Richmond - New attractions and newsworthy events are happening across the Commonwealth in 2024.  Here's just a few highlights:

Virginia Wine in the Spotlight

Charlottesville and the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA) has been named Wine Region of the Year in Wine Enthusiast's annual Wine Star Awards. The Charlottesville area was one of five wine regions nominated around the world and the only region in North America.  Additionally, Virginia's Barboursville Vineyards was nominated for American Winery of the Year.  The Wine Star Awards celebrate the innovation of individuals and companies that have significantly contributed to the success of the wine and alcoholic beverage world. 

In 1774, 250 years ago this year, the first U.S. commercial wine vineyard was planted in Virginia by Thomas Jefferson and Italian viticulturist Filippo Mazzei on land adjacent to Monticello and the Virginia Wine Company was formed, setting the stage for why Virginia is considered The Birthplace of American Wine.  Today, a visit to Jefferson Vineyards and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello takes visitors to the very land where it all started.

2024 also marks the 40th anniversary of the Loudoun County wine industry. Loudoun is known as DC's Wine Country and is home to more than 50 wineries and vineyards.

Virginia Music in the Spotlight

The famous 1927 Bristol Sessions, referred to as The Big Bang of Country Music, prompted the U.S. Congress to designate Bristol as the Official Birthplace of Country Music.  Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, The Crooked Road highlights Bristol and the many other Virginia venues behind that amazing music history, including the Carter Family Fold, home to The First Family of Country Music. The Carter Family Fold celebrates their 50th anniversary in 2024, and The Crooked Road, its 10th anniversary. The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, VA - a Smithsonian-affiliated Museum which tells the story of the Sessions - also will celebrate its 10-year anniversary in 2024.  Another great venue on The Crooked Road, the Floyd Country Store is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Friday Night Jamboree in 2024. The Jamboree has taken place every Friday night for four decades, inviting friends and family from all around the world to the one stoplight town of Floyd, Virginia.  ALL great reasons to visit Virginia in 2024 and discover the story behind one of America's most loved music styles.

The Song of the Mountains concert series is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024. Performances take place at The Lincoln Theatre in Marion in Southwest Virginia, one of the last remaining Mayan Revival-style theatres in the world. 

Virginia History in the Spotlight

Virginia American Revolution 250 – Virginia will recognize the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and America's independence with a major statewide commemoration involving every locality with hundreds of hosted events beginning in 2024 and leading up to the official anniversary in 2026.  As The Birthplace of America, Virginia will be 'the place to be' for the 250th anniversary of America's independence. 

The City of Alexandria celebrates its 275th anniversary in 2024, marking the occasion with special events and programs celebrating the past and present. Activities include new exhibits, collecting and sharing of oral histories, and special editions of the annual Portside Festival and Alexandria Birthday Celebration.

The Shenandoah Valley Travel Association (SVTA), one of the oldest regional tourism promotional organizations of its kind in the US, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2024. The organization held its Anniversary Kick Off on March 18 and other events are planned throughout the year.

The George Washington a Wyndham Grand Hotel on Winchester's Downtown Mall is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024. The hotel's 100th Anniversary Concert Series includes Pop/Rock band Firefall on October 19, with more events planned for this summer.

The Grand Dame of Staunton, Hotel 24 South, is turning 100 years old in 2024 and is offering celebratory rates starting at $100 for mid-week stays.

On August 16, 2024, the Bicentennial of Lafayette's Farewell Tour begins its 13-month celebration of Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette's triumphant return tour of the United States begins in New York City and follows his footsteps through the then existing 24 states in the exact order he traveled in 1824 and 1825. Stops in Virginia will be Oct. 15 - Dec. 17 and will include Arlington, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Norfolk, Fort Monroe, Portsmouth, Petersburg, Richmond, Goochland County, Charlottesville, Montpelier, Fredericksburg, Fort Belvoir, and Woodlawn.

Virginia Events in the Spotlight

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival celebrates its 100th anniversary April 26 – May 5, 2024 with the theme “Locally Grown, Globally Shared.” This is in reference to the farms and orchards that founded the Shenandoah Valley. Activities this year include an Apple Growers Luncheon, farm tours, and 100th birthday party, complete with apple pie.

2024 marks the 50th anniversary for the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival. Celebrate the 50th Annual Boardwalk Weekend, September 27-29, with concerts scattered along 30+ blocks of the boardwalk, an Art & Craft Show with 200+ vendors, magnificent sand sculptures created by world-renowned international sculptors, an 8k race, a grand parade, and more!

