Staunton Is Made of Magic

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Many people flock to Staunton in September to mingle with wizards and dragons at the annual Queen City Mischief and Magic Festival. However, Staunton is made of magic every day of the year! Whether you’re a visitor or a resident, Staunton, Virginia is the kind of place where everyday moments feel like a special kind of magic made just for you. It’s the kind of magic that is made in the golden light that spills across the Shenandoah Valley. It’s made in the notes of live music echoing through historic streets and in the standing ovations at a world-class Shakespeare performance. It’s in the clink of glasses over a chef-inspired meal, and in the quiet joy of discovering something truly special in a locally owned shop. From timeless architecture and scenic mountain views to vibrant festivals and rich cultural experiences, Staunton is a place where the past and present dance together—and where visitors of all ages can rediscover wonder. Here are more of Staunton’s magical points of interest!

Time Travel

Captivated by books and movies about time travel? Here’s how to get a sense of shifting centuries.

• Interactive history exhibits at the Frontier Culture Museum and Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library will help people of all ages learn through immersive and hands-on activities. Get your hands dirty at the FCM carding wool or digging out the center of a giant log like the Native Americans did when they built canoes. The WWPL’s trench exhibit shows how soldiers endured the conditions in WWI trenches. 

• Don’t sit through a dull history lesson – learn about Staunton’s past (and paranormal present) when you follow a guide on a lamplit Staunton Ghost Tour. 
• The American Shakespeare Center brings history to life in a different way. The Blackfriars Playhouse is the world’s first replica of Shakespeare’s original and the actors perform in the style of the original actors. However, the productions make creative costuming and contemporary musical choices to appeal to modern audiences.

• Learn about Staunton’s historical growth and development and well-preserved Victorian Architecture when you take a free Historic Staunton Foundation walking tour through four of the city’s historic districts.

Painted Dreams & Hidden Scenes

• There’s something magical about walking down a regular city street and discovering a colorful large-scale piece of art. Staunton’s ever-growing mural scene elevates the historic city by creating an element of surprise as well as a dialogue between historic architecture and contemporary art. Check out the You Belong Here Mural, the murals at Black Dog Bikes and Crucible Coffee, and the new one at Pizza Luca.

• Staunton has several spaces where art is made, from hands-on experiences like you can have creating masterpieces from reclaimed materials at Art Hive or blowing your own art-glass ornament at Sunspots. You can also view (and purchase) original art at The Artisans Loft, the Beverley Street CoArt Gallery, or the R.R. Smith Center for History and Art.
• If music makes your heart soar and you can’t conjure up a physical concert, head to the Heifetz Music Institute Listening Room for live streamed concerts, virtual features, and archives full of “music videos, concert showpieces, chamber-works, interviews, and features, Heifetz productions featuring performances and commentary” by the performers.

Wonder in Nature

• If you could wave your magic wand and materialize anywhere in the world, you might choose somewhere natural in all its untouched glory. Shenandoah National Park is full of big views, tumbling waterfalls, and trails through pristine ecosystems. 

• Closer to home, enjoy owl-eyed perspectives of the city from the overlooks in Betsy Bell Park and from the Sears Hill Bridge in Woodrow Park.
• Experience secret-garden vibes in the Mevluda Tahirovic Garden tucked behind the RR Smith Arts Center. 

• Another way to tap into the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley is to board the Virginia Scenic Railway at the historic Staunton train station. Enjoy the scenery (and a meal) from the dining car or check out the 1948 Vista-Dome class car “Shenandoah,” now upgraded and modernized, which offers wider views and a new bar!

Fantastic Festivals

Staunton’s event scene is pretty remarkable and draws enthusiastic and eclectic groups to town. 

• Queen City Mischief & Magic Festival brings wizardry and fantasy lovers to Hogwarts in Virginia and features a weekend of Harry Potter-themed events and activities. Look for chances to meet and eat with your favorite characters, play Quidditch, learn about exotic animals and much more!

• Visit Staunton during the 10-day Staunton Music Festival each August, which brings nearly 100 world-class musicians to town for eclectic vocal, orchestral, and chamber music performances.

• Heifetz Music Institute’s Festival of Concerts showcases a diverse and ambitious set of performances (over 50!) featuring renowned faculty, special guests, and of course, their world class students.
• Happy Birthday America, started by Staunton’s own The Statler Brothers in 1970, is still going strong with the days of free, family-friendly fun including a huge parade, live music, and fireworks extravaganza. 

• Best of Virginia winner Art in the Park to bring artists and their juried artwork to Gypsy Hill Park for the 57th year this Labor Day. In recent years, Art on the Town has brought fine arts to the Wharf for Memorial Day.
• The annual Staunton Pride Festival celebrates love and inclusivity each October in Gypsy Hill Park. Look for high-energy performances, food, and health and wellness resources!

• Staunton Jams puts two dozen acts on stages around the city for a weekend of live music, dancing, and high spirits.

• Gypsy Hill Park’s Summer Bandstand Series brings free, live entertainment five days a week throughout the summer. Experience orchestra, praise, bluegrass, jazz, and movies in the open-air surrounded by beautiful views and good company.

Marvelous Shopping Experiences

• Want to conjure up a smile? Split Banana rotates a selection of 24 freshly made gelato flavors to tempt your tastebuds, whether you like fresh, local fruits or more unusual ingredients like Hawaiian basil or ginger.

• Books have the power to transcend place and transform minds. Barrister Books buys and sells old, used, and rare books. Inside, the shop resembles the best kind of library, with organized shelves, art, and a nook or two for perusing the treasures you find. Make sure you look up to see floating books! Did you know Staunton has half a dozen independently owned bookshops in our small community?

• Along with producing Renaissance Festivals, Medieval Fantasy Company sells fantasy-themed items ranging from teas, soaps, and candles to historically-inspired clothing and battle gear!
• The staff at Pufferbellies Toys & Books has an uncanny ability to help you select the perfect gift for a child you love. Bonus: Pufferbellies will wrap your gifts with high-quality papers and finishings. For retro fun, check out the Tubular Toy Box for vintage games, toys, and collectables that will pull in all the nostalgia.

Make plans to experience Staunton’s magic in real life. See you soon!