For over 200 years, Abingdon has been the cultural, political, and sometimes the economic center of the entire region, and that rich history draws people to Abingdon.
Explore History with Us!
2024 Local History Events
Abingdon Historic Homes Tour
Saturday, August 3, 10am-4pm Tickets: $25 Downtown Abingdon
Abingdon prides itself on its well-preserved downtown historic district and its commitment to historic preservation. Tour the interiors of a variety of the best-preserved Federal, Victorian, and early 20th-century houses and buildings in Virginia, all within walking distance downtown. Guided tours of the Martha Washington Inn and Spa will be every half hour.
Ticket Purchasing Options:
Purchase tickets online at the link below
During the month of July at Shady Business (180 East Main St.)
Day of tour at 242 Grove Terrace or Shady Business.
*Even if you have purchased a ticket online, you must pick up the printed house guide and map to the houses at Shady Business or at 242 Grove Terrace the day of the tour.
Abingdon’s Role in the American Revolution
Friday, July 26 — Sunday, August 4 (daily) 10am-5pm: Free
Abingdon Muster Grounds, 1780 Muster Place
Learn about perhaps the most significant event in Abingdon’s history--the mustering of troops for what became the Battle of Kings Mountain.
When the call to arms was made during the Revolutionary War in response to a challenge by British Colonel Patrick Ferguson to the Overmountain settlers of North Carolina and Virginia, the men of Washington County, Virginia, answered in force. Four hundred men made their way to the muster grounds in Abingdon, a well-known meeting place.
The field at the Abingdon Muster Grounds is a remnant of the original muster ground, then known as Craig’s Meadow. They gathered under Colonel William Campbell on September 24, 1780, said goodbye to their loved ones, and headed south that same day to join other Patriot militia who were gathering at Fort Watauga at Sycamore Shoals (today Elizabethton, Tennessee) on September 25.
Concurrently, troops were mustering throughout the foothills and mountains of the Upper South as well. Although they didn’t know it yet, these Virginia troops would end up marching the farthest of any regiment of the campaign on their quest for safety and independence.
The resulting confrontation with Ferguson’s troops, called the Battle of Kings Mountain, resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Patriots and is now seen as one of the most important turning points of the Revolutionary War.
The Abingdon Muster Grounds is the northern terminus of the Overmountain National Historic Trail and features the W. Blair Keller, Jr. Interpretive Center.
William King Museum of Art: Exhibits
Friday, July 26 — Sunday August 4: Free
Weekdays and Sauturday’s, 10am-5pm
Sundays, 1-5pm
415 Academy Drive
Enjoy four exhibitions of varied art.
The Virginia Highlands Festival: Celebrating 75 Years of Appalachia
The Art of Advertisement: Posters of the Late 19th Century
Benjamin Wigfall & Printmaking in Virginia
Flack Attack!: The Appalachian Battery
Highlands Writers Fair
Friday, July 26 — Sunday, August 4, 10am-5pm: Free
Main Hallway, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
Many local writers, primarily members of the Appalachian Authors Guild and the Lost State Writers Guild, will be selling their books daily during the festival. Meet the authors and learn about their work. They will be available to discuss and sign their books. Participants include Bonny Gable, Joe Tennis, Greg Lilly, Linda Hoagland, Addah Leah Davis, Lynne Hutchins, and Victoria Fletcher. There’s a book for every reader at the Highlands Writers Fair.
Tour of White’s Mill
Friday, July 26 - Sunday, July 28, 10am-5pm: Free
Friday, August 2 - Sunday, August 4, 10am-5pm: Free
12291 White’s Mill Road
Tour one of the last working grist mills in the region. White’s Mill has recently undergone a complete renovation to the outside of the building, including a new roof, siding, windows, and major structural work to the hurst frame and south wall. Visit the Mercantile and shop for goods by local artisans as well as White’s Mill cornmeal and grits.
Virginia Highlands Quilt Show
Daily, 10am-4pm, except Sundays, 1-4pm: Free
Holston Mountain Artisans, 241 Park St.
