Culinary Arts & Traditions has become one of the Virginia Highlands Festival's most popular programs, bringing together farmers, chefs, artisans, growers, makers, and food enthusiasts from across the region.

Whether you're interested in farm-to-table dining, local agriculture, culinary education, wine and cider, specialty coffee, or Appalachian food traditions, there's something to savor throughout the festival.

Step into a night where Appalachian roots meet vintage glamour, where every detail is curated, every bite is intentional, and every corner invites discovery.

In collaboration with the Festival’s Antiques & Vintage Show, this one-night-only event transforms the show floor into a fully immersive, walk-around culinary experience. This is not a static dinner, it’s an evening designed to move, explore, and indulge at your own pace.

Chef Travis Milton and friends present a series of elevated, chef-driven tasting stations inspired by the region’s finest ingredients, refined, expressive, and deeply rooted in place.

Spend a morning at the Abingdon Farmers Market and enjoy one of Southwest Virginia’s most welcoming community traditions. Local farmers and makers gather each week, with tables full of fresh vegetables, baked goods, flowers, meats, and handmade treats, all grown or crafted nearby. Stroll through the market, chat with the growers, and discover what’s in season. Whether you come for a basket of tomatoes, a loaf of warm bread, or simply the friendly atmosphere, the Abingdon Farmers Market is a delightful way to start the day and celebrate the flavors of the region.

FIRST STOP — Red Tail Grove! Meet Trevor Hansard, tour his regenerative farm, and hear about his no-till, permaculture approach. A veggie sampler and cold drink will complete this amazing tour. 

Next stop — Wyndale Gardens. Experience sustainable gardening in action. See food grown without soil using live fish, revolutionary beekeeping with over 12 acres of established pollinator habitat, and Appalachia's largest geothermal greenhouse. Learn more about aquaponics and sip a herbal tea sample.!

Final Stop — Blue Door Garden. Deni & Tom Peterson, Abingdon Farmers Market regulars, have been supplying Abingdon with beautiful, locally grown flowers since 2016.  Surrounded by rows of flowers and fruit trees, be inspired to grow your own! Take home a posey courtesy of Deni.

To add a magical touch, ride the newly renovated old-school trolley. Purchase this add-on from Experience Appalachia.

Come by The Taproom at the Abingdon Commons for a sampling of Tumbling Creek Cider Company’s award-winning hard ciders.  Speak with owners about their company, their community involvement, and their cider’s characteristics.

Adults only and please have ID ready!

Enjoy our heritage inspired, traditional and modern hard ciders while you take in the charm of the newly renovated Abingdon Commons building, in the heart of Abingdon, a place voted “One of the Coolest Small Towns in America.”

Take part in an immersive coffee experience that shows you the journey from green bean to coffee cup. Taste coffees sourced from around the world roasted right here in Abingdon as your barista walks you through a guided tasting. Wolf Hills Coffee offers handcrafted espresso drinks, locally sourced teas and craft cocktails. Pair your beverage with a delicious selection of panini, fresh pastries, and indulgent sweet treats perfect for lingering a little longer and savoring the moment. Whether you're a seasoned coffee lover or just beginning to explore specialty coffee, this experience invites you to slow down, sip thoughtfully, and discover what makes every cup special.

Get ready to get hands-on with heritage butchery at the Virginia Highlands Festival’s Culinary Arts & Traditions series!

Join Reid Snow of Snow’s Fine Meats & Provisions, Abingdon’s beloved neighborhood butcher known for pasture-based proteins, custom cuts, and mouthwatering deli bites for a one-of-a-kind butchering class that’s as educational as it is unforgettable. In this skill-building session, 15 participants will dive into the art of breaking down a whole chicken, learning essential knife skills, anatomy insights, and savvy tips. You’ll work alongside other food lovers, get real technique time with expert guidance, and walk away with knowledge you can put on your own kitchen cutting board.

And the best part? Every participant goes home with their prepared chicken and a knife to keep, so you can keep sharpening your craft long after the festival ends. Whether you’re a home chef hungry to learn, a curious carnivore, or just love connecting with the roots of your food, this class takes “farm-to-table” to a whole new level hands-on, blade-in-hand, and deeply Appalachian.

Nestled in the rolling countryside, Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards invites you to step behind the scenes and experience the living heart of the farm with a special garden and greenhouse tour.

Meet farmers Dan and Heather Huard at the Greenhouse as they guide guests through the greenhouse and surrounding gardens, sharing the rhythms of the growing season, the care behind each planting. Then join Kevin Sutherland, Vineyard and Winemaking Manager for a 2 mile hike (so bring a hat and water) along the vineyard rows as Kevin shares Nicewonder’s planting methods and varietals. Ask questions, and discover a little more about the people and passion that bring Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards to life.

After the tour, head over to the Tasting Room to enjoy discounted wine flights and delicious food!

Join us at Pick n Grin Farms for an immersive farm tour and meal with grower, Adam Goodson, who guides you through the fantastic world of fungi at this impressive facility devoted to sustainably producing gourmet mushrooms. Pick n Grin grows a wide variety of mushrooms including Chestnut, Blue Oyster, Lion’s Mane, King Trumpet, Reishi and other seasonal favorites, many you may have already enjoyed at the Abingdon Farmers Market, Abingdon Commons, and local restaurants.

Learn how these mushrooms are cultivated, discover how you can grow them yourself at home using one of their unique Grow-Kits, plus see and taste seasonal varieties while picking up expert tips on how best to cook them (they’re not just for vegetarians and vegans anymore!).

In addition to mushrooms, Pick n Grin has grown into several other directions highlighted during the tour including: Permaculture & Aquaculture systems; Composting techniques for Vermiculture, Animal and Organic material waste; Sustainable Farming Concepts; An Apiary and Chicken flock! Visit the on-site farm store for fresh mushrooms, growing kits, freeze dried mushrooms for an umami boost, T-shirts, and other mushroom-inspired goods.

This year Adam is encouraging everyone to bring their own acoustic instruments and join in some true southern Pick’n and Grinnin on their new Pick’n Porch! The experience wraps up with a delicious lunch featuring Adam’s famous BBQ pork sourced from the Abingdon Farmers Market, along with a satisfying vegan option, of course, mushrooms. Join us for an unforgettable visit to a truly unique farm.

Come to Kelly Ridge Farms and tour where Tumbling Creek Cider's award-winning hard cider is made! Event led by Tom McMullen and Justen Kelly Dick. Learn about the history of this 240-year-old family farm and tour the Old Kelly Orchard and their two acres of trellised high-density orchard. You can also check out their pasture-raised, happy heirloom orchard pigs. The tour ends at the Cider Barn for free tastes of Tumbling Creek's ciders while discussing the "apple to glass” process of hard cider making. Bottles of cider and merchandise are available on-site or at their Taproom found in the newly opened Abingdon Commons.

Adults, please bring a valid ID. Children welcome!