Summer-Lovin’ Fun and Festivities in Luray and Page County
Summer sunsets, lazy afternoons, the smell of a charcoal grill, and the sound of laughter as you kick back in the Great Outdoors with family and friends fill July in Luray and Page County. Add in fireworks, a small-town parade, water adventures, and live entertainment and events, and the month marks a time of summer-lovin’ fun and festivities for outdoor adventurers as well as those seeking a slower pace and peaceful space.
Whether you’re longing for solitude and a quiet place to relax in the shade and take in the scenery or looking for a fun and memorable way to soak up the sun with friends and family, July in Virginia’s Cabin Capital offers something for everyone.
FUN ON THE FOURTH: CELEBRATE WITH SMALL-TOWN FESTIVITIES
Celebrate the Fourth and the days leading up to it with small-town hospitality and red, white, and blue.
Festivities begin at the Town of Stanley’s Ed Good Memorial Park during the town’s four-day Homecoming Celebration. The 54th annual event features a nightly carnival, live music, games, fun, and food each night through Saturday, July 3. Gather along Stanley’s Main Street at 5 p.m. Saturday for a hometown parade featuring more than 70 floats, classic hot rods, performers, and a special appearance by Miss Virginia 2021 Tatum Sheppard. Then gather at the homecoming’s headquarters at Ed Good Park for carnival rides and games, live music, and a finale of fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Ring in Independence Day in Downtown Luray during an inaugural Downtown Get Down, featuring games, activities, two live music stages and half a dozen food vendors. The Town of Luray’s festivities kick off along the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway at 5 p.m. with music performances at both Ruffner Plaza, below the Main Street Bridge, and the Mechanic Street parking lot off of Route 340. Family activities will be set up along the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway from Ruffner Plaza to Mechanic Street until 9 p.m., including lawn games, moon bounces, and inflatables. A duck race in the Hawksbill Creek at 8 p.m. gives participants the chance to see whose rubber duck crosses the finish line first, with prizes given to top finishers. Many downtown merchants and eateries will be offering specials throughout the evening during the Luray Downtown Initiative’s “Star-Spangled Shopping and Dining Specials.”
The Performing Arts of Luray will also offer live music during a special Independence Day installment of its Party on the Plaza concert series. For a fifth year, local favorite Thundergun will perform classic rock covers from the 1960s, '70s and '80s at the plaza from 6 to 9 p.m.
Fireworks will then light up Luray at dusk as the town continues a decades-long tradition, putting on a show that can be seen throughout the Downtown area around 9:15 p.m.
WATER ADVENTURES: SWIM, FLOAT, AND BOAT THE DAY AWAY
Whether it’s a lazy day floating with friends on tubes, a romantic down-river rendezvous on canoe, or a summer swim, Luray and Page County offer unique ways to take in the beauty of the Valley, soak up the sun, and beat the heat.
Take a dip against a backdrop of mountains and walking trails amid the season’s lush, forested greenery at Luray’s Lake Arrowhead, go for a swim or wade in a brand new splash pad at Stanley’s Hawksbill Pool, or float the day away on the Shenandoah River by tube, canoe, kayak, jet ski, or boat.
The outfitters that call the Shenandoah Valley home offer a variety of options to see the mountains and sky from the middle of the river. Our outfitters not only provide the gear and a guide, depending on the activity but arrange for drop-off and pickup.
Take in Valley views by renting a canoe, tube, or kayak from Appalachian Adventures or the Downriver Canoe Co. Or rent a jet ski, commission a party boat, or book a fishing excursion through the family-owned Appalachian Adventures for a memorable fresh-air adventure that offers as many photo ops as it does smiles. The fifty-one-year-old Shenandoah River Outfitters offers an array of ways to explore and enjoy the outdoors with flat-water and beginner white-water adventures, from tube rentals and canoes, to rafts and kayaks. Spend more time on the water by renting a spot at the outfitter’s Camp Outback. Or book a cabin by the river and choose from mountain hideaways, opulent retreats, and a cozy home away from homes.
