Entertainment

Music and culture runs deep here. Explore 7 different music venues, a national monument, and local events filled with offerings from our talented local artists and artisans.

booker t washington national monument

Harvester

The Harvester Performance Center is an indoor, mid-sized music venue in the heart of Rocky Mount with great live performances in all kinds of genres.  When we say all kinds, we really mean it. Past performances include The Beach Boys, LeAnn Womack, Three Dog Night, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra. There’s something for everyone at the Harvester.

The Crooked Road—Virginia Heritage Music Trail

The Crooked Road winds through almost 300 miles of scenic terrain in southwest Virginia. Steeped in country and roots music tradition, Franklin County serves as the trail’s eastern gateway. With seven venues to explore, you’ll never lack for ways to immerse yourself in the music of the mountains.

Blue Ridge Institute and Museum

The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM) is the largest folklife museum in the state of Virginia. BRIM documents, presents and preserves the daily-life folk heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It also serves as a major venue of the Crooked Road and regularly presents authentic educational and entertainment programing. Part of Ferrum College’s Academic Affairs Division, BRIM features a museum with rotating exhibitions, the Blue Ridge Heritage Archive, and a museum store where you can purchase authentic folk crafts and more.

The Blue Ridge Folklife Festival is the annual cornerstone event for the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum. For nearly 50 years on the 4th Saturday of October, BRIM has gathered active practitioners of local folk traditions for the state’s largest event of its kind. Hailed by the New York Times as “thoroughly authentic,” the day features a fascinating mix of performances, activities, artisans, and vendors you won’t find anywhere else. Produced by Ferrum College’s Blue Ridge Institute & Museum, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in the rich wisdom and customs of the region!

Booker T. Washington National Monument

Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in Franklin County, Virginia. After emancipation he rose to prominence as an author, educator, presidential advisor, orator, and the first leader of the Tuskegee Institute. One hundred years after his birth, the US government designated the house where he was born as the Booker T. Washington National Monument.