beer Week kicks off June 3 with a weeklong calendar of events: tap takeovers, movies, beer dinners and more. www.winchestercraftbeerweek.com and www.hopblossom.com for more info.
Residents and visitors alike can’t get enough of Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre. Shenandoah Conservatory puts on large-scale Broadway productions, featuring professional actors in the lead roles. This summer you get to sing along to “Oklahoma!” (June 22 - July 2), “Beauty and The Beast” ( July 6 - 16), and “Hairspray” (July 20 30)Visit www.ssmtva.org for more showtimes and tickets.
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Put your backyard to use and host a backyard BBQ with friends and neighbors. Get some retro lawn games like croquet and badminton, make a fun house cocktail, and enjoy a night out under the stars. Visit www.winchesterstar.com/access/monthly for cocktail recipe ideas.
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Celebrate all that it means to be an American with apple pie, hot dogs, popcorn and some fireworks. Local celebrations: July 3 Old Town Winchester: Rockin’ Independence Eve July 4 Sherando Park: Celebration & Fireworks Middletown: Parade, Celebration & Fireworks Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds: Concert & Fireworks
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Hop onto the Shenandoah Valley Kids Trail, a collection of local and regional attractions, events, museums and more that are family-friendly. Visit https://www.goblueridgetravel.com/kids-trail/
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Get out of the AC and catch some Vitamin D with a walk (or run) outside. Step out or bike along the Winchester Green Circle Trail to historic, recreational, educational, and natural points of interest. Sites include the Glen Burnie Historic House and Gardens at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Jim Barnett Park, Shenandoah University, Old Town, and the Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve. www.winchesterva.gov/green-circle-trail In Clarke County, visit the State Arboretum of Virginia, which makes up 172 acres of the Blandy Experimental Farm. blandy.virginia.edu/arboretum
Opportunities for movies under the stars run aplenty here — from the classic Family DriveIn Theatre in Middletown (www.thefamilydriveintheatre.com) to outdoor films at parks and vineyards, here’s a few of the films coming soon:
MAGIC LANTERN THEATER
FAMILY MOVIES ON THE MALL
June 10 “American Graffiti” Taylor Pavilion
June 8 “The Secret Life of Pets”
June 16 “The Confirmation” Veramar Vineyard June 17 “Minions” Clearbrook Park
June 15 “Sing” June 22 “The BFG”
CLARKE COUNTY SUMMER MOVIE SERIES June 30 “The Secret Life of Pets” July 28 “Finding Dory” August 25 “Ghostbusters”
June 29 “The Angry Birds Movie”
www.magiclanterntheater.org
www.oldtownwinchesterva.com
www.clarkecounty.gov/parks
for full schedule. Films $8; $5 MLT member
for full schedule. All films shown at Old Court House Civil War Museum. Free.
All films shown at Chet Hobert Park. Free.
Our local museums hosts a wide variety of educational opportunities for kids and adults alike. At the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, you’ll find programs for youth, teens, families, and adults — art or gardening workshops, lectures related to exhibits, educational nature hikes, and of course, local history exhibits and special art exhibits in both the museum and the historic Glen Burnie house. www.themsv.org for information and events. The Shenandoah Valley Discover y Museum keeps the focus on children, where kids can enjoy exhibitions like Pollinator Plaza and Land of Illusions, but also their summer camps (June 5th - August 18th) where kids and teens can learn chess, musical theatre, robotics, filmmaking, Advanced Jedi Training, and more. www. discoverymuseum.net for details.
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Residents and visitors alike can’t get enough of Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre. Shenandoah Conservatory puts on large-scale Broadway productions, featuring professional actors in the lead roles. This summer you get to sing along to “Oklahoma!” (June 22 - July 2), “Beauty and The Beast” ( July 6 - 16), and “Hairspray” (July 20 30)Visit www.ssmtva.org for more showtimes and tickets.
Get out of the AC and catch some Vitamin D with a walk (or run) outside. Step out or bike along the Winchester Green Circle Trail to historic, recreational, educational, and natural points of interest. Sites include the Glen Burnie Historic House and Gardens at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Jim Barnett Park, Shenandoah University, Old Town, and the Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve. www.winchesterva.gov/green-circle-trail In Clarke County, visit the State Arboretum of Virginia, which makes up 172 acres of the Blandy Experimental Farm. blandy.virginia.edu/arboretum
Opportunities for movies under the stars run aplenty here — from the classic Family DriveIn Theatre in Middletown (www.thefamilydriveintheatre.com) to outdoor films at parks and vineyards, here’s a few of the films coming soon:
MAGIC LANTERN THEATER
FAMILY MOVIES ON THE MALL
June 10 “American Graffiti” Taylor Pavilion
June 8 “The Secret Life of Pets”
June 16 “The Confirmation” Veramar Vineyard June 17 “Minions” Clearbrook Park
June 15 “Sing” June 22 “The BFG”
CLARKE COUNTY SUMMER MOVIE SERIES June 30 “The Secret Life of Pets” July 28 “Finding Dory” August 25 “Ghostbusters”
June 29 “The Angry Birds Movie”
www.magiclanterntheater.org
www.oldtownwinchesterva.com
www.clarkecounty.gov/parks
for full schedule. Films $8; $5 MLT member
for full schedule. All films shown at Old Court House Civil War Museum. Free.