Soak up serenity on the shore in any season at the Town of Shenandoah’s River Park and Landing. You can also book a kayaking, canoeing, floating, or fishing trip with Shenandoah River Adventures while you’re in Shenandoah. Pack a shoreside picnic or pick up a carryout order from a local restaurant or eatery. Enjoy a leisurely stroll or a brisk walk along the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, a 3.3-mile walking trail that runs through the heart of Downtown Luray along the Hawksbill Creek. Along the way, spot ducks and other wildlife that call the creek home, kick off your shoes and wade in the shallow water, and capture keepsake photos against a backdrop of one of more than a dozen murals along and near the Greenway.
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Savor the sights and sounds of the season during a full slate of family fun, afternoon dates, and memorable outings filled with live music, events, and art destinations in Luray and Page County.
Home to hundreds of artists of all ages and walks of life, the Shenandoah Valley nurtures a unique art scene — from murals and music, to paintings and movies, to performance arts and car shows, and much more.
With a short walk through Downtown Luray, art is everywhere, from intricate metal sculptures to detailed murals and colorful paintings along the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway. Take a stroll through the ten-thousand-square-foot Warehouse Art Gallery in Downtown Luray and view more than a thousand creative works by more than ninety regional artists. Or catch a family-favorite flick at the iconic pink Page Theater.
July in Luray and Page County additionally offers weekend events to enjoy with the whole family, that special someone, or friends, including:
JULY 8
• Stanley Outdoor Movie Night, Hawksbill Recreation Park, 9 p.m.
Head to the Town of Stanley’s park and pool with the family to catch a free outdoor presentation of the action-adventure comedy “Sonic the Hedgehog,” the 2020 feature film based on the popular Sega video game franchise character.
JULY 9
• Classic Car Cruz-In, Town of Shenandoah, 6-9 p.m.
Gather on Shenandoah’s First Street for the July installment of the town’s summer Cruz-In series to see classic vehicles in the historic downtown area and enjoy music, food, and fun.
• Evenings on Main - Everyday People, Ruffner Plaza, 7-9 p.m.
Music will fill Downtown Luray during its first of two July installments of the summer concert series Evenings on Main. Held at Ruffner Plaza, located along the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway beneath the Main Street Bridge, the July 9 installment will feature soul and funk band Everyday People.
• Paint and Sip, Studio 31.13, 7-9 p.m.
Join special guest host Lee as she leads a fun and interactive Sip and Paint event in the Downtown Luray studio as you paint a canvas and sip on beer and wine.
JULY 10
• 7th Annual Car Show, Shenandoah Moose Lodge, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
See hot rods and classics on the lawn of the Shenandoah Moose Lodge during its seventh annual car show, featuring food for purchase and a 50/50 raffle.
• Music Under the Arbor, Wisteria Farm & Vineyard, 3-5 p.m.
Enjoy live music and local wine at the Stanley vineyard during its seasonal Music Under the Arbor series. The July 10 installment features singer-songwriter Emily Julia Kresky.
JULY 17
• Music Under the Arbor, Wisteria Farm & Vineyard, 3-5 p.m.
Head to the Stanley vineyard to enjoy wine and live music during its July 17 Music Under the Arbor event featuring singer-songwriter Michael McCray.
JULY 23
• Evenings on Main - Cazhmiere, Ruffner's Plaza, 7-9 p.m.
The second of two July installments of the summer concert series Evenings on Main will feature Top 40 dance hits performed by Cazhmiere.
• Town of Shenandoah Outdoor Movie Night - First Street, Shenandoah, 8:30 p.m.
Pack a lawn chair or a blanket, grab the kids, and head to the Town of Shenandoah’s First Street to catch a free outdoor showing of the 2007 Pixar film “Ratatouille.”
JULY 24
• Music Under the Arbor, Wisteria Farm & Vineyard, 3-5 p.m.
The July 24 installment of Stanley vineyard’s Music Under the Arbor event will feature light classic rocks performed by local duo Virginia and Mike Hasty.