The annual Virginia Highlands Quilt Show will feature around 100 quilts created by local stitchers in various patterns. There will be a special Viewer’s Choice Award for a contemporary quilt that has been made in the last five years and a quilt raffle, the winner to be drawn on August 3.
Barter Theatre: A History and Backstage Tour
Friday, July 26, 11am-12:30pm and 5-6:30pm $10 payable at the event
Friday, August 2, 11am-12:30pm
Friday, August 2, 5-6:30pm
Meet in the Barter Theatre lobby, 127 W. Main St.
Learn about the history of Barter Theatre, from its beginnings during the Depression of the 1930s to becoming the State Theatre of Virginia and one of the most respected repertory theatres in the United States. Visit the backstage area and the dressing rooms, and maybe even get to see the mysterious “Barter tunnel.” The tour will be at least 1½ hours and includes several flights of stairs, as well as lengthy periods of standing. Tours are limited to no more than 25 people, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Who Do You Think You Are?
Growing Your Family Tree
Friday, July 26 — Sunday, August 4, 2-3pm: Free
Muster Grounds, 1780 Muster Place
As they age, most people begin to look back to the past and become interested in their ancestors and where they came from, searching to find bits of information about their lives. Historians and genealogists will conduct a workshop/demonstration to give visitors tips on researching their ancestors. Online resources are important, but visiting relatives and seeking out archives and repositories of historical data are important too. The Revolutionary War and Civil War heritage organizations have member genealogists to help with finding records from those periods in history.
Stories from the Backcountry
Friday, July 26 — Sunday, August 4, 3-4pm: Free
Abingdon Muster Grounds, 1780 Muster Place
Historic interpreters from the Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution and other heritage organizations will be recounting stories of the early Southwest Virginia settlers and militiamen who helped conquer the wilderness and secure American independence.
Preview Night: Annual “Festival Book Sale”
Friday, July 26, 5-7pm
Washington County Public Library, 205 Oak Hill St.
Thousands of gently used hardcovers and paperbacks, including popular and classic fiction, crafts, cookbooks, art, reference, history, religion, military, romance, travel, collectibles, jigsaw puzzles, and children's books for all ages will be for sale at the annual "Festival Book Sale" sponsored by the Friends of the Washington County Public Library. Cash, debit, and credit cards are accepted. Replenished hourly so plan to visit the sale often.
This is the Preview Night for Members – a membership can be purchased for $10.
Abingdon Spirit Tours
Daily, Friday, July 26 — Saturday, August 3, 7:30pm $20 (Cash only)
Meet at Wolf Hills Coffee, 112 Court St.
Join Abingdon’s “Haint Mistress” Donnamarie Emmert as she guides participants on her Abingdon Spirit Tour, now in its 26th year. Walk along historic Main Street, delighting in the town’s history and the ghost stories of businesses and homes along the way. Not recommended for children under 10, or people in wheeled conveyances. Tours will be called off in case of heavy rain.
Sawdust Festival
Saturday, July 27, 10am-4pm: Free
Holston Mountain Artisans, 214 Park St.
The annual Sawdust Festival at Holston Mountain Artisans will feature several of the cooperative’s woodcarvers and woodworkers demonstrating their skills, as well as featuring other members demonstrating other arts and crafts.
Colonial Crafts Demonstrations
Saturday, July 27, 10am-3pm
Sunday, July 28, 10am-3pm
Saturday, August 3, 10am-3pm
Sunday, August 4, 10am-3pm
Free, 1780 Muster Place
At the Abingdon Muster Grounds, experience what life was like in the Backcountry of Virginia during the Colonial era. What were the various roles of the men and women? Demonstrators will demonstrate the skills that the colonists had to master to survive in the hostile environment.