All films shown at Chet Hobert Park. Free.
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Whether you like to pick your own fruit right from the source, or pick your own produce right out of the bin at the farmer's market, it all counts as pick your own to us. We are lucky to have a great deal of farms and farm markets around the area which offer those opportunities. Besides produce, you can also pick your own daylilies — at Thumper's Daylily Farm (www.thumpersdaylilies.com) or Digging Daylilies (www.facebook.com/diggingdaylilies), both in Winchester. You pick, they dig.
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Who said all adventures start outdoors? Trying to escape from a locked room or solve a mystery, provided with only a few clues, can be quite the adventure. Escape the heat with one of our escape rooms — Escape the Brass Key Tavern in Middletown, or the recently opened Solve It - Escape Room and Myster y Games in downtown Winchester. www.brasskeytavern.com and www.escaperoomsandmysterygames.com for more details.
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. . . And of course, there is plenty of adventure to be had outdoors. City and county parks, golf courses, mini golf and go-carts at Appleland Sports Center, flyfishing, kayaking and canoeing the Shenandoah River, camping at The Cove campground, riding horses at the Rocking S Ranch, hiking the Shenandoah National Park. . . The list is just about endless.
Helpful websites. . .
Frederick County Parks & Recreation www.co.frederick.va.us
Winchester-Frederick County Convention + Visitor's Bureau www.visitwinchesterva.com
Clarke County Parks & Recreation www.clarkecounty.gov
City of Winchester Parks & Recreation www.winchesterva.gov/parks
Shenandoah National Park www.nps.gov/shen
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Shop local for the most unique gifts and apparel, whether for yourself or others. Old Town Winchester has over 60 locally-owned shops and downtown Berryville has over a dozen; plus, there are hundreds more elsewhere in the city and counties. You'll find loved brands like Lilly Pulitzer, Hickey Freeman, and Mud Pie in Old Town Winchester, hand-crafted finds from near and far at many shops in Winchester and Berryville, outdoor apparel and gear at recreation stores, beautiful home decor and so much more. Park the car, enjoy the sunshine, and make a day out of shopping local. P.S. Shop a local sale during Winchester Days, an annual sidewalk sale in Old Town, held the last weekend of July: July 28th - 30th.
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You know by now that we have several wineries and breweries where you can tickle your taste buds — but this time, we're recommending that you take a sip of another locally-produced libation: spirits at Ginger wolf Distiller y in Middletown, which opens this summer. The distillery is producing the classic clear liquors, like Gin, vodka, and clear rum right now; later, you'll be able to try out many of their aged spirits like bourbon, whiskeys and brandies. Many of their spirits will have a distinct flavor profile, different from many other distilleries, because they use locally-grown apples in their recipes. (However, they will have “straight” spirits to offer as well.) www.facebook.com/gingerwolfdistillery for more information.
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The heat above ground too much for you? In the Shenandoah Valley, the best way to beat the heat is to go underground. We've got 3 caverns in a 45-minute radius around Winchester, so you won't have to go far to get cool. Check out Skyline Caverns in Front Royal (www.skylinecaverns.com), Shenandoah Caverns just south of Mt. Jackson in Quicksburg (www.shenandoahcaverns.com), and Luray Caverns in Luray (www.luraycaverns.com).
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Taking a trip back in time is all too easy around this area. If you’re feeling nostalgic for yesteryear, visit one of our many antique shops or retro diners. If you want to learn more about the area’s Civil War past, visit one of our many Civil War battlefields and historic sites (www.shenandoahatwar.org). Get a slice of our cultural history with a tour of the Patsy Cline Historic House on Kent Street, and enjoy live music at Stephen's Jazz Cafe (www.stephensjazzcafe.com) next to musician John Kirby's house, also on Kent Street.
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Ok, this event comes in at the tail end of September, but we thought it was a good one to include. Spend a weekend dancing it up on the edge of the Shenandoah River during Watermelon Park Fest, September 21 - 24 in Clarke County. The multi-day bash is a family-friendly music festival featuring concerts by bands like The Del McCoury Band and Marty Stuart, dances, workshops, band and pickin' contests, kid’s activities, open jams, food and craft vendors, and more. Visit www.watermelonparkfest.com for more details.
