Tips for a Great Festival Experience
-Bring lawn chairs and refillable water bottles with you!
-Got questions? Look for folks in volunteer t-shirts
-Visit the Welcome Tents at Court Square and the Hardesty-Higgins House to learn what’s to LOVE about Harrisonburg & the Harrisonburg International Festival!
-Don’t miss all the children’s activities in multiple locations.
-Stop in to see what downtown merchants and restaurants have going on.
-Hot and thirsty? Look for the water station near Asbury United Methodist Church.
-First aid is available near Asbury Church and Court Square if needed.
Parking, Shuttles, & Street ClosuresConsider biking to the festival! Extra racks will be located in the Municipal Lot. LOTS OPEN FOR PUBLIC PARKING Water Street Parking Deck (154 S Liberty St)
Elizabeth Street Parking Deck (135 N Mason St)
Memorial Hall (with shuttle) (395 S High St)
Daily News-Record (231 S Liberty St)
Ice House Parking (217 S Liberty St)
Rockingham County Administration Center (20 E Gay St)
Newman Lot (Accessible Parking) (56 Newman Ave)
All surrounding public parking spaces
ACCESSIBLE PARKINGAccessible parking will be located at the Newman Avenue parking lot (56 Newman Ave). The lot will be closed to the general public from 5am-9pm but reserved for event accessible parking only.
SHUTTLE SERVICEAdditional parking with shuttle service to downtown will be available from JMU Memorial Hall.
Shuttles will arrive and depart Memorial Hall and Daily News-Record in @15-minute intervals.
HARRISONBURG TRANSITHarrisonburg Transit Bus Routes will be running as scheduled with some changes in routes due to street closures. Please visit
https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/bus-service for more information.
CLOSED LOTSThe follow parking areas will be closed from
5am-9pm:
Court Square
Barricaded portions of the Municipal/Turner Pavilion parking lot
SBC/Jimmy Madison’s/ Clementine parking lot
Barricaded portions of the Municipal Building parking area
Thomas Harrison gravel lot
Side parking spots of Old Municipal Building
STREET CLOSURE INFORMATION6am – 8pm: Streets surrounding Court Square close--Main Street remains open until 11am.
11am – 8pm: Main St. closed from MLK to Elizabeth; City Hall parking lot still accessible for Farmers Market parking via the Turner Pavilion entrance on Liberty Street & Warren St.
The Harrisonburg Farmers’ Market will be open normal hours that Saturday and accessible via the Turner Pavilion parking area, with extra parking available in the City Hall parking area.
Festival GuidelinesWe are committed to fostering a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, but there are certain guidelines that must be followed to ensure a safe and fun festival for everyone. Every attendee must abide by the following:
-All PETS must be on a leash during the festival (licensed ADA assistants excepted).
-No fireworks or sky lanterns.
-No outside alcohol permitted.
-We encourage you to leave all coolers and picnic baskets at home. (The festival
offers a wide range of drinks, foods, and desserts).
-No unauthorized vending – if you’re not a registered vendor you may not sell or distribute anything on the festival grounds.
-No motorized vehicles.
-No weapons, knives or firearms.
-Reusable drinking bottles/cups allowed. Disposable plastic water bottles discouraged.
-For safety reasons, no Frisbee throwing during the festival.
-Lawn chairs & blankets allowed in designated areas (wheelchairs exempted).
-We encourage you to decrease your carbon footprint by biking!
-There will be port-a-johns throughout the Festival site. Please do not use business’ restrooms unless you are supporting the business.
-No pop-up tents are allowed anywhere on festival grounds, other than registered vendors.
-Respect all posted signage regarding parking and pedestrian traffic.
-Enjoy the relaxed festival atmosphere, but be proactive about the security of your belongings. Don’t bring what you cannot afford to lose and be sure to look after one another. Our community is not possible without your participation!
-Festival goers must abide by all local, state, and federal laws.
NO ALCOHOL OR DRUG SALES tolerated anywhere on the festival site or annexed properties. Anyone caught selling or distributing illicit substances will immediately be ejected from the festival. Further legal repercussions are likely.
Help us be environmentally conscious and bring a water bottle to fill.