Hidden Treasures: A Walk Along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
Saturday, July 27, 10am: Free
Abingdon Muster Grounds, 1780 Muster Place
Starting at the Keller Interpretive Center at the Abingdon Muster Grounds, join a National Park Service Ranger from the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail to discover some of the interesting history of the Abingdon Muster Grounds and how it impacted the American Revolution. You will also have the opportunity to check-in with the streambank restoration project along Wolf Creek and see what kind of amazing natural treasures are hiding in downtown Abingdon. This out-and-back walk along the paved trail will cover approximately 1.5-miles total.
Annual Festival Book Sale
Saturday, July 27, 10am-5pm Free
Sunday, July 28, 2-5pm
Monday, July 29 — Saturday, August 3, 10am-5pm
Washington County Public Library, 205 Oak Hill St.
Thousands of gently used hardcovers and paperbacks, including popular and classic fiction, crafts, cookbooks, art, reference, history, religion, military, romance, travel, collectibles, jigsaw puzzles, and children's books for all ages will be for sale at the annual Festival Book Sale sponsored by the Friends of the Washington County Public Library. Cash, debit, and credit cards are accepted. Replenished hourly so plan to visit the sale often.
Duncansville One-Room Schoolhouse Tour
Saturday, July 27, 10am-4pm Free
Sunday, July 28, 2-4pm
Saturday, August 3, 10am-4pm
Sunday, August 4, 2-4pm
225 Stanley St. between the Coomes Center and E. B. Stanley Middle School.
Tour the fully restored late 19th century schoolhouse, hosted by the Washington County Retired Teachers, who give visitors a glimpse of what early education was like, including wooden desks, inkwells, slates, and a pot-bellied stove.
How to Clean Tombstones, with Charlie Barnette
Saturday, July 27, 1pm: Free
Sinking Spring Cemetery, Russell Rd. at Valley St.
Many people have family cemeteries that are in disrepair, with tombstones discolored or covered with lichens. This workshop will teach you the best way to clean tombstones. Do you use soap and water, a spray washer, the D2 Biological solution, or do you simply use a brush?
Charlie Barnette became interested in tombstone repair and cemetery restoration a decade ago when he was researching his own family’s cemeteries. Then, after involvement with the Historical Society of Washington County Virginia, he became committed to photographing and documenting tombstones throughout Washington County, Virginia. Today he has digitally documented over 800 cemeteries, maintains about a dozen, and has repaired and cleaned numerous tombstones.
Living History Tour of the Historic
Sinking Spring Cemetery
Saturday, July 27, 4:30-7:15pm $5 cash only
Russell Rd. at Valley St.
The Historical Society of Washington County Virginia presents a Living History Tour of the Sinking Spring Cemetery. The guided group tours will walk through the picturesque burial ground, where beautifully carved granite and marble monuments stand side by side with simply etched limestone markers. Interpreters in period costume at selected grave sites will tell the remarkable stories of the people lying at rest.
The cemetery was the original site of the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church, established by 1773 as one of the first Presbyterian churches west of the Alleghany Mountains. Burials at the old churchyard date from 1776, with an estimated over 2,100 burials to date. The graves of at least nine Revolutionary War veterans, two governors of Virginia (David Campbell and John B. Floyd), numerous Civil War veterans are among the notable graves in the cemetery. Also buried here are George Washington Hopkins, who was responsible for the introduction of the first Federal “postage label” (stamp) in U.S. history and Landon Boyd, a nineteenth-century African-American leader who served on the petit jury empaneled by the U.S. District Court in Richmond to try former Confederate President Jefferson Davis for treason
The tours start at the cemetery entrance and last about an hour. Tickets will go on sale at 4:15pm with the first tours beginning at 4:30pm. The last tour will begin at 7:15pm. Comfortable shoes are recommended as each tour involves walking over uneven ground. Due to the uneven ground, this event is not recommended for wheelchairs. Small children may find the event boring.
The tours will proceed rain or shine unless there is severe weather.
