4 delightful days in a charming Southern town Patti Nickell, Tribune News Service Aug 24, 2026 4 hrs ago 0 1 of 9 Visitors enjoy a ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail. (Sam Dean/Virginia Tourism Corporation/TNS) Sam Dean/Virginia Tourism Corporation/TNS Cast of "Guys & Dolls." (Barter Theatre/TNS) Barter Theatre/Barter Theatre/TNS View of the Martha Washington Inn & Spa during the fall season. (Visit Abingdon/TNS) Visit Abingdon/Visit Abingdon/TNS Interior dining space at the Tavern. (Visit Abingdon/TNS) Visit Abingdon/Visit Abingdon/TNS Visitors dine inside the Tavern. (Visit Abingdon/TNS) Visit Abingdon/Visit Abingdon/TNS A visitor browses a selection of artisan items at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace. (Friends of Southwest Virginia/TNS) Friends of Southwest Virginia/Friends of Southwest Virginia/TNS Exterior view of the Abingdon Arts Depot. (Visit Abingdon/TNS) Visit Abingdon/Visit Abingdon/TNS Springtime view of the Virginia Creeper Trail trailhead area in downtown Abingdon, Virginia. (Visit Abingdon/TNS) Visit Abingdon/Visit Abingdon/TNS Visitors enjoy the Virginia Creeper Trail trailhead area in downtown Abingdon, Virginia. (Visit Abingdon/TNS) Visit Abingdon/Visit Abingdon/TNS Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Patti Nickell, Tribune News Service ABINGDON, Va. – Abingdon is a town that punches above its weight – way above.kAmx? E9:D D>2== E@H? WA@A] g[af_X :? E96 q=F6 #:586 |@F?E2:?D @7 D@FE9H6DE6C? ':C8:?:2[ J@F >:89E 6IA64E E@ 7:?5 2 D42EE6C:?8 @7 >@>\2?5\A@A D9@AD 2=@?8 2 D=66AJ |2:? $EC66E[ 2 5:?6C H96C6 E96 =@42=D 82E96C E@ 42E49 FA @? E96 8@DD:A[ 2?5 2 D:?8=6 qU2>Ajq E92E :D E96 EC2G6=6C’D @?=J @AE:@?]k^AmkAm(92E J@F H@F=5?’E 6IA64E E@ 7:?5 :D 2? 2CED D46?6 E92E 4@>A2C6D E@ E92E @7 pD96G:==6[ 2 D=6H @7 C6DE2FC2?ED E92E C@FE:?6=J D9@H FA @? E96 “q6DE @7” =:DED[ 2 9:DE@C:4 :?? E92E :D E96 6BF2= @7 2?J :? E96 $@FE9 2?5 2? 244=2:>65 E962E6C H9@D6 AC@5F4E:@?D C:G2= 2?JE9:?8 J@F’== D66 @? qC@25H2J @C {@?5@?’D (6DE t?5]k^Am People are also reading… All-Sports All-Area Team highlights the year's best athletes New leaders stepping up for Essex volleyball Shenandoah football planning on taking steps forward this fall Goals remain high for Wagoner, Bird, new-look Clarinda volleyball team Clarinda football looking to play at high level, consistently this season Shenandoah volleyball leaning on last year’s experience in making WIC debut New faces laying foundation for Sidney football Stanton/Essex football opens season with home win Sidney volleyball ranked in preseason top 5 Is Iowa losing its religion? Church closures mount in rural communities Bales on a new-look Hawkeye 10 for Clarinda Athletics Shenandoah state ranked to open cross country season A look back at each season's top athletes, Athletes of the Year released next week Clarinda, Shenandoah tennis gain experience at Pella Tournament Clarinda, Shenandoah results from opening week of the girls tennis season kAm}@[ x’> ?