Last month, my family and I attended the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival. Having attended concerts and music festivals for over 3 decades, I can honestly say that the Shenandoah Valley Music Festivalwas one of the best musical festivals I’ve ever attended. How much did I love this festival? Let me count the ways. 1. The legendary Beach Boys performed! I grew up on this music. 2. The festival is a wholesome, all family and friends welcome kind of concert event. 3. In a world where there’s a lot of expletives in our current music scene and a whiff of air can leave you gasping at some of these shows, the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival is a clean, safe, wholesome, family-family-friendly and rated G outdoor festival making this a one of a kind and memorable experience for me and my family.
The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival began in the early 1960s when the American Symphony Orchestra League conductors’ workshops were being held each year at the Orkney Springs Hotel, now the Festival’s concert venue and home to Shrine Mont, a retreat and conference center in Orkney Springs, Virginia—a very short road trip from the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. area.
Through the years, The Shenandoah Music Festival has grown into a more elaborate concert series. By 1976, it moved to the outdoor pavilion at Shrine Mont Retreat and Conference Center. Today the festival presents 8 to 10 concerts per season from mid-July through Labor Day weekend. Many feature famous, award-winning artists from across the spectrum. The Temptations, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Travis Tritt, Kris Kristofferson, Bruce Hornsby, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and LeAnn Rimes are just a few of the musicians whom have graced the stage at the festival.
There’s only one stage at the festival, making this an easy place to chill out and listen to your favorite band.
Glamping surrounds the festival in the form of cabins reminiscent of dormitories and Greek lifestyle campus living. There are very comfortable bunk beds in each room and there are 3 room cabins that share a bathroom. The bathrooms are comfortable and very clean. There isn’t any air-conditioning in the cabins—but somehow the mountain air provides a slight chill every night that the kids and I didn’t even miss the central air we have at home.
This type of lodging set-up makes attending the festival super fun because it’s only a hop, skip and a jump from where you’re sleeping. And if you’re social like me—you can actually meet some interesting new people. I always say “there are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet.”
The Shenandoah Music Festival is really special because it’s not like any festival you have ever attended. There’s so much nature and beauty that surrounds the festival’s stage. You feel a real sense of support and community provided by everyone at the festival. A lot of the attendees are local and a lot come from the DC/Northern Virginia area, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and even my home state of Ohio.
By staying at Shrine Mont for the night, we were able to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. We were able to go canoeing and fishing in the nearby lake. We were able to meet fellow concert goers who enjoyed sharing stories and experiences of prior concerts.
One of the best things I took away from our concert experience is that festivals aren’t just about the music—they’re about the time you’re spending with your loved ones. Although I grew up listening to my parents (now in their early 70’s) Beach Boys albums, my kids (ages 9 and 11) have only heard remakes of their songs in animated films or on YouTube videos. I surprised myself with the realization that I knew 100% of the lyrics to about 95% of the songs. It was so much fun! There was even a dance floor there—that encouraged attendees to get off the lawn and get out of their seats and DANCE. And if you’ve been following me on social media for a while or know me in person—you know how much I love to dance!
I have a few tips for any first-time attendees of the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival
- Book a room at Shrine Mont. The Shrine Mont offers very comfortable lodging and 3 meals a day with your accommodations.
- This is a very family friendly venue, be sure to invite all of your family and friends to attend with you
- Don’t be afraid to make new friends
- Pack a blanket and a cooler/picnic of snacks and beverages
- I highly recommend checking out the schedule for the few remaining concertsthis summer
- If you’ve never been and are considering it—please feel free to send me an email or DM me on Instagram. I’d be happy to help you plan your visit! For a glimpse into the fun we had, be sure to follow me over on Insta and check out the Highlight reel, Shrine Mont!
{Thank-you to The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival for partnering on this post!}
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