The Virginia Highlands Festival (VHF) is a nationally recognized 16 day celebration of the cultural arts held in midsummer each year. It is the premiere cultural arts event in the area. The event was begun in 1949 by a small group of volunteers including Robert Porterfield, founder of the Barter Theatre, as a means to showcase the region's arts, to educate and entertain its citizens, and to attract tourists to the area during the hot summer months. Now in its 59th year, the festival has always been organized and run by an independent board of volunteers.

We are honored that so many outstanding area businesses and organizations are festival sponsors. They, along with the the festival board and volunteers, welcome thousands of festival attendees to Abingdon, Stonewall Square and the Antiques Market. This year Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) is the Presenting Sponsor of the Antiques Market. The Antiques Market is held on the grounds of the Virginia Highlands Community College, only a couple hundred yards from ANR's new headquarters in Stone Mill Technology Park. Appalachian Power is also a Diamond Sponsor and will be a participant at the Natural Resources Booth on Stonewall Square.

In the Sponsor Tent on Stonewall Square will be Bank of America, a local bank with an international reach and Dr. Robert Boothe, one of the area's Chiropractors with offices in Abingdon and Marion, Va. The festival's First Aid area will be staffed by sponsor Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon's outstanding hospital. Also located in the Sponsor Tent will be the Information Booth for the festival where, in addition to answering questions about what, when, where and why, the festival's quality T-shirts and other items might be purchased.

Media Sponsors for the 2007 Virginia Highlands Festival are WCYB Channel 5 in Bristol, WABN 1230AM radio, Fox WEMT and the Bristol Herald Courier. Each of these businesses provides a powerful voice for the festival to reach area residents and we are proud to have them as sponsors. We are also proud to have as Diamond Sponsors, the Martha Washington Inn, Matt Smith's Music, Lakeside Ready Mix, Clifton-Stewart Developers, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Town of Abingdon. We thank them and all of our sponsors.

Call (276) 623-5266 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the 2008 Virginia Highlands Festival which, in addition to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the festival, will also be celebrating the 75th anniversary of Barter Theatre.


2007 Festival Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors

Diamond ($5,000 and up)

Platinum ($2,000-$4,999)

Gold ($1,000-$1,999)

Silver ($500-$999)

Bronze ($250-$499)

Patrons of the Virginia Highlands Festival

Benefactor ($200.00 & Up)

Highlander ($100.00-$199.99)

PATRONS ($50.00-$99.99)

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