Appalachian Highland Thunder:
Celtic Tribal Music
Saturday, July 27, 5-6pm Free
Muster Grounds, 1780 Muster Place
Experience one of the inaugural concerts of Appalachian Highland Thunder, a new Celtic group, musicians from the Appalachian Highlanders Pipe and Drum Corps, who are interested in exploring new pipe and drum music. Their music looks back to the medieval tribal roots of Celtic music, at the same time updating the music to incorporate rock rhythms and a more contemporary feeling.
A Conventicle with the Fightin’ Parson
Sunday, July 28, 10am-Noon Free
Sunday, August 4, 10am-Noon
1780 Muster Place
Join historical interpreter Michael Henningsen as he recreates a Presbyterian conventicle that one of Abingdon’s founders, Fightin’ Parson Charles Cummings, might have preached to his 18th-century congregation. Cummings was an Indian fighter in addition to being a Presbyterian minister. He established the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church, and his cabin is preserved in the Sinking Spring Cemetery.
Colonial Crafts Demonstrations
Sunday, July 28, 10am-3pm Free
Sunday, August 4, 10am-3pm
Abingdon Muster Grounds, 1780 Muster Place
At the Abingdon Muster Grounds, experience what life was like in the Backcountry of Virginia during the Colonial era. What were the various roles of the men and women? Demonstrators will demonstrate the skills that the colonists had to master in order to survive in the hostile environment.
Following William Campbell: A Walk Along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
Sunday, July 27, 10am Free
Abingdon Muster Grounds, 1780 Muster Place
Starting at the Keller Interpretive Center at the Abingdon Muster Grounds, join a National Park Service Ranger from the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail to hear about how in 1780 Abingdon-area leader William Campbell helped fight a battle that turned the tide of the American Revolution. This out-and-back walk along Wolf Creek will cover approximately 1.5 miles total along a paved trail, taking in the beauty of the streambank restoration project and discussing William Campbell's role in the American Revolution and the Battle of Kings Mountain.
Muster Grounds Musick—Fife and Drum Demonstration
Sunday, July 28, 1-2 pm Free
Abingdon Muster Grounds, 1780 Muster Place
For the young settlers living on Virginia’s frontier, serving as a militiaman was for men 16 years old or older. The younger boys, wanting to serve, were recruited as field musicians. The field musicians used drums, fifes, and horns to signal duty commands in camp and on the field of battle. Muster Grounds Musick serves the Abingdon Muster Grounds as the field musicians for events and educational programs. Come hear a sampling of fifes and drums that was the communication system of the colonial militias.
Abingdon Downtown Walking Tour
Sunday, July 28, 7pm Free
Wednesday, July 31, 7pm
Sunday, August 4, 7pm
Meet at the front steps of the Washington County Courthouse
How are the salt industry, Shangri-La, Daniel Boone, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the American Southwest all connected to Abingdon? Join local historian and Abingdon native, Garrett Jackson, on this walking tour of Abingdon’s known and little-known history. Learn how a small frontier town became a center for the arts, culture, politics, and religion in Southwest Virginia, and how it is connected to locations nationally and internationally.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church Luncheons
Monday, July 29, 11am-1pm Adults, $14 Children (under 12) $10
Wednesday, July 31, 11am-1pm
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 124 E. Main St.
Having lunch at St. Thomas Episcopal Church is a nearly 30-year tradition at the Virginia Highlands Festival. Everyone is welcome. The menu includes quiche, salad, dessert, and a beverage. Ham biscuits can be purchased for an additional $2.50. All proceeds are donated to local community programs & ministries.
I Have a Trail to Tell: the Overmountain Victory National Trail
Monday, July 29, 7:30pm Free Lecture
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
Did you know that Abingdon has a National Park facility? Learn about the story of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, which begins at Abingdon and goes 330 miles to South Carolina. In the summer of 1780, about 1,000 militiamen gathered in the Abingdon Muster Grounds to begin a trip over the mountains to track down British Major Patrick Ferguson who had threatened the “Overmountain Settlements” in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. They met other militias and defeated the British troops at the Battle of King’s Mountain, one of the turning points of the American Revolution.
