The colors of spring swirl around - the pinks, the yellows, and the purples of flowers blooming in the warm air. The trees budding with the help of more sunshine and longer days, green grass ready to be cut, and festive garden decorations like flags wave proudly in the light breezes. The scent of freshly turned earth and mulch as it heats in the sun; the sound of birds chirping in the morning hours and past dusk; the early sunrises and time for a cup of coffee as you watch the day bloom before you in vibrant clarity. There are many songs, plays, and movies that reference spring and the rebirth of trees and flowers and the feelings those evoke. It's a time for growth and change and new experiences, a time to visit and take a vacation with friends and loved ones. It's the perfect time to shake off the winter cold and head to Luray-Page County.
I love May. May means that summer is just around the corner and that the air is getting warmer, less heavy, less frost-filled, and all around more pleasant for spending days out in the sun. People have begun making their way into our downtown areas checking out the sights and really just soaking up the longer days with picnic lunches, meals on patios and under umbrellas, and breaks for locals and visitors to walk their dogs on the Hawksbill Greenway in downtown Luray.
One of the most frequent questions we receive at the Visitor Center is what visitors can do outside and/or where a nice place is for a walk or to have lunch. Lot of visitors to our county are looking for beautiful views; they want to see what the town has to offer and to do some people-watching to get to know who the townspeople really are. Having just driven in from DC and Northern Virginia, finding a way to stretch legs and work out stiff joints is a fantastic way to begin a stay in the Shenandoah Valley. It’s a great first stop for families with kids and pets as it allows both to get out and burn off some of the energy they’ve been storing up during the trip across the Blue Ridge or Massanutten Mountains. The Luray Greenway is an award-winning walkway to simply enjoy the beauty of downtown Luray and the Shenandoah Valley is a whole. The Greenway is a hot spot for both locals and visitors and on beautiful spring, summer, and fall days, it’s frequently filled with anyone looking to get in a little exercise or a leisurely walk. Locals will pause to greet one another and everyone exchanges friendly waves and nods with words of hello and welcome to bolster one another.
May is well-known to our springtime visitors as the month that hosts the annual Festival of Spring in downtown Luray. This annual event brings in artisans and crafters from around the Shenandoah Valley and beyond to showcase their talents and their products to our locals and visitors. The festival is back this year on Mother's Day weekend right along East Main Street in downtown Luray. I've always found the date choice to be the perfect time to buy mom a little gift to show appreciation for everything she does throughout the year. Whether mom likes flowers, pottery, paintings, jewelry, or something completely different, the festival brings out an amazing variety of talents and products for everyone to window-shop or take home. Not only that, there's always a ton of food from local vendors, food trucks from around the area, and restaurants. The kids can find plenty of entertainment with a variety of kids activities for young and old at the Chamber and Inn Lawn Park. Plus, with the centralized location in the downtown area, it’s the perfect time to pop into the boutique and antique shops lining Main Street.
The end of the month showcases the Town of Shenandoah’s annual Memorial Day Festival and parade. Memorial weekend is known for barbecues, cookouts, and time off with family to celebrate outdoors in nature’s beauty, but there’s more to it than just that. The Town of Shenandoah keeps the real meaning of the holiday alive for our locals and visitors, through their annual celebration and remembrance on Saturday morning, before they kick off all of the festivities. This multi-day event includes kids activities, a carnival, car shows, antique tractor shows, a parade with hundreds of entries, and so much more.
You can always see the complete list of events happening in Page County on our website, www.visitluraypage.com, or by contacting our friendly and knowledgeable Chamber & Tourism Assistants at (540) 743-3915 or info@luraypage.com.
Happy Spring,
Katie Long
Communications & Marketing Coordinator
Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce
