Festival of Leaves Returns Oct. 10–11 with Music, Food, and Fun; Volunteers Needed

Front Royal’s Festival of Leaves is almost here, bringing two days of music, food, arts, and small-town spirit to downtown on Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11. Organizers say the festival keeps growing, and they’re calling for volunteers to help make this year smooth and welcoming for everyone.

Friday night kicks off with Dancing Downtown, a street party with live music by Cashmere. Gates open at 6 p.m. (ticket sales begin at 5 p.m.), with a $5 cover that helps cover the band’s expenses and manage the beer garden area. “No one’s going to stop you from going to dinner or getting ice cream downtown,” said Sue Laurence, a Festival of Leaves organizer, in an interview with the Royal Examiner. “You don’t have to pay to reach those places. We’re just trying to cover the cost of the band.” Wristbands will be used at the gates and in the beer garden to meet ABC rules.

Saturday is the main event—free admission to stroll, shop, and listen from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expect 200+ vendors stretching along Main and Chester streets, plus a car show from the Town Hall area down to Royal Avenue. “We work hard to spread out the vendors so there’s something to see and do on both streets,” said Lizi Lewis from the Town of Front Royal. Three music stages will run all day, with buskers dotted along the sidewalks.

Music fans can look for the Yesterday Swing Orchestra (an 18-piece big band), crowd favorites Sold Out, and Five of a Kind closing the day on the Main Stage at the Gazebo. Local acts, including Bearded Harmony, Michael Hasty, Jim Snedeker, Mark Woodward, and Herb & Hanson, also return.

There’s plenty for kids. Middle school students will host crafts on Main Street, while younger children will find activities near Crescent Street. The Boy Scouts will also bring a surprise hands-on station. On Chester near Crescent, a demo area will feature swing dancers, square dancers, Jig & Jive, and Five Feathers Productions, as well as cheer teams throughout the day. “There’ll be something happening there all day long,” Laurence said.

Come hungry – at least 15 food trucks, along with the popular beer garden (with a surprise brew on tap), are expected. Town crews and volunteers will be out early and late to set up, guide vendors, and clean up. “When we’ve got a band starting at 10:30 in two different places, we need extra hands to help with simple questions like where to park and where to plug in,” Lewis said.

Volunteers are still needed for short shifts on both days—especially for Friday gate duty and late-night cleanup. “Make sure you put your T-shirt size, because that’s your payment,” Laurence joked. “You get a free volunteer shirt—and you can’t buy it.” She added that volunteers are trained and given clear instructions, so they feel prepared to assist visitors and vendors.

Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and organizers kindly request patience with leaf-season traffic heading to Skyline Drive. A reminder from Lewis: the park is cashless this year, and visitors can buy a pass at the downtown visitor center before they head up, which helps avoid long lines at the gate and extra trips.

Dancing Downtown runs Friday, Oct. 10, from 6–11 p.m. (ticket sales begin at 5 p.m.). Festival day is Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission on Saturday is free. To volunteer or learn more, visit the festival’s website or Facebook page.

As Lewis put it, “This is a big community event. We want to bring everyone together this year to relax, listen to music, and have a great time.”