The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford will commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day with events scheduled June 5-9, 2024. 

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden kicks off its 40th anniversary in 2024 with a year-long celebration featuring exquisite horticultural displays, art exhibits, community events, live music, and more, including: Contemporary American multi-disciplinary artist Kyle Epps as an artist-in-residence from April-September 2024. Epps' work will explore the landscape and history of the Garden through a variety of mediums. Guests will be able to view the artwork in the Garden's Community Art Gallery and Epps will also lead workshops.

TO DO…

From March – November 2024, the newest temporary public art installation at Alexandria's waterfront explores the impact of an asteroid that hit the earth 35 million years ago near what is now Alexandria. Created by artist/architect duo Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang, Interstellar Influencer (Make an Impact) utilizes metal, water and light to create a 1:1000 scale representation of the asteroid and the 85-kilometer wide, 1.5-kilometer deep crater it left behind, which helped to shape the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed and the flow of water through its rivers and tributaries in the process.

Loch Ness Monster, the iconic, registered landmark interlocking loop rollercoaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg celebrates 46 years as Busch Gardens' most iconic attraction with a full restoration in 2024, including all-new thematic and experiential elements. Opening May 10.

The Elizabeth River Project has been working hard to bring the Ryan Resilience Lab to Norfolk. This brand new building was designed to work with the coast including floating docks, green roofs, solar arrays, rainwater capture, and much more. The lab explores, displays, and models key concepts and approaches that will lead the way to a more sustainable future including; Adaptation to a Changing Climate, Features to Absorb Flooding, Energy and Environmental Resilience and Cultural Resilience.

After recently breaking ground on a $4.3 million expansion to its 23-acre campus, the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News is constructing a 5,000 sq. ft. Wild Care Center along the museum's outdoor boardwalk trail. The Care Center will create a literal window into the world of veterinary and preventative animal care, nutrition, and the connection between humans and the environment. Expected opening Summer 2024.

A new skill and pump track opened in Abingdon in November 2023. Nestled along the Virginia Creeper Trail at the Meadows Sports Complex, the site features an asphalt section and lots of wooden wall ride areas, ramps, and turns.

Norfolk Botanical Gardens has begun construction on the Garden of Tomorrow with an expected opening date in 2024. The Garden of Tomorrow takes sustainability and conservation education to a new level, featuring a revolutionary new parking garden, entry pavilion and conservatory, highlighting some of the most threatened species in the world. 

Last October, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin officially dedicated Virginia's 42nd state park, Sweet Run State Park in Loudoun County. The 884-acre park features expansive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and connects to the world-famous Appalachian Trail through 11 miles of hiking and nine miles of equestrian trails along streams, through mature forest, meadows and mountain-side terrain. 

As part of the new National Landing and Amazon HQ2 and Metropolitan Park in Virginia, the Crystal City Water Park has reopened with an entirely new presence, complete with new restaurant kiosks and seating areas, a full-service restaurant, new water features — including a “water wall” with a bar perched on top — and a stage. In addition to decorative water features, the park features public art installations and bike facilities near the entrance to the Mt. Vernon Trail.

TO EAT AND DRINK…

The annual World Beer Cup awarded Virginia craft breweries three Gold, five Silver and three Bronze Medals in their annual international competition highlighting the best beers from around the world.  The Virginia craft breweries honored competed against more than 9,000 entries from 37 countries.  Learn the winners here.

Rappahannock Oyster Co. plans to roll out its fifth oyster bar in the international terminal of Dulles International Airport this year. The modern-meets-casual seafood eatery will feature 90 seats and a wraparound bar.

At Alexandria's newest waterfront development, Robinson Landing, one of the city's last remaining historic waterfront warehouses will be preserved and transformed into a new upscale market and relaxed tavern space called Cooper Mill, a nod to the former mill on the site which fabricated barrels for the Alexandria Flour Company. Opening 2024.

The Richmond Region Mimosa Trail is the newest addition to Richmond's food and drink scene. The self-guided tour has options for over 40 restaurants in the region that all feature delicious mimosas and brunch options.

Six & Sky Rooftop Grille, Roanoke's first panoramic rooftop restaurant recently opened in the heart of Downtown Roanoke. The restaurant is located on top of Center in the Square, which is home to five museums and a 6,000-gallon aquarium. Six & Sky will serve seafood, steaks, and spirits with a scenic view of the Roanoke Valley and sky.

