Abingdon celebrates day two of the 75th annual Virginia Highlands Festival

ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL)—The annual Virginia Highlands Festival has returned to Abingdon for its 75th year. Its history spans decades and is closely connected to one of the town’s most famous attractions.

“We were founded by Robert Porterfield, who also founded the beautiful Barter Theatre,” said Deirdre Cole, the festival’s executive producer. Robert Porterfield founded the festival to promote Barter and tourism in Abingdon.

While the festival lasts ten days, Cole said one specific part draws people in the most.

“Arts and Crafts and Antiques,” said Cole. “People rely on the quality of those shows.”

Cole said the event has brought in as many as 100,000 people over its ten-day run in past years.

Each item sold at the Arts and Crafts show is handmade, including the pottery pieces created by artist Marie Hribar from Otto, North Carolina. For Hribar, this year isn’t her first time setting up at the festival.

“This is my fourth year,” Hribar said. “So I like coming, and I appreciate coming.”

Other artists, like Natalie Collins from Jonesborough, are experiencing the festival for the first time.

“I was lucky enough to get off the waitlist and display my jewelry for the shows,” said Collins. Collins’ business, Zen Mind Crystals, consists of handcrafted jewelry.

While the arts, crafts, and antiques draw the crowds in, there’s one thing that keeps both those crowds and the artists coming back.

“The people,” Hribar said. “They come, they’re so friendly.”

To the artists, it’s special to be a part of an event like this.

“I feel honored to have been able to get into this festival and something that seems almost sacred to the Appalachian culture,” said Collins.

“They have a quality here, and I love that quality,” said Hribar. “It’s the only place I could survive, and I’m glad that I can do that.”

The festival continues through August 4th. More information about the event can be found here.

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