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Bet you didn't know we have a yoga healing trail. If you are on Winchester's Green Circle Trail off of Opequon Avenue, near Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, meander off the trail to the yoga healing trail. You'll experience a quiet and reflecting journey under a large canopy of mature trees. Practice your yoga poses, or just simply walk along and enjoy the scenery. You'll even find signs that encourage you to hug the trees.
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. . . and all the other wild animals at Wilson's Wild Animal Park, just east of Winchester off of U.S. 50. Lions, tigers, and bears make up just a few of the 40 species that will keep you and your family entertained while you walk along the 25-acre park. The park also has picnic areas and opportunities to feed the animals. www.wilsonswildanimalpark.com
profiles
ANDY GYURISIN • Hometown: East Stroudsburg, PA
Programming + Promotions for Nerangis Management Company Also: Community + Cinema Matchmaker Degree of separation to Kevin Bacon: Through my career, I've come across several folks in the movie business, but I still remain two degrees away from Kevin Bacon. I've met Paul Giamatti, Devin Druid, Leonard Maltin, and Pat Healy. The journey continues! On your Watchlist: "The Little Hours," "Ingrid Goes West," "The Dinner," "Chuck," "Tickling Giants," and "One Week and a Day." Vinyl or MP3: VINYL. Cassette. Laserdisc. VHS. DVD. Blu. Physical media. To me, an item that you own is something that you can hold in your hand. Your personal Best Film Award: 1957's "Sweet Smell of Success" by Alexander Mackendrick. Easily demonstrates the grime, sweat, and nightlife of the city that never sleeps, NYC, plus introduced me to the amazing Burt Lancaster and pushed away that pretty-boy persona of Tony Curtis. If you didn't have to work, how'd you spend your time? The easiest question of the bunch. Watching movies. 3 words to photo by JEFF TAYLOR describe yourself: Be Kind Rewind. JUNE 2017 | ACCESS MONTHLY
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the roundup
FESTIVAL ROUNDUP
HOP BLOSSOM
June 3 | Noon - 6 p.m. | $25 - $75 VIP | Old Town
Grab your craft beer aficionado friends and hop downtown to enjoy beer samples from more than 40 craft breweries across the U.S. Who will be there? Starr Hill, Devil's Backbone, Troegs, Avery Brewing, and Pale Fire to name a few. There will be live music from Chamomile + Whiskey and the Daycare Swindlers, homebrew competitions, and the event benefits Gooddogz.org and the SPCA of Winchester, Frederick and Clarke. www.hopblossom.com
Get out your calendar and prepare to jot down these dates — here's a roundup of local festivals taking place June through September by JENNY BAKER photography by GINGER PERRY, JEFF TAYLOR
PASTURE PALOOZA
GLEN BURNIE DAY
Whether you go for just one day or the entire three days worth of this homegrown music and arts festival, get ready to kick your heels up. Thursday begins with a pre-party, followed by two whole days of music from bands like Dopapod, Big Something, Electric Love Machine, The Woodshedders, The Southern Belles, Threesound and more. If you partake in the entireweekend, pack a sleeping bag and tent because this is a big camp-out music festival. www.pasturepalooza.com
This annual free event, held at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and historic Glen Burnie House and Gardens, is a summer family favorite. Besides free admission to roam through the galleries and grounds, the centerpiece of the day’s activities feature an antique and modified car show. Plan to have lunch there, where 3Fires Oven is firing up some of their tasty wood-fired pizzas. www.themsv.org
PEACH FESTIVAL
BELLE GROVE WINE FEST
SKYLINE INDIE FILM FEST
You can never have too many peaches — or peach festivals. Richard's Fruit Market in Middletown hosts the summer's second peach festival of the summer, with games for kids, a farm animal petting zoo, great food and live music. And of course, don't forget about the peach ice cream, milk shakes, sparkling cider, smoothies, pies, muffins and more. www.richardsfruitmarket.com
You can’t have summer go by without partaking in a wine festival. The scenic grounds of Belle Grove Plantation welcomes eight Virginia wineries for your enjoyment, plus chef demonstrations, live music, house and garden tours, food and vendors. www.bellegrove.org
Now it its fifth year, the Skyline Indie Film Fest bills itself as a “great little scrappy indie film festival” that focuses on the exhibition and presentation of new, undistributed indie films. While the line-up hasn’t been announced yet (check in late July), you can expect unique and thought-provoking films, both short and long, on a variety of subjects and submitted from all over the globe. Films are screened in various Old Town Winchester businesses, and there are also special meet-the-filmmaker events and celebrations. www.skylineindiefilmfest.org
July 13 - 15 | $40 - $90 | Berryville
August 20 | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Richard's Fruit Market
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August 26 | 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. | $20 - $25 | Belle Grove
July 22 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | The MSV
September 7 - 10 | Old Town
the roundup GARDEN FEST
VIRGINIA HERB FESTIVAL
FRENCH QUARTER FETE