Squabble State Farms is coming to Washington County in 2024. Three miles from the new Bristol Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the vision is a 68-acre agritourism destination featuring an apple orchard, hard cidery, distillery, nature trails, music venue, and scenic views for miles. 

TO STAY…

Salamander Middleburg was recently awarded additional prestigious Five-Star Ratings by the Forbes Travel Guide, making the Sheila Johnson-owned luxury resort one of only five properties in the United States and 13 globally to earn separate Five-Star Awards for its accommodations, restaurant and spa.  Salamander is just one of the many off-the-beaten path luxury properties in Virginia.  Learn more here. 

Casino Resorts in Virginia  

• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has opened its temporary casino for their exciting resort property in Bristol, the official Birthplace of Country Music, further highlighting the incredible music experience to be found in that corner of the Commonwealth. The hotel and connected amenities are slated to open in 2024.
• Caesars Virginia, a premier destination resort casino, is coming to Danville in 2024. In addition to the casino, the resort will feature a full-service spa, pool, high-quality bars and restaurants, and a 2,500-seat state-of-the-art live entertainment theater.
• Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened in early 2023 featuring seven restaurants, a 3,000-seat event center, movie theater and retail stores. The four-star hotel will open in 2024.
• Headwaters Resort & Casino in Norfolk is slated to start construction in 2024.

Other New Stays….

Slated to open in the heart of Old Town Alexandria in May 2024, Hotel Heron is Aparium Hotel Group's flagship adaptive-reuse development, located steps from the bustling King Street mile. Originally occupied from 1926 to 1971 by the George Mason Hotel, the new space includes 134 guest rooms and 30,000 square feet of hotel amenities, including a hearth-inspired restaurant offering Mid-Atlantic cuisine, a cozy cocktail bar, and a seasonal rooftop bar, as well as meeting space and ground floor retail.

Shenandoah Mansions will be the first boutique hotel in Richmond's Fan neighborhood, opening Fall 2024. The 73-room hotel, the latest from New York City-based hotelier Ash, will feature a retail space and the third location of Ash–Bar, an all-day dining concept and European cafe.

Nestled in the center of Historic Old Towne Petersburg, the reimagined Hotel Petersburg will open its doors in Summer 2024. A century in the making, the upscale boutique hotel will include 68 sleeping rooms with a restaurant, rooftop bar, and outdoor courtyard.

Recently opened in downtown Fredericksburg, The Publisher, a 98-room full service hotel stands on the site of the once daily Fredericksburg newspaper, the Free-Lance Star, and features meeting/event space, a full bar and restaurant, and many other amenities.  The hotel's location makes it the perfect gateway to the downtown historic district.

The Moxy at Virginia Beach has opened and features oceanfront rooms and an outdoor oceanfront pool with a two-story slide.  In Moxy tradition, cozy and smart bedrooms plus vibrant social spaces entice travelers ready to break from the conventional hotel experience.  

Hotel AKA Alexandria brings a dramatic new addition to Old Town Alexandria steps from the city's flourishing boutique scene and thriving waterfront.  Custom-designed by visionary architect Piero Lissoni, the new, sophisticated accommodations offer a long-term stay option with premium amenities such as a Technogym fitness center and more.

The Little Mod Hotel in Charlottesville is just steps away from the University of Virginia grounds. A mid-century modern building dating back to the 1960s, this hotel includes 20 brightly decorated rooms and apartment-style suites with vintage touches. The Mod Pod, an onsite converted airstream, serves up all-day breakfast, tasty tacos and delicious savory waffle cones.

Primland Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection will undergo an enhancement in 2024, to include a new look in the Main Lodge, a new check-in and arrival experience for guests, and two new culinary concepts in the spaces currently known as 19th Pub and Elements. The enhancement is led by Dallas-based Chad Dorsey Design. Over Memorial Day weekend 2024, Primland Resort will also host its First Annual Highland Golf + Wine Classic, with rounds of play on the award-winning Highland Course, intimate dinners across the property featuring renowned vintners, and more.

Discover more new offerings and access our image bank in our online Press Room at Virginia.org.

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CONTACTS:

 Christi Braginton / Associate Director, Global Media Relations - Virginia Tourism Corporation cbraginton@virginia.org / 505-500-7396

 Brigitte “Bri” Bélanger-Warner / Canadian Specialist – Virginia Tourism Corporation

bwarner@virginia.org / 804-389-4688