Waynesboro’s got a few fall traditions: driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway, pumpkin patches galore, and digging out your flannel and boots because it’s finally time. But the real show stopper? The Virginia Fall Foliage Art Show, a tradition that’s been turning downtown into a high-end open-air art gallery for the past 54 years.

The Virginia Fall Foliage Art Show: A Brief History

This festival isn’t a glue-gun-and-mod-podge situation. The FFAS is a juried art show that features 160 fine artists, 70-80% of whom are full-time pros who have been traveling across the country since the spring and have made Waynesboro a permanent part of their route. Part of what put the Fall Foliage Art Show on the map was geography. Waynesboro happens to sit conveniently between two major art shows—Louisville, KY and Bethesda, MD—which, for years, were scheduled the weekends before and after FFAS. That made Waynesboro the perfect middle stop for professional artists on the circuit. Even though Bethesda’s show has since shifted weekends, FFAS is holding its ground every second weekend in October, just like it has for decades.

The Virginia Fall Foliage Art Show also used to span two weekends and included the British Car Show, Apple Days, and the Gem and Mineral Show, all of which are still around and you’re probably familiar with if you call Waynesboro home. The FFAS was previously its own non-profit and put on this mega festival until the Shenandoah Valley Art Center took it over and the other components splintered off.

Hosted by Artists, Run by Artists, For People Who Like Art

The whole shebang is planned by the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, whose director, Piper Groves, has been helming this thing for at least 18 years, which, by non-profit director years, is basically a lifetime. Under her leadership, along with the Operations Manager Eileen O’Rourke, the festival has fine-tuned its focus to fine art, trimming the number of artists from over 200 to now around 160 to maintain the high-quality art it’s known for. It’s also important to note that this undertaking takes an entire year to plan and is the only festival in Waynesboro that shuts down all the downtown streets and turns it into a walkable market.

There’s More Than Art

Waynesboro Downtown Development, Inc. used to host a wine and jazz festival in tandem with the Fall Foliage Art Show, but when the WDDI changed structure and became Destination Downtown Waynesboro, Shenandoah Valley Art Center took over, once again, and added live music, craft beer, and food trucks in Lumos Plaza around 2012. They recently partnered with Waynesboro’s own urban winery, Common Wealth Crush, and brought in wine (which, on a personal note, I am super excited about).

This year, The Bowman House is also extending the party with a night of Jazz with Jazz it Up at The Bowman House. You can support the Shenandoah Valley Art Center with an evening of music, fine food, and warm hospitality in the historic Bowman House. Spending the weekend in Waynesboro, stay at The Bowman House and get your third night free when you book two nights. Buy tickets for Jazz it Up at The Bowman House and book your stay here.

Miscellaneous Things That Make This Show Tick

Artists need snacks. And the unsung heroes of the weekend are the Waynesboro Women’s Club. Every year, they coordinate a hospitality effort that includes donations from local manufacturers like Little Debbie and Hershey. They keep City Hall stocked as the ‘hospitality hub’ with breakfast, coffee, and snacks for the artists and also have runners to make sure artists that can’t get away from their booths can get some refreshments too. Shenandoah Valley Arts Festival gives a donation to their scholarship fund for the effort, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

Let’s talk tents. Did you know that this is a white tent only affair? All artists must have a white tent, which I also learned is standard practice in the art festival world, since light diffusion is a thing when it comes to fine art. The tents also must have 30—80-pound weights on each leg to prevent those things from taking off. Although between me and you, it’s happened before and it’s not pretty.

One of Piper’s favorite things about FFAS is the Kids’ Choice Awards. Local elementary students color their own award ribbons and choose their favorite artists during the show to proudly present their ribbons. Forget the juried prizes; these are the ribbons that some artists really want to win.

To keep it super kid-friendly, the P Buckley Moss Foundation runs the Kids’ Craft Tent, where your little humans can get their art fix on their own terms. It’s the future of fine art, but probably covered in glue and paint.

Want In? Boy, Do We Have a Job for You

Like I said, this show takes a full year to plan and an entire community to pull off. There are tons of volunteer opportunities from artist check-ins to snack runners and lots of stuff in between. If you’ve got a little time and a love for the arts, there’s a spot for you. You can sign up here.

There’s a little history and some fun facts about the Virginia Fall Foliage Art Show for you! Put it on your calendar: October 11-12, 2025. The leaves will be leafing and the artists will be arting. Plan your perfect fall foliage weekend now!