What's summer without some strange and unusual festivals? There's plenty to choose from around here and I'm happy to point you in the right direction. The fun starts this weekend, so be sure not to miss SML Pirate Days and mark your calendar for lots of curious exploration in the weeks to come.

Smith Mountain Lake Pirate Days takes place the 3rd weekend of July and includes a Gala, Kids Activities, a Water Balloon Fight, Pancakes with Pirate, Live Music, mermaids, vendors and much more. Home base is Crazy Horse Marina in Moneta but check out their Facebook page for more information!

Botetourt Tomato Festival will be ripe for pickin' on July 23rd from 8:30AM-Noon at the Daleville Town Center. Get your picture taken with the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile! Free admission &  parking plus plants, produce, baked goods, craft, & artisan vendors, live music, heirloom tomato tastings, tomato sandwich contest, raffles, and giveaways. Yum!

New River Valley Fair will be happening July 25th-30th at the New River Valley Fairgrounds in Dublin! Rides, agricultural exhibits, a petting zoo, and food vendors will be on-site everyday with special events such as a demolition derby, horse pull, 4 wheeler race, pro wrestling, live music, and additional entertainment scheduled throughout! 

Oyster & Lobster Fest Shucks! All you Parrotheads, head out to Harvest Moon Marketplace at Smith Mountain Lake on August 6th from 11AM-5PM for live music by Surrender Dorothy. This is a free family-friendly event, so grab your lawn chairs and bring your lobster bib!

Botetourt Honey Festival Don't miss this sweet festival on August 20th from 8:30AM-Noon at Daleville Town Center! Celebrate National Honey Bee Day with free parking, admission, mead tastings, and  kids' activities. Loads of local honey will be for sale along with local produce, baked goods, and artisan merchandise. You can even learn how to sign up to be a beekeeper!

Roanoke Taco Fest on September 10th from 11AM-5PM at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke features food trucks, restaurants, vendors, local well-loved bartenders, and best of all–benefits Roanoke non-profit Huddle Up Moms. 

Henry Street Festival at Elmwood Park on Saturday, September 17th is sponsored by Harrison Museum of African American Culture and features entertainment, educational forums, and exposure to African-American heritage as expressed through the performing arts, crafts, cuisines, customs, and merchandise beginning at 2PM!

BOCO BBQ & Country Fest is on Saturday, September 17th from 3-9PM at the Daleville Town Center for incredible barbecue, multiple regional and Nashville recording artists on the Budweiser stage, great beverages, outdoor games, giveaways and more.Kids 12 and under are free!

Roots & Reggae Fest is back at Wasena Park on Saturday, September 24th starting at 2PM with local and regional bands. Food trucks, vendors, face painting, and music are guaranteed with kids under 12 admitted for free!

Let's see if we can spot each other in our pirate hats or gobbling down some tomato sandwiches, how about it? I love living here in our mountain to lake paradise of Southwest Virginia where people love to celebrate, come together, and fully enjoy our resources and surroundings. I hope you get to take part in some of these awesome events, many of which support local nonprofits who do great work for our community. Hope to see you out and about! As always, I'd love to see your photos from these events, so tag us at @hometownblessings so that we can enjoy your fun, too!