Planning a Visit to Roanoke
Category: What’s New
Since you’ve landed here, it seems safe to assume you’re planning a trip to Roanoke, VA. If you want all the details on where to stay and what to do while you’re here, you’ve arrived in the right place. Downtown Roanoke is the perfect destination to center your visit around. Regardless of the season, there’s always a reason to visit. Read over this post to prepare for your stay.
Where to Stay
If you’re in need of a place to lay your head, might we recommend one of our five hotels. Staying in the heart of the city means you'll have easy access to restaurants, shopping, live music, entertainment, outdoor amenities, and more. Downtown Roanoke is the perfect place for your stay. Take a look over the hotels you’ll find in Downtown Roanoke and learn more about what they offer.
What to Do When You Get Here
There’s always a lot going on downtown but how do you know what your options are? Take a look at our event calendar. We share our events and any others that happen all over Downtown Roanoke. There’s something fun to get into every day of the week…from live music to karaoke, yoga, happy hours, and so much more.
We've also put together a few guides to help take you through more downtown options like breweries and museums. Take a look to really dig in!
- Visit one of Downtown Roanoke's five breweries.
- Learn about the best downtown brunch spots.
- Choose from one of our nine museums.
- Take a self-guided tour to see downtown murals and sculptures.
- If your pup is coming with you, learn which downtown spots are dog-friendly.
Annual Events
There are plenty of large events that take place every year. If you're still deciding when to make your visit, the list below may help you narrow it down.
Fall
- GO Outside Festival - Mid-October
- Barktoberfest - Mid-October
- Halloween Weekend (one of the busiest weekends in Downtown Roanoke)
Winter
- Elmwood on Ice - outdoor ice skating from Thanksgiving thru the end of January
- Dickens of a Christmas - 1st three Fridays in December
- Downtown Roanoke Restaurant Week - Mid to end of January
Spring
- St. Patrick's Day Parade and Shamrock Festival
- Blue Ridge Marathon - mid-April
- Down by Downtown Music Festival - mid-April
- Strawberry Festival - early May
- Local Colors Festival - mid-May
- Sidewalk Art Show - early June
Summer
- Festival of India - mid-August
- Downtown Roanoke Sidewalk Sale - late August
- Henry Street Festival - mid-September
Explore Downtown Roanoke
With 70+ restaurants, 30+ retailers, and the oldest continuously operating Farmer’s Market in the Commonwealth, there’s plenty to explore during your visit.
- Visit the Historic City Market - In the heart of Downtown Roanoke since 1882, our vendors offer locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants, plus fresh meats, cheeses, baked goods, and artisan hand-crafted items. The best time to visit the market is on Saturday when we have the largest selection of vendors present. Other days of the week, you may catch a few vendors.
- Get ready to shop local. Take a look at our downtown retailers.
- With so many restaurants to choose from, there's pretty much something for every taste. Look over the list of restaurants and make a plan (and some reservations!)
Explore the Outdoors
Our metro-mountain mix means we have an abundance of activities to get you out and enjoying the fresh air.
- The Views and Brews E-Bike Tour happens on Saturdays.
- The Star City Sunday Cruise shows off downtown and nearby neighborhoods.
- The Downtown Roanoke Food & Cultural Tour is a favorite of locals and visitors.
- The Roanoke River Greenway goes through Downtown Roanoke and connects to over 400 miles of paved and natural surface trails around the Roanoke Valley.
- The Roanoke River runs through parts of Downtown Roanoke. Rent a tube and enjoy a relaxing float while you're here.
- The hiking and biking options around our area are nationally recognized.
Keep it Moving
Being away from home doesn’t mean you need to get out of your fitness routine. If you’re looking for a way to workout while you’re here, we have options for you. In addition to the miles of greenways, hiking, and biking options we listed above, there are more structured options as well.
- Free Yoga for the People - Mondays and Fridays
- Yoga at the Taubman - Wednesdays and Sundays
- Hustle/Haven - Cycle and Yoga studio - single class drop ins available
- Free Pub Runs - Tuesdays
Where to Park
With a few minutes of pre-planning, you can easily identify your best parking options. We recommend PARK Roanoke lots and garages for their convenience and reasonable pricing.
Explore Before You Arrive
With high-resolution, 360-degree panoramic views, our virtual tour is a great way to get familiar with the area. Explore local venues, hotels, food, and shopping options. Learn more about the history of downtown with historic “then” and “now” photos. You'll find tons of information right at your fingertips. *For the best experience, we recommend accessing the tour on a desktop computer.
Now you can consider yourself fully prepared for your visit to Downtown Roanoke. We can't wait to see you soon!