Get your summer garden and landscaping off to a good start with the annual Garden Fest at Belle Grove Plantation. Organized by the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association, Garden Fest is a family event with raffle prizes, food vendors, live music, sheepherding demonstrations, and a petting zoo. Gardeners will find a large selection of plants grown by the Master Gardeners, who will be available to answer any questions. Also look for garden-related demonstrations and shop wares for the garden from specialty vendors. www.bellegrove.org
Organized by the Sunflower Cottage in Middletown, a 40-acre locally owned and operated herb and garden center, this festival has a beautiful country setting. They deck out four of their acres with vendors, food, beer and host presentations like cooking demonstrations with local chefs, herbal remedies, aroma therapy, and more. They also make their own beer with their brewery, Backroom Brewery, creating unique crafts with their own hops and herbs. www.virginiaherbfestival.com
Spending the afternoon at a winery is always a fantastic idea, but it’s especially so when that winery has turned itself into New Orlean's French Quarter. James Charles Winery is bringing in local favorite, Sweet NOLA's restaurant, to provide authentic Cajun specialties alligator on a stick and other favorites, plus live music by the Deja Blue Blues Band, arts and crafts vendors, and even more food provided by 3Fires Oven and Red Fox Creamery. Your ticket includes all-day admission, a glass of wine, Marti Gras beads and a souvenir JCW wine glass. www.jamescharleswine.com
PEACH FESTIVAL
WINCHESTER GREEK FESTIVAL
June 3 | 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Belle Grove Plantation
August 12 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Marker-Miller Orchards
Millions of peaches. . . (as the song goes). Peach cobbler, peach pie, peach turnovers, peach ice cream, fresh peaches everywhere you look at this free festival hosted by Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market in Frederick County. Besides peaches, you’ll enjoy listening to live music while sitting on the front porch or in the picnic pavilion. They'll also have food for sale, and the kids can enjoy the cow train or wagon ride around the scenic farm setting. www.markermillerorchards.com
June 10 - 11 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | $5 | Sunflower Cottage
June 24 | Noon - 6 p.m. | $20 | James Charles Winery
August 19: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; August 20: Noon - 7 p.m. Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church
One of Winchester's favorite food and cultural festivals, the Winchester Greek Festival is where you'll want to be. Held on the grounds of the church on Amherst Street, revelers will find fresh-carved roasted lamb and beef for gyros, plus souvlaki, Greek fries and tzatziki, the beloved Loukoumades (Greek donuts in sweet syrup and dusted with cinnamon), plus many other Greek favorites. There's also plenty of dancing and live music, so bring the family for a good time. dormition.va.goarch.org
WATERMELON PARK FEST
CELEBRACIÓN OF WINCHESTER
As we mentioned in the A - Z Summer Guide, at this festival you get to spend a weekend dancing it up on the edge of the Shenandoah River in Clarke County. The multi-day bash is a family-friendly Americana and Roots music festival featuring bands like The Del McCoury Band and Marty Stuart, dances, workshops, band and pickin' contests, kid's activities, open jams, food and craft vendors, and more. And bring some tents, because you can camp out all weekend. www.watermelonparkfest.com
Celebrate our local Hispanic culture at this free family-friendly festival in Old Town Winchester. Kids will love the art activity tent, while young and old alike will get a kick out of the Latin dancing lessons, dance performances, artisans and their wares, displays representing different Hispanic countries, and of course, lots of great food and music. www.celebracionwinchester.com
September 21 - 24 | Prices vary | Watermelon Park
September 23 | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Old Town
The Winchester Blues House Festival and Shenandoah Valley TasteFest are on hiatus this year.
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profiles
SHERAE HUNTER
31 • Hometown: Military Brat (Air Force) Owner/photographer, SL Hunter Photography Also: Director of Hunter Family Affairs Favorite book as a kid: "The Lord of the Ring" series. They are the only books I've read more than twice. Most-used app on your phone: Camera app. I just cleared my image library of 2,776 images! Summertime tradition: We have a young family, so we are still building our traditions, but I'd like to take the kids once a week outside to the river walk in Strasburg — no toys, no playground, just imagination for the day. I'd like for them to have those memories, and so would I. Whose life do you find inspiring? My grandmother, she left a life of comfort at a young age to get an education to make a difference in the world — two things that weren't popular opinion when it came to women back then. And she was never shaken in her faith. I want to be that brave. Best photo spot: A trail on a historic battlefield near my home in Strasburg. It's quiet and beautiful and surrounded by mountains. It's perfect for picnics and pictures. Ice cream flavor: Ben photo and Jerry's Half Baked. It's like heaven. 18
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