Myths and Legends: Abingdon’s History Revisited
Thursday, August 1, 7:30pm: Free
Illustrated Lecture, Executive Classroom, SVHEC
It is natural that towns such as Abingdon, with a rich history going back to the Revolutionary War, would romanticize events from its past, preferring myths and legends rather than facts. Was the Martha Washington Inn or the Tavern used as a Civil War hospital? Did a young girl at Martha Washington College nurse a wounded Yankee spy back to health? Did Daniel Boone visit Abingdon in 1760 and name it Wolf Hills because wolves attacked his dogs? Is there a mysterious tunnel between the Martha Washington Inn and the Barter Theatre? Walter Jenny, president of the Historical Society of Washington County Virginia, aided by Dr. Jim Hagy’s research, will sort out the facts versus the myths of Abingdon’s past.
Antiques Discovery Day
Sunday, August 4, 1-5pm
$10 for one item, $25 for three items
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
Have you ever wondered what your grandmother’s favorite Chinese vase is worth? Your Uncle Fred’s Civil War memorabilia? That oil painting that you bought at a thrift shop that seems an original? On and on. Many people have inherited or purchased items that they would love to have identified and informally appraised.
The Virginia Highlands Festival, in conjunction with the William King Museum of Art, will conduct an Antiques Discovery Day at which a panel of regional antiques experts will try to identify your family's “treasures” and give you an informal appraisal of their worth.
The cost for the identification and appraisal of one item is $10, or three items for $25. Tickets will be available at the door. However, if you wish to reserve a time slot, you can buy tickets online at vahighlandsfestival.org for 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm times.
Please do not bring firearms. If you want a piece of furniture identified or appraised, take several cell phone photographs of the piece from all angles, and bring your phone to the event.
Betsy White, the Executive Director of the William King Museum of Art, will be at the event to document Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee furniture, textiles, and decorative arts for the museum’s Cultural Heritage Project archive.
Annual “Festival Book Sale”: Bag Day
Bring a bag and fill it with books—for only $5
Sunday, August 4, 2-5pm
Washington County Public Library, 205 Oak Hill St.
Thousands of gently used hardcovers and paperbacks, including popular and classic fiction, crafts, cookbooks, art, reference, history, religion, military, romance, travel, collectibles, jigsaw puzzles, and children's books for all ages will be for sale at the annual "Festival Book Sale" sponsored by the Friends of the Washington County Public Library. Cash, debit, and credit cards are accepted. Replenished hourly so plan to visit the sale often.
History Preserved Through Architecture.
Abingdon has the best-preserved Colonial, Federalist, and Victorian structures in the region—and is one of the loveliest small towns in America. Fifty years ago, the Abingdon Town Council created a historic district in the downtown area, which forbids buildings from being torn down or structures being modernized without oversight from an Architectural Review Board. A tour of some of the most interesting Abingdon homes and buildings is always a highlight of the Festival.
Hear the Legends from the Locals.
Lectures on local history, tours of the backstage of the Barter Theatre, and walking tours of the town, have long been a part of the Festival. Any place with a long (and sometimes violent) history has ghosts and legends that get passed down through the centuries. There will be nightly ghost tours during the Festival.
History Preserved for New Uses.
The Virginia Creeper Trail, which was once a railroad bed, is a reminder that Washington County in the early decades of the 20th century provided more lumber to build the cities of the Northeast than any other county in the nation. There is a display of photographs in the visitors’ center at the trailhead which reflects the history of that lumber industry.
Own a Piece of History.
Finally, the Antiques Market is one of the foundational events for the festival, and its success is derived partially from an interest in history. Strong interest in preserving relics of the 18th, 19th, and now 20th centuries brings several thousand people to browse through the largest antiques market in the region. There is also an annual lecture series that highlights collecting antiques and vintage pieces. This year those lectures are on the long rifle, the Yarber Chair Company, collecting Iron Mountain Pottery, collecting mid-century modern furniture, and the variety of textiles in early Appalachia.