The Full List

81+ Valley Activites

Your guide to 81+ fun and family-friendly things to do in the Valley!

Community Events & Social Fun

1. Visit Kline’s Dairy Bar for ice cream and a peaceful downtown
environment. $
2. Attend live music shows at JMU’s Theatre or other in town venues, such as The Golden Pony (no drinking required). $
3. Go bowling and play retro arcade games at Valley Lanes or Ruby’s Arcade. $
4. Watch a movie and experience an older venue at Court Square
Theater. $
5. Volunteer with nonprofits like Faces4Change. FREE
6. Host or join a game night at local cafes or venues. $
7. Participate in seasonal maple syrup tapping events at local farms. $
8. Enjoy seasonal pop-up events like holiday markets or summer markets downtown. FREE
9. Attend trivia nights at Billy Jack’s or Clementine Café (no drinking
necessary). $
10. Attend poetry slams or open mic nights at local venues. FREE
11. Join seasonal events like the Fear Forest for spooky adventures. $
12. Discover healthy organics and small-scale local events hosted by Friendly City Co-op. $
13. Join book readings or discussions at Harrisonburg’s Massanutten Regional Library. FREE

Sports & Recreation

14. Attend local college and university (EMU, JMU, Bridgewater) sports events, often free for the community. FREE
15. Try frisbee golfing at a free frisbee golf course, like at Westover Park. FREE
16. Organize a pickup game at a local park, field, or court. FREE
17. Go running, walking, or biking on trails, like Bluestone Trail or the Rocktown Trails at Hillandale Park. FREE
18. Try alpaca yoga at nearby farms. $
19. Learn Zumba or fitness classes at community centers. $
20. Play pickleball at Morrison Park (4 courts) and Purcell Park (2 courts). FREE
21. Participate in organized sports and recreational activities at the Horizon’s Edge Sports Campus. $
22. Cool off by swimming at Westover Pool or splash around in the Ralph Sampson Park Spraygrounds (summer months only). $/FREE
23. Kayak or canoe on the Shenandoah River. FREE

Creative & Cultural Exploration

24. Host or attend a seasonal youth art exhibit showcasing creativity at the Valley Mall or the Smith House Galleries. FREE
25. Take pottery-making classes at OASIS Fine Art's Craft. $
26. Explore unique sculptures and outdoor murals downtown on a self-guided public art tour. FREE
27. Visit the Virginia Quilt Museum for a cultural experience. $
28. Take a flower arranging workshop at a local florist. $
29. Learn woodworking techniques at a maker’s studio workshop. $
30. Participate in soap-making or candle-making workshops. $
31. Create your own art at You Made It!. $
32. Discover art at Arts Council of the Valley. FREE
33. Explore the Hugo Kohl Museum of American Jewelry Design.
34. Visit the Celebrating the Story of Lucy F. Simms School Exhibit at the Lucy F. Simms Center for Continuing Education. FREE
35. Visit the White Oak Lavender Farm for relaxation products and activities. $

Food & Drink

36. Enjoy Southern barbecue at Hank’s Grille & Catering. $
37. Tour local cideries or orchards like Old Hill Cider, enjoying beautiful scenery without drinking. $
38. Attend seasonal farm-to-table dinners at Overlook Produce & Farm
39. Dive into a Harrisonburg food truck crawl. $
40. Join a coffee cupping class at Broad Porch Coffee Co. or Agora Market. $
41. Treat yourself to chocolates or other sweets at local bakeries and confectioneries. $
42. Shop and dine at Dayton Farmers Market or Harrisonburg Farmers Market. $
43. Visit A Bowl of Good for healthy lunch, dinner, and sweet treat options. $

Adventure & Entertainment

44. Have year-round fun at Massanutten Water Park. $
45. Participate in an escape room challenge with friends at Escapism Escape Rooms. $
46. Join interactive murder mystery game nights at local venues. $
47. Go apple picking at Showalter’s Orchard or visit pumpkin patches, such as Back Home on the Farm, in fall. $
48. Explore seasonal corn mazes and hayrides at local farms. $
49. Visit Bridgewater’s Generations Park for ice skating during the winter. $
50. Build or fly kites at Purcell Park. FREE
51. Join a sustainability workshop hosted by Earth Day Harrisonburg. FREE
52. Take a flower picking experience at a local farm. $
53. Enjoy a scenic hot air balloon ride with Valley Ballooning (seasonal availability). $

54. Go antique shopping for unique treasures in Harrisonburg and neighboring towns. $
55. Try axe throwing at local entertainment centers, such as Beards and Broads or Blue Ridge AXEcade. $

Family-Friendly Fun

56. Visit the Explore More Discovery Museum for hands-on learning. $
57. Attend a free planetarium show at the John C. Wells Planetarium (Sept.-May). FREE
58. Plan a day at Back Home on the Farm for interactive family activities. $
59. Participate in alpaca encounters or goat-petting experiences at nearby local farms. $
60. Organize geocaching treasure hunts for adventurous family outings. FREE
61. Watch a beautiful sunrise or sunset or go stargazing at scenic spots, such as Reddish Knob and JMU UPark off Neff Ave. FREE
62. Go on a photo scavenger hunt around Harrisonburg for creative fun. FREE
63. Search for the Downtown Ducklings through the Explore More Discovery Museum. FREE

Historical Events & Cultural Experiences

64. Learn about local history at the Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center.
65. Explore Cross Keys Battlefield for Civil War history. FREE
66. Take a historic walking tour of downtown Harrisonburg. FREE
67. Learn about local history at the Civil War Orientation Center located in the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center. FREE
68. Hunt for fossils and rocks in creek beds near George Washington National Forest. FREE
69. Discover the influence of historic farming at Showalter’s Orchard Greenhouse. $
70. Take the self-guided Roots Run Deep driving tour or visit the Green Book Time Capsule for a look into Harrisonburg’s post-Civil War history. FREE
71. Visit the Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project’s Little House. FREE

Nature & Outdoor Activities

72. Stroll through the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at JMU. FREE
73. Hike to Chimney Rock for an interesting, unique geological view. FREE
74. Explore Natural Chimneys Park for its geological beauty. FREE
75. Take a scenic drive to Shenandoah National Park or along the Skyline Drive. FREE
76. Go birdwatching or enjoy a scenic reset on the gorgeous 12-acres at Silver Lake Hill in Dayton. FREE
77. Contact Mole Hill Bikes to learn about Mole Hill - the volcano that claims it’s title as one of the youngest volcanoes in the country. FREE
78. Explore trails and outdoor beauty at George Washington National Forest. FREE
79. Take a family-friendly nature walk at Hillandale Park or other city parks. FREE
80. Swim in serene natural spots like Sherando Lake or Lake Arrowhead. $
81. Enjoy hiking, picnicking, and fishing at the rustic Riven Rock Park (open April 14th-October 31st). FREE