8 Most Neighborly Towns In Virginia

Virginia's most welcoming towns set farmers' markets and music festivals against historic Civil War landmarks in the heart of Appalachia. Blacksburg brings classic university-town energy, with Virginia Tech spilling into Market Square Park for the Blacksburg Farmers Market and live sets during Market Square Jams. Staunton offers a quieter Shenandoah Valley escape, pairing mountain-town calm with year-round performances at the American Shakespeare Center. Farther southwest, Abingdon delivers a signature Crooked Road stop where the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace keep bluegrass and gospel traditions front and center. Whether you are traveling solo, with friends, or with family, the towns below make it easy to plan a backroads trip built around Southern hospitality and community spirit.

Leesburg

Leesburg, Virginia, loves supporting its residents and has a variety of programs available to help inspire visitors to support their local business owners, artists, and musicians. The Locally Leesburg program provides a list of locally owned businesses, including a list of dog-friendly businesses and spaces for all of the dog lovers. Blackhoof Brewing is one such establishment that even lets pups in their taproom, so you can sip a tasty craft beer with your furry friend at your side. The arts and culture hub within the historic downtown district includes the Loudoun Museum, an engaging space that interprets the region's history through textiles, photographs, and even toys, and George C. Marshall’s Dodona Manor, a National Historic Site and former home of the decorated General and his wife.

Blacksburg

With Virginia Tech calling the town home, Blacksburg maintains a classic college-town vibe set against a historic downtown. Head over to Market Square Park to support local farmers and artisans at the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market, or enjoy the live music from local musicians during the Market Square Jams. For more local entertainment, you can look into the town’s inventive Sidewalk Stage program, where local street performers and artists offer fresh takes on busking. The program is beautifully organized, ensuring that all performers have adequate space to show off their creativity, turning a stroll through the streets into an entertaining and enriching experience. Meanwhile, the scenic Huckleberry Trail connects the town with nearby Christiansburg along a 9-mile paved trail for a bit of recreation.

Fairfax

Fairfax presents a wealth of attractions and community events, such as a monthly movie night in parks across town as part of its family-friendly “Movies Under the Moon” series. The town has also created an interactive app to support self-guided tours of its vibrant public art and placemaking initiatives throughout downtown. For a one-stop shop in terms of regional history, the Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House is a museum inside the town's oldest residence, dedicated to documenting the lives of the people who once lived in it and offering a unique and personal look at the past through the lens of the individuals who lived it.

Petersburg

As the site of the Battle of the Crater, Petersburg is a thrill for Civil War history buffs. The Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier offers family-friendly guided and self-guided tours and re-enactments across four museums, homes, and the historic battlefield. For a culture trip, the Petersburg Area Art League (PAAL) showcases the works of local artists across different gallery spaces and at its art education center. For nature lovers, the Appomattox River Trail has beautiful hiking trails along the river, and Marie Bowen Gardens is a city park with a lush floral garden. To cap off a great day in Petersburg, Resolution Winery offers small-batch and fruit-forward wines in their warm and inviting tasting room.

Staunton

Formerly a 19th-century jail junction, Staunton was originally formed around the local correctional facility, as its location made it a convenient place to transport people to and from the facility. This proximity to the railroad junction also made the area a convenient stop for musicians, circuses, and travelling performers, a tradition that is kept alive in Staunton's local arts scene. The American Shakespeare Center is open year-round for live performances, while the town holds multiple music festivals throughout the year, including the Staunton Music Festival, which attracts world-class musicians and a wave of attendees in summer. In September, Staunton runs the popular Art in the Park Festival, a family-friendly event highlighting the fine art and fine craftwork from throughout the region. In the winter, the Frontier Culture Museum runs “Lantern Tours” during the holiday season, a unique way to explore the 188-acre open-air museum, the largest of its kind in the Shenandoah Valley.

Abingdon

With a 20-block historic district with brick sidewalks and Civil War architecture, Abingdon feels like you’re stepping onto the set of a period piece. Just off Main Street is the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34-mile biking and hiking trail beginning at the center of the town. The talented players at the Barter Theater run various live theater productions year-round, while the William King Museum of Art blends exhibits that showcase contemporary and historic art for an enriching and educational experience. For music lovers, the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace is the headquarters of the Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, where you can catch a live show featuring old-time, bluegrass, and gospel music performed by local artists.

Berryville

Berryville is devoted to preserving and enhancing its historic downtown while maintaining a classic, small-town feel. Like movie nights in Fairfax, Berryville hosts live music in its parks throughout the summer. Rose Hill and Chet Hobert Park are popular spots to listen to local and touring bands under the stars. The Josephine School Community Museum gives an enriching look at a piece of the region's African American history, while the Barns of Rose Hill art center is a performing arts venue and gallery presenting work from local artists. Between these creative and educational opportunities and larger events like the Clarke County Fair, Berryville offers plenty of family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy.

Covington

With the Jackson River snaking through its parks and commercial areas, Covington has a distinct landscape. Fort Young Park sits on the banks of the river with playgrounds, access to walking trails, and Helen Child’s Wildflower Memorial Garden for photography and plant lovers alike. The Jackson River Sports Complex is a popular venue for outdoor sporting events, while the River Rock Amphitheater on the grounds of the sports complex hosts live music performances. Main Street Park is another green space and social area in the historic downtown district, hosting various events for residents in the spring and summer. Finally, as one of the few remaining covered bridges in the United States, the historic Humpback Covered Bridge, which stretches across Dunlap Creek, is a popular attraction just steps away from nearby Dunlap Beach.

Virginia's Most Neighborly

With dog-friendly craft breweries, historic covered bridges, battlefield parks, and beloved local festivals, these Virginia towns prove that community spirit is their greatest attraction. Whether you’re tracing Civil War history, catching a live performance, strolling a scenic trail, or shopping local along a picture-perfect Main Street, each destination has its own distinctive charm. Together, they showcase the creativity, heritage, and hospitality that make Virginia’s small towns well worth the visit.