Visit Franklin County, Virginia

01/10/2024

🪝As part of the upcoming, King Kat Signature Series Tournament - Smith Mountain Lake, Visit Franklin County and King Kat USA are teaming up to offer a special 2-hour kids fishing event at the Goodhue Boat Company, Blackwater. This event is free and intended for youth ages 15 and under.

All youth participants will be entered into a scholarship drawing of all Kings Kids youth event participants at the end of the season.

💻You can register your child at: https://kingkat.profishingtournaments.com/content.php?id=289
⏰9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
📆 Saturday, October 12, 2024
📍Goodhue Boat Company Blackwater - 400 Crazy Horse Drive, Moneta, VA 24121

26/09/2024

🪕 Visit Franklin County, Virginia, the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, and Virginia is for Lovers have brought the sounds of Virginia's Blue Ridge to visitRaleigh for the 2024 International Bluegrass Music Association Showcase.

22/09/2024

🍷 We are just one week away from the 2024 Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at Bernards Landing.

✅12 Wineries, 14 food vendors. 54 craft vendors, and 8 musical acts all over the course of two days!

Tickets are still available to experience fall at Visit Smith Mountain Lake in Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge.

SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2024 | Bernard’s Landing SML Arriving By Boat? To reserve your space, contact Jennifer Pace at [email protected]. welcome back to Bernard’s Landing!BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! After a 17-year hiatus, the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival will return to the stunning grounds of Bernard’s...

20/09/2024

🍂 Fall in Franklin County, Virginia is a magical time of year and Smith Mountain Lake is a slice of paradise!

💻 Check out the "10 Reasons Why Fall is the Best Time to Visit Smith Mountain Lake" from our friends at the Smith Mountain Lake Insiders.

🧳Create new memories this fall in Virginia's Blue Ridge.

Spectacular foliage, fun festivals and excellent fishing are just a few of the many reasons you should visit Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, in the fall.

19/09/2024

🏁 Champions will be crowned this Saturday Evening at Franklin County Speedway - Moonshine Capital Promotions! The final races of the 2024 points season will be action packed both on and off the track. Experience the thrill of short track racing in Franklin County, Virginia and Virginia's Blue Ridge!

CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT: It's time to crown the Champions for 2024 in all four of our full-time divisions and there will be some big battles for the title!

Mini Stocks - 3-way tie for first place. Whoever finishes the highest among these three drivers, will win the championship! Josh Phillips, Dennis Holdren & Wes Givens

Stock4 - 3-way tie for first place. Whoever finishes the highest among these three drivers, will win the championship! Keyshaun Claytor, Wes Givens & Gary Smith

Legends - 3-way tie for first place. Whoever finishes the highest among these three drivers, will win the championship! Chris Lilly, Ethan Truell, James Folds

Late Models - Matthew Lawrence holds an 11-point lead over Drew Bond for the championship. Lawrence will be crowned your 2024 Late Model champion!

Plus, the cars and stars of the STAR Super Stock Tour join the fray for an exciting, action-packed night of racing around the World's Fastest 3/8 mile Paved Oval! The Rookie division will also be in action for their final race of 2024.

Tickets are just $15/adults with kids under 10 are free.

19/09/2024

📖 Visit Franklin County, Virginia and experience the early life of Dr. Booker T. Washington at the Booker T. Washington National Monument near Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia's Blue Ridge.

🎧 Listen to a portion of Dr. Washington's famous speech from 1895 at the "Cotton States and International Exposition" in Atlanta, Georgia.

⏰ The park grounds are open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. The visitor center is open Wednesday to Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM.

📍 12130 Booker T. Washington Highway, Hardy, VA 24101

Provided to YouTube by Smithsonian Folkways RecordingsBooker T. Washington, Atlantic Exposition Address (original recording 1895) · Booker T. WashingtonBooke...

17/09/2024

Downtown Discover Rocky Mount will be the place to be this Saturday for "Rocky Mount Fest" featuring 17 bands over 5 different stages.

This will also be a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) event. Come out and see why the Town of Rocky Mount, Virginia truly is "Something Else".

03/09/2024

🚵 "The Gravel Gathering", a weekend of epic rides, fall camping, fellowship, music, and food, in beautiful Franklin County, VA.

