Summer Arts Festival

Presented by the Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts and the Town of Blacksburg, the Summer Arts Festival brings free, family‑friendly arts programming to the community each summer, featuring theatre performances, outdoor concerts, classical music, cinema at The Lyric, art exhibitions, workshops, and special events designed to make the arts accessible and engaging for audiences of all ages!

get the printable event calendar here!

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June 19 Toubab Krewe Concert , event
Date: 06/19/2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
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June 20 Summer Community Mural Painting , event
Date: 06/20/2026 Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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June 20 Hook Movie Screening , event
Date: 06/20/2026 Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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June 25 Shakespeare Workshop , event
Date: 06/25/2026 Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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June 26-July 17 Summer Community Mural Exhibition , event
Date: 06/26/2026 - 07/17/2026 Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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June 26 Blacksburg Community Band Concert , event
Date: 06/26/2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
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July 2 American Fanfare: A Patriotic Musical Spectacular with Roanoke Chamber Brass , event
Date: 07/02/2026 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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July 9 Beyond the Frame Gallery Tours , event
Date: 07/09/2026 Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
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July 9 In the Shadow of Memory: Late-Romantic Violin Sonatas with Akemi Takayama , event
Date: 07/09/2026 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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July 10 Music Road Co Concert , event
Date: 07/10/2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
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July 11 An American In Paris Movie Screening , event
Date: 07/11/2026 Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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July 15 Woodworking Demos with Rude Graves , event
Date: 07/15/2026 Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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July 16 From the Heart: Beethoven Piano Works with Hsiang Tu , event
Date: 07/16/2026 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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July 17 Root Down Concert , event
Date: 07/17/2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
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July 18-19 The Novelist , event
Date: 07/18/2026 Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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July 23 Playing with Shadows Workshop , event
Date: 07/23/2026 Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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July 23 At Sunset: Romantic Masterworks for Voice, Cello, and Piano , event
Date: 07/23/2026 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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July 24 Lazy Man Dub Band Concert , event
Date: 07/24/2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
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July 31 Solacoustix Concert , event
Date: 07/31/2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
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Aug 13 Beyond the Frame Gallery Tours , event
Date: 08/13/2026 Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Hello, and welcome to the 2026 Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival. There should be something for everyone this year!

The lineup includes the traditional Friday night outdoor concerts with some musical friends old and new, a Thursday night indoor concert series including a big community sing, a live theatre performance of the comedy Fuddy Meers, classic films, children’s activities, visual art at the Perspectives Gallery, and more. As always, there will be our traditional Blacksburg events including the Fourth of July Celebration, the Summer Solstice Festival, and Steppin’ Out.

We are grateful for our sponsors and partners: the Office of the Provost, the Town of Blacksburg, the Lyric Theatre, Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, Blacksburgh Master Chorale, and the Creativity and Innovation District Living Learning Community.

I hope everyone will come out and join us for concerts, celebrations, films, and more. All events of the Virginia Tech/Town of Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival are FREE and open to all members of the public.

See you soon!
Ariana Wyatt, Producer

Other Downtown Blacksburg Events

A vibrant craft market stall with people browsing. Colorful paper flowers in metal buckets are in the foreground, creating a lively and creative atmosphere. — Photo from blacksburgsteppinout.com

2026 Summer Solstice Fest

June 20, Main and Lee in downtown Blacksburg, 11 a.m. - 11p.m.

Enjoy all the favorites of the season at Summer Solstice Fest on June 20^th in downtown Blacksburg. From summer arts and crafts, to lemonade, ice cream, kids activities, food vendors and of course live music on the Atlantic Union Bank Main Stage from 11am to 11pm.

2026 Art at the Market

July 11, Draper Road and Farmers Market, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Art at the Market brings 20 of the best local artists to the farmers market on July 11^th. Grab a mimosa and breakfast sandwich from the Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. tent while you peruse fine art and local farm products for sale. New this year: emerging artist tent!

2026 Steppin' Out

August 7 and 8, Downtown Blacksburg, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Celebrate the 45^th anniversary of Southwest Virginia’s favorite free, two-day festival in downtown Blacksburg on August 7 and 8. With five stages of live music, over 250 arts and crafts vendor, entertainment, and activities, this is the perfect end to summer in Blacksburg.