Harmony Hollow Holler Music Festival Brings Appalachian Music to Front Royal October 17

The inaugural festival at the Northern Virginia 4-H Center will feature live music, food, and family-friendly entertainment while raising funds for local 4-H programs.

A longtime Front Royal resident’s idea to bring music to an underused outdoor amphitheater becomes reality this Saturday, October 17, as the inaugural Harmony Hollow Holler Music Festival takes over the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational & Conference Center.

The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., bringing together established performers and emerging musicians to celebrate Appalachian music, autumn in the Shenandoah Valley, and community spirit.

The festival began with an idea from Glen Hickerson, a longtime Front Royal resident and business owner who lives in Hickerson Hollow, just above the 4-H Center.

Traveling between his home, Front Royal, and his offices in Linden, Hickerson frequently passed the center and admired its natural setting and outdoor amphitheater. He believed the venue offered an opportunity to bring people together through music while introducing more residents to the facility.

Why not organize a festival to showcase the amphitheater, give talented musicians a stage, and celebrate the region’s Appalachian heritage?

After sharing the idea with friends and receiving encouragement, Hickerson decided 2026 was the year to make it happen.

The result is Harmony Hollow Holler, named in part after Harmony Hollow Drive, which leads to the 4-H Center.

What started as one person’s idea has grown into a community-supported event, with volunteers, local businesses, musicians, and sponsors working together to bring the festival to life.

A Full Day of Music in the Shenandoah Valley

The festival will feature a variety of musical performances throughout the day, highlighting the sounds and traditions associated with Appalachian and Shenandoah Valley music.

The lineup includes Danny Knicely and Friends, Corrie Lynn Green, Dakota Karper, Rachel Eddy, Em Hammond, Custer Flock, Kenny Price, Pete Hobbie and Friends, Backroad Revels, and Eddie Pickett.

The festival poster also lists Zac Quintana and The Sages among the performers.

Music begins at 11 a.m. and runs through 6 p.m., giving visitors a chance to enjoy several acts in the 4-H Center’s outdoor setting.

In addition to live entertainment, food vendors will be on hand, giving families and friends a chance to spend the day together.

The event will be alcohol-free, and no alcoholic beverages will be permitted.

Organizers hope the combination of music, food, and the Shenandoah Valley’s natural beauty will appeal to longtime residents and visitors alike.

Supporting the Northern Virginia 4-H Center

While the festival promises a day of entertainment, its purpose extends beyond the music.

Proceeds will benefit the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational & Conference Center and its programs.

The center has long served as a gathering place for youth development, education, and community activities. By bringing additional attention to the facility, organizers hope to encourage more people to discover what it offers.

The festival also offers a chance to showcase the center’s outdoor amphitheater, which Hickerson believed could host more community events.

Organizers hope Harmony Hollow Holler will become an annual tradition, building attendance and community support each year while continuing to celebrate the region’s musical heritage.

Local Businesses Help Bring the Festival to Life

The inaugural event has received support from businesses and individuals throughout the community.

Presenting sponsors include Front Royal Federal Credit Union; State Farm Insurance representatives Bill Powers and Ellen Aders; the Heltzel Group at Fairway Mortgage; Lindsay Chevrolet; and EverGRO FS.

Additional sponsors include Chester Gap Cellars, Capstone Vineyards, Royal Cinemas, Royal Family Bowling Center, Geneva Welch Gallery, Beth Medved Waller, and Gourmet Delights and Framing.

Their contributions, along with volunteers and other community supporters, have helped turn Hickerson’s original idea into a full-day festival.

For organizers, the event represents more than a concert. It is an opportunity to bring people together, support a local educational facility, and celebrate the music and traditions that help define the Shenandoah Valley.

Join the Celebration Saturday

Harmony Hollow Holler takes place Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational & Conference Center in Front Royal.

Tickets are available online at harmonyhollowfestival.com or at the gate. Tickets online are $28.52 and include fees.

With a full lineup of live music, food vendors, and family-friendly activities, organizers hope the first Harmony Hollow Holler will mark the beginning of a new fall tradition in Front Royal.