The November 9th event in partnership with Cardinal Bicycle includes your choice of 3 rides with aid, 2 nights of camping at Jamison Mill Campground, Music from Seph Custer and Deep Creek, and Driftwood Catering-Floyd, VA food truck will be onsite for the post ride meal.

Follow the link below to register:
https://www.bikereg.com/gravel-gathering

26/08/2024

🚣 Are you looking for a secluded, mountain lake to enjoy flat water paddling with family and friends? Look no further than beautiful Philpott Lake in Southwestern Franklin County, Virginia.

This mountain oasis is home to beautiful views and deep, clear mountain water. Immerse yourself in nature and enjoy a daytrip or weekend getaway in Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge.

22/08/2024

🌊 PaddleBox Co's paddleboard rental kiosk is now live at the Smith Mountain Lake Community Park. This self-service kiosk gives visitors to the park the opportunity to rent a paddleboard, paddle, and life jacket whenever the park is open.

📍 1482 Parkway Ave, Moneta, VA 24121

Did you hear the news? You can make every weekend an adventure. Rent a paddleboard in just minutes from our self-service kiosk and soak up the sun! Check it out over this beautiful August weekend at Smith Mountain Lake! Visit Smith Mountain Lake Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Visit Franklin County, Virginia Virginia State Parks Virginia is for Lovers Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce

20/08/2024

❓Does your business have fewer than 20 full-time employees?
❓Are you a tourism-oriented business?
❓Are you committed to marketing off-season visitation?

If you answered yes to these questions, the Virginia is for Lovers Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program is a great opportunity to leverage your existing marketing dollars in a 1:1 marketing match program.

Check out the link below and reach out if you have any additional question!

What is the Virginia Tourism Corporation Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program? The current round of the Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program (MMLP) is now open through August 22. The Virginia Tourism Corporation […]

20/08/2024

💼 When planning your next visit to Franklin County, make sure a stop at Booker T. Washington National Monument is on the top of your list!

The park features an immersive visitor center experience, "Plantation Trail" - a 1/4-mile loop through the historic area, "Jack-O-Lantern Branch Heritage Trail" - 1 1/2-mile meandering walk-through fields and forests, picnic area, farm area, and garden area.

📍 12130 Booker T. Washington Highway, Hardy, VA 24101
⏰ 9 AM to 5 PM Daily (Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day)
📆 Visitors Center Open Wednesday to Sunday (10 AM to 4 PM)
🎟 Admission: FREE

19/08/2024

🇺🇸 Join the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commemoration - VA250 experience at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum this Saturday.

The Fincastle Company: 18th Century Living History Interpreters will be at the 1800s Farm Museum showcasing life in the frontier.

Come join Camp Fincastle as they demonstrate military and civilian life during the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commemoration - VA250!
Location: 1800 Farm Museum at Ferrum College
Cost: FREE so bring the kids for this immersive living history day!

26/07/2024

🪝 Anglers and their families from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama have made Smith Mountain Lake their home this week in preparation for the FOM Nation - National Tournament Trail Legacy National Championship.

✅41 teams consisting of an adult and a youth angler are competing for a chance to qualify for the 2025 Berkley Classic Series National Championship. More importantly, families are enjoying the outdoors and learning about fish conservation and sportsmanship.

A big thank you to Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge, Visit Smith Mountain Lake, and Goodhue Boat Company, Blackwater for their support in making this event happen.

19/07/2024

🏴‍☠️ Smith Mountain Lake Pirate Days invades Smith Mountain Lake this weekend!

19/07/2024

Major League Fishing Reveals Smith Mountain Lake as Venue for 2025 Bass Pro Tour General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star Event

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (July 18, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the schedule for the seventh season of professional bass fishing’s most competitive circuit, the 2025 Bass Pro Tour, and local anglers will be very excited to see Smith Mountain Lake on the list.

Smith Mountain Lake and Franklin County will play host to the 2025 General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Stars event, May 17-22. Hosted by Franklin County, VA and Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the event will showcase the 30 pros that qualified from the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season competing in a no-entry-fee tournament for a top prize of $100,000 to the winner. Anglers will also be awarded Big Bass Bonuses during the competition, that pay up to $100,000 for
catching the single biggest bass.

