You can experience the rich cultural heritage of Appalachia during this year’s Grayson County Ag & Art Adventure Tour on Sept. 6-7.
Tucked away among the highest peaks and oldest River of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, Grayson County has always paired rugged mountain beauty with a deep-rooted creative spirit. The Ag & Art Adventure invites you to explore both in one unforgettable weekend.
Imagine crisp mountain air and rolling pastures as you explore, with every bend in the road revealing a family farm, a hidden vacation oasis or a studio where artisans turn regionally sourced materials into heirloom crafts. On this self-guided driving tour through Grayson County, that is exactly what you’ll discover.
This year’s fourth annual tour promises a uniquely Appalachian experience featuring farm tours, artist demonstrations, live music and mouth-watering farm-to-table flavors — and it’s 100% free to attend.
The adventure begins Sept. 6 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This year’s farms and galleries will open their gates to visitors for tours, demonstrations, shopping, food and music at select stops. Adventurers are encouraged to refer to the detailed map available on Grayson County’s webpage (graysoncountyva.com/ag-art-adventure) for more information and directions. Craft your own self-guided itinerary or let Grayson County Tourism staff map one for you at the Historic 1908 Courthouse in Independence. Road maps and brochures for the event will also be available at the 1908 Courthouse.
Sept. 6 Events
Explore Grayson at your leisure, beginning with any of the curated stops on the route. Matthews Living History Farm Museum near Galax will host the “Stories of the Stitch” and master quilter Anne Rost will be on hand for demonstrations of her craft alongside other vendors and food trucks.
The Church of the Good Shepherd in Baywood, home of the Grayson Permaculture Garden, will be open for tours throughout the day. Be sure to visit local artisans Kurt Card of Drac Studio Pottery and Vanessa Hollifield of VH Glass, as well as Mountain Air Farm’s aromatic lavender stand while you’re visiting the church.
Dive deeper into Grayson County’s backcountry by heading to the next stop at CW Farm, perched high among the trees. Bring the cooler for this stop to pack it full of farm fresh duck eggs and duck meat, produce, and enjoy some hands-on activities at this kid-friendly stop.
The Independence Gallery is an essential artists’ hub at the heart of Grayson County, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy the exquisite scenery of Southwest Virginia through a new lens. The gallery will host four artists this year: Vicki Hauslohner, the gallery curator; Bepe Kafka; Todd Price; and Kathye Mendes.
Traveling on through Independence brings adventurers to the next farm stop on the route at Rolling Acres Farm. True to its name, Rolling Acres is a bucolic family-operated farmstead raising Katahdin sheep and lambs. Take a tour guided by farm director and agrarian photographer Rose Mary Cornett before checking out master woodturner John Taylor’s whimsical lathe-work. You might even get to bottle-feed a lamb!
A few miles up Historic Route 21 brings visitors to the storied Elk Creek Valley and Summerfield Farms. Summerfield is a Virginia Century Farm, owned and operated by John Fant and Brenda Bonk. There are two Summerfield stops on the tour this year, including the return of Donnan Orchard, a 1,000-tree apple orchard employing sustainable growing and harvesting practices. Enjoy a tour of the orchard before heading down the winding road to Summerfield’s historic sheep and cattle barn for an in-depth look at raising heritage livestock breeds.
Just outside of Independence, adventurers will find two beloved stops side-by-side for an easy drop-by. Osborne’s Farm & Nursery will have locally-grown pumpkins, gourds and mums for sale just in time for decorating the porch. Be sure to snap a picture at their photobooth. Also at Osborne’s this year, two of Grayson’s most accomplished creators will set up for the day. Joyce Rouse, aka Earth Mama Music, will have her prolific music collection for sale alongside her husband Richard’s multiple published works of Appalachian fiction. Stop by for a book signing and pick up some tunes to enjoy while continuing on down the road to the next stop at New River Highland Cattle Farm. Visitors will be able to meet the famous Scottish highland cows, take photos, and purchase adorable highland cow merchandise.
