Spring Culinary Series
Culinary Arts & Traditions
Celebrate the flavors, creativity, and culinary traditions of Southwest Virginia through a season of hands-on workshops, community experiences, and chef-led events in Abingdon.
Hosted as part of the Virginia Highlands Festival’s year-round programming, the Spring Culinary Events series connects guests with local farms, chefs, bakers, growers, and food artisans through approachable, interactive experiences designed for all ages.
Whether you’re learning to grow herbs, exploring seasonal ingredients, or joining a youth cooking masterclass, each event highlights the people and traditions that make the region’s food culture so unique.
Spring Event Series
Seasonal Culinary Experiences Across Abingdon
Throughout the spring season, the Virginia Highlands Festival offers culinary-focused programming designed to inspire creativity, celebrate local agriculture, and bring the community together through food.
From greenhouse workshops and farm tastings to youth culinary programs and chef-led demonstrations, each event offers a unique way to experience Southwest Virginia’s culinary identity.
Hands-on culinary workshops
Farm and garden experiences
Chef-led demonstrations
Youth culinary programming
Seasonal tastings and ingredients
Community-centered food experiences
Featured Event
Mystery. Market. Morsels.
April 14: 6pm-8pm
Vegetable Literacy Workshop & Tasting Experience
Join Stormbrew Farm for an immersive workshop exploring specialty vegetables, seasonal ingredients, and the stories behind the foods grown in Southwest Virginia.
Guests will tour the farm, learn about locally grown produce, and discover approachable ways to prepare and enjoy unique vegetables often found at regional farmers markets. The evening also includes guided tastings highlighting flavor, texture, and seasonal preparation techniques.
Date(s): Apr 14
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Stormbrew Farm
Cost: $20
Capacity: 20 participants
Registration: Required
Date(s): Apr 21
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: VHCC Treadwell-Jones Greenhouse
Cost: $10
Capacity: Limited seating available
Registration: Required
Gardening & Culinary Workshop
Plant. Nurture. Share.
April 21: 5pm-6:30pm
Raising Herbs for Continuous Harvest
Hosted at the VHCC Treadwell-Jones Greenhouse, this hands-on workshop introduces participants to growing herbs for continuous seasonal harvests at home.
Guests will learn practical techniques for selecting, planting, maintaining, and harvesting herbs while exploring how fresh herbs can enhance everyday cooking and culinary creativity.
Designed for gardeners, food lovers, and curious beginners alike, this workshop combines culinary inspiration with practical growing knowledge in a welcoming community environment.
Competition Highlights
Herb selection basics
Seasonal planting techniques
Continuous harvest methods
Herb care and maintenance
Culinary uses for fresh herbs
Looking Ahead to Summer
Culinary Arts & Traditions During the Festival
The culinary experience continues during the 77th Annual Virginia Highlands Festival, July 24 – August 2, with expanded food-focused programming, demonstrations, tastings, artisan experiences, and community events throughout Abingdon.
From regional flavors and local chefs to interactive workshops and festival food traditions, Culinary Arts & Traditions celebrates the creativity and hospitality that define Southwest Virginia.
Our Leading Sponsors
We’re grateful for the partners who help make the festival possible.
Additional Sponsors & Community Partners
This project was supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Get Involved
Join the Culinary Community
Interested in attending, volunteering, sponsoring, or partnering with the Virginia Highlands Festival culinary program?
We’d love to connect with chefs, growers, educators, local businesses, and community members who want to help celebrate and grow Southwest Virginia’s culinary culture.