To qualify for General Tire Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each of the seven 2024 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 30 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this tournament.

“Franklin County, Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge, and the Smith Mountain Lake Community are thrilled to showcase not just a world-class fishery but also an authentic metro-mountain lifestyle,” said Kevin Tosh, Franklin County Director of Tourism. “Hosting the Major League Fishing Heavy Hitters event is the result of more than a decade of strategic stocking, conservation, and fish care efforts by local anglers, business owners, and tournament organizers. We warmly invite all anglers and families to come to Franklin County and discover "Virginia's Big Bass Playground" at Smith Mountain Lake."

“Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Franklin County are excited to co-host the 2025 General Tire Heavy Hitters tournament at Smith Mountain Lake. We’re looking forward to welcoming our friends at Major League Fishing, a premier professional bass fishing organization, to our destination,” said John Oney, Director of Sports & Sales, Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge. “This all-star event will feature professional anglers, families, staff, and other support personnel from across the country in a six-day competition. As a result of hosting, our region will be highlighted through ongoing national television coverage on the Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, and livestreaming on MLFNOW! This tournament will give our region a terrific platform to showcase our outdoor recreation opportunities, arts & culture, attractions, and many other metro mountain adventures that we’re known for.”

Although Smith Mountain Lake has played host to dozens of MLF (and former FLW) tournaments over the years, this event will mark the first time that the MLF Bass Pro Tour will visit the storied fishery.

“We’re excited about the rollout of the Bass Pro Tour 2025 schedule and what the season will offer to our fans: a fun mixture of new and familiar destinations, with a variety of fishery types and styles,” said MLF Executive Vice President & General Manager Kathy Fennel.
“The schedule includes some of the best bass lakes and rivers in the
country, including Smith Mountain Lake, which will create consistent excitement for our fans. We’re grateful to our fans, local partners and Bass Pro Tour anglers as we’re set up for an exciting 2025 season.”

19/07/2024

🎣 Smith Mountain Lake, Franklin County, VA, and Virginia's Blue Ridge will return to the national stage in 2025 as we host the Major League Fishing Heavy Hitters All Star Event, May 17-22, 2025!

💵 30 of the best professional anglers in the country will be fishing for the $100,000 top prize and one angler will win $100,000 for just one fish!

💻 This event will bring 48 hours of on the water live stream coverage over 6 competition days and multiple 2 hour television broadcasts on the Discovery Channel and Outdoor Network.

The 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bass Pro Tour schedule is set! Big water and big fish will be the name of the game in 2025, from the season opener on Lake Conroe to a string of killer Tennessee River fisheries and a Stage Seven exclamation point at Saginaw Bay. With a mix of fisheries both new and familiar to BPT competition – and some of the best bass lakes and rivers in the country – the Bass Pro Tour is going big in 2025. Save the dates and come along for the ride all four days of every event live on MLFNOW! and streamed to the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), Rumble apps and at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

17/07/2024

🎤 The much-anticipated lineup drops for Rocky Mount Fest begin tomorrow!

🥁 Drum Roll Please

Get ready for the Rocky Mount Fest lineup announcements!

15/07/2024

⛵️ Whether you are traveling by land or by water, our friends at Smith Mountain Lake Insiders have crafted a list of the "Top 15 SML Waterfront Restaurants"!

❓What is your favorite grub spot for a day on the water?

Get the inside scoop on food, drinks, docking tips and more for every lakefront restaurant at Smith Mountain Lake!

09/07/2024

🍅 Franklin County, Virginia is steeped in agricultural tradition and you can experience fresh, locally grown produce at one of our many weekly markets including the Rocky Mount Farmers Market, Southlake Community Market, Ferrum Farm & Craft Market, and the Westlake Farmers Market!

08/07/2024

ALERT: Canceled due to inclement weather!

🎸🛶Concerts by Canoe this Friday!

🔥Escape from the heat while listening to Meg Heat and the Meatsweats. Velvet americana meets smooth folk.

6:30-8:30 at Twin Ridge Recreation Area on Philpott Lake

Bring the lawn chair and listen from land or experience the show as it is intended from your paddle craft of choice.

The Hotdog Stand will be onsite.