One essential stop for animal lovers is just down the road off Highway 58 at Rock Springs Farm. Rock Springs is a family-owned animal rescue and horseback riding operation where visitors can buy treats for the many rescued farm animals and go on a pony ride for $10. Talk with owner Becky Rock about horseback riding lessons and help support this vital rescue.
A brand-new addition to the Ag & Art Adventure this year is the farthest west the tour reaches at Dream Rock Silo. Dream Rock is nationally renowned as a destination vacation getaway, offering guests the chance to sleep amongst the stars in their fully-converted barn silo loft. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the gorgeous grounds and uniquely outfitted vacation rentals while enjoying a large gathering of artisans, craftspeople, musicians and more. Vendors at Dream Rock include Bill Simpson of DUX Outdoors; John Alexander and family of Alexander Broom and Crafts; Louise Rascoe of Covered Bridge Glass; Anita Simpson of Mountainhouse Farms; and Terry Clark of Three Peaks Crafts.
Master quilter Laura Bryant will also be set up at Dream Rock Silo this year as the 2025 Ag & Art Adventure Honoree. Her exquisite quilts will be for sale throughout the day, with all proceeds going to the continued restoration and maintenance of the Historic 1908 Courthouse in Independence.
Slow-smoked pulled pork and more from Tomey’s Kitchen BBQ will be available at Dream Rock Silo, alongside more than a dozen vendors. Visitors will get a sneak peek at Sunday’s concert festivities with the addition of music from local old-time string quartet, the Hollifield Brothers.
For a detailed listing of every Saturday Ag & Art stop on this year’s self-guided tour, visit graysoncountyva.com/ag-art-adventure or stop by the Historic 1908 Courthouse in Independence to pick up a brochure and map.
Sept. 7 Events
The celebration shifts to downtown Independence on Sept. 7 from 1 to 5 p.m., for the free Legends of Grayson Tribute Concert at the Historic 1908 Courthouse.
Guitar virtuoso Wayne Henderson, banjo great Allen Rutherford and fiddler extraordinaire Brian Grim headline a lineup honoring late local music legend Enoch Rutherford, whose clawhammer banjo style shaped generations of mountain musicians. Between sets, browse mini-booths from Saturday’s farms and artists, grab a bite to eat or an ice cream sundae from local food trucks.
You also can drop your last-minute entries into the 1908 Courthouse Raffle. Prizes range from a handcrafted children’s rocking chair by DUX Outdoors and a one-of-a-kind handmade quilt to the grand‐prize rifle, with every $5 ticket supporting the ongoing restoration of the courthouse — a cherished hub for arts, history, and community gatherings. Winners are announced from the stage just before the rousing closing concert by Wayne Henderson. Be sure to bring an instrument if you’d like to join in on the master-led jam session held on the Courthouse Lawn after the show.
With Virginia’s tallest mountains and the New River’s headwaters in its backyard, Grayson County doubles as an outdoor playground. Between tour stops you can book a guided horseback ride, hike to a cloud-brushing summit in Grayson Highlands State Park, or cast for wild trout in a spring-fed stream. Local vacation cabins fill fast, so reserve early; the towns of Independence and Fries and the City of Galax boast cozy B&Bs and eclectic eateries to keep you fueled and rested for your Adventure.
Whether you’re a culture-lover hunting authentic Appalachian art, a family seeking hands-on ag education, or an old-time music fanatic, the 2025 Grayson County Ag & Art Adventure delivers a weekend you’ll replay long after the mountain fog lifts. Visit graysoncountyva.com or call 276-773-8002 to plan your adventure.
Grayson County Tourism thanked this year’s Ag & Art Adventure sponsors for their vital support: Skyline National Bank; Grayson Landcare; Virginia Tourism Corporation; Ches Helmick, Edward Jones Financial; Dream Rock Silo; WBRF-98.1 FM Classic Country; Summerfield Farm; Legends of Grayson Old-Time Celebration; Grayson Highlands General Store & Inn; Rolling Acres Farm; Cresthaven Farms; Independence Gallery LLC; Farm Bureau of Grayson; and the Grayson County Historical Society.