Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Announces Taste of Downtown Month 2025

Get ready to indulge in the downtown Harrisonburg’s culinary community during Taste of Downtown Month this March, presented by Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR). This annual month-long celebration showcases over 50 culinary destinations, giving food lovers the perfect chance to explore the flavors of Virginia’s first designated culinary district through culinary events, dining promotions, and community features.

The festivities kick off with Downtown Happy Hour on Friday, March 7, from 6-9PM at the Loft at Liberty Street Mercantile. This interactive, roaming ticked event lets guests sip, savor, and socialize with fellow foodies, enjoying delicious bites and drinks from multiple downtown culinary destinations. The new addition of a festival room will add fun activities for participants to enjoy, including glitter tattoos and tarot card readings. The $60 general admission ticket includes access to a diverse selection of delicious food bites, mocktails, cocktails, wine, beer and cider, and the evening’s festival-inspired entertainment. More information and tickets are available at GiveButter.com/HappyHour2025.

HDR is excited to also announce the addition of two new event series for Taste of Downtown month for people interested in a fun way to meet new people and connect over food: Lunch Together and Harrisonburg Meet Up. Both of these programs were designed to help combat the loneliness epidemic in the U.S. In collaboration with Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS), Lunch Together is a collection of 10 classes and workshops for people60+ followed by a Dutch-treat lunch outing downtown. Activities include Taiji Qigong, connecting with kids using TikTok and Instagram, and protecting yourself from scams and fraud. Harrisonburg Meet Up will also offer connections around food, offering weekly casual gatherings at various downtown destinations designed to bring together people looking to engage with each other and the community. More information about both programs, including a full schedule and registration links, can be found at DowntownHarrisonburg.org/Lunch-Together and DowntownHarrisonburg.org/Meet-Up.