Blue Ridge Folklife Festival Held the Fourth Saturday of Every October. Participants can watch a historic
still being operated, along with story telling. Image courtesy Blue Ridge Institute & Museum.
three craft beverage distilleries in Franklin
County, along with two craft breweries and
a winery.
The locality now hosts an annual Franklin
County Moonshine Heritage Month
during the month of April. Emphasis is
on the long and fascinating history and
heritage to be shared with visitors. What
can one expect during this month-long
program? How about a themed art show,
a Chug for the Jug 5K, prohibition-era car
shows, a traveling exhibit from the state
library, a reprise of the 2012 film Lawless,
conversations with distillers, music
concerts and jam sessions, a moonshine
festival and more? A website has been
developed for the month-long program:
FCMoonshineHeritage.com. In addition
to the April happenings, a framework has
been established for maintaining a 13-year
Franklin County Centennial of Prohibition
with an emphasis on each April, but with
happenings throughout the year.
With two lakes, four rivers, and nestled in
the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains,
Franklin County has two towns that
host unique eateries and retail and
retail shops, as well as fantastic outdoor
opportunities. Franklin County is a yearround
destination!
By David Rotenizer
Spring 2020 | www.shenandoahvalleyguide.c com 47
/FCMoonshineHeritage.com
/www.shenandoahvalleyguide.c