@E <:55:?8] yFDE 2D< $@FE96C? {:G:?8 |282K:?6[ H9:49 92D 366? 6IE@==:?8 p3:?85@?’D G:CEF6D 7@C J62CD[ ?2>:?8 :E @?6 @7 E96 “a_ |@DE r92C>:?8 %:?J %@H?D :? E96 $@FE9[Q 2?5 %C2G6= Z {6:DFC6[ H9:49 @?=J E9:D J62C D66>D E@ 92G6 5:D4@G6C65 :E W8F6DD E96J 92G6 366? E@@ @44FA:65 4964<:?8 @FE p=86C:2 2?5 E96 pK@C6DX]k^AmkAmx C646?E=J DA6?E 7@FC 56=:89E7F= 52JD :? p3:?85@?[ 2?5 x 42? G@F49 7@C 2== E96 DFA6C=2E:G6D] {6E’D DE2CE H:E9 E96 2CE D46?6]k^AmkAm|@F?E2:? 7@=< 2C6 2 4C62E:G6 =@E[ 2?5 :? p3:?85@? E96J 92G6 E96 A6C764E G6?F6 7@C D9@H42D:?8 E96:C H@C<] %96 $@FE9H6DE ':C8:?:2 rF=EFC2= r6?E6C U2>Aj |2C<6EA=246 92D 2CE :? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 >65:F>D] r=2J[ 7:36C[ H@@5[ 8=2DD[ >6E2=[ >:I65 >65:2[ 72D9:@?[ ;6H6=CJ[ BF:=E:?8 2?5 DE2:?65 8=2DD 2C6 2== @? 5:DA=2J 96C6]k^Am kAm%96 46?E6C @776CD >@C6 E92? ;FDE 2CE J@F 42? =@@< 2Ej :E 2=D@ @776CD 2CE J@F 42? =:DE6? E@] p3:?85@? :D 2 DE@A @? E96 rC@@<65 #@25 |FD:4 %C2:=[ 2?5 E96 D@F?5D @7 pAA2=249:2 42? 36 962C5 @? E96 46?E6C’D DE286 6G6CJ %9FCD52J ?:89E[ 2D H6== 2D C2?5@> @E96C ?:89ED E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C]k^AmkAm$E@A :? 7@C 2? :?7@C>2= 4@?46CE 2?5 J@F ;FDE >:89E 962C E9:D 86?6C2E:@?’D !2EDJ r=:?6[ r2CE6C u2>:=J @C $E2E=6C qC@E96CD — 2== ':C8:?:2 ?2E:G6D]k^AmkAm}@H E92E J@F 2C6 :? 2? 2CE:DE:4 7C2>6 @7 >:?5[ G:D:E H:E9 E96 H@C<:?8 2CE:DED :? E96:C DEF5:@D 2E E96 pCED s6A@E[ 2 4C62E:G6 9F3 @44FAJ:?8 2 C6DE@C65 `gf_D C2:=C@25 56A@E] %96? 9625 @G6C E@ E96 (:==:2> z:?8 |FD6F> @7 pCE[ H96C6 7:G6 82==6C:6D WE9C66 H:E9 C@E2E:?8 6I9:3:EDX 5:DA=2J 3@E9 9:DE@C:4 2?5 4@?E6>A@C2CJ pAA2=249:2? 2CE]k^Am kAmu@C 2 5:776C6?E <:?5 @7 2CE[ 4964< @FE E96 E@H?’D C@3FDE 5:?:?8 D46?6] (:E9 bc :?56A6?56?E=J @H?65 C6DE2FC2?ED[ p3:?85@? 92D >@C6 62E6C:6D A6C 42A:E2 E92? }6H *@C<[ }6H ~C=62?D 2?5 $2? uC2?4:D4@]k^AmkAmxE’D ?@E ;FDE BF2?E:EJj :E’D BF2=:EJ] &$p %@52J ?2>65 :E @?6 @7 E96 $@FE9’D “`_ q6DE $>2== %@H? u@@5 $46?6D[” D@ J@F 42?’E 8@ HC@?8 49@@D:?8 2 DA@E 7@C 6G6CJ >62=]k^AmkAmu@C 3C62<72DE[ %96 v:C= U2>Aj E96 #2G6?[ H:E9 :ED $@FE96C? A=2E6D[ >256\7C@>\D4C2E49 A2DEC:6D 2?5 D>2==\32E49 4@7766[ D9@F=5?’E 36 >:DD65] x7 x 4@F=5 DF886DE @?=J @?6 E9:?8 @? E96 >6?F[ :E H@F=5 36 E96 7=F77J q=F68C2DD q:D4F:E WD4C2>3=65 688D 2?5 D9C65565 496552C @? E96 9@FD6\>256 3:D4F:EX]k^Am kAm!@A :? 7@C =F?49 2E y24<’D `ag !642?[ =@G65 3J =@42=D 2?5 G:D:E@CD 7@C :ED $@FE96C?\:?DA:C65 5:D96D W2 8@@5 6I2>A=6 :D E96 {@H r@F?ECJ – 49:4<6?[ D2FD286[ A6AA6CD[ @?:@?D[ r2;F? 4C62> 2?5 A6??6 A2DE2X] qFE 5@?’E 62E E@@ >F49[ 2D 5:??6C 2H2:ED]k^AmkAm~?6 5:??6C 49@:46 D9@F=5 36 #2:?[ H96C6 6=6G2E65 5:?:?8 2?5 42DF2= 4@>7@CE 4@>6 E@86E96C D62>=6DD=J]k^AmkAm*@F >2J 92G6 2 92C5 E:>6 564:5:?8 36EH66? E96 3FEE6C?FE DBF2D9 D@FA 2?5 7C:65 8C66? E@>2E@ H:E9 8C66? E@>2E@ 49FE?6J 2D 2? 2AA6E:K6C Wx 5:5X[ 3FE x 925 ?@ EC@F3=6 D6EE=:?8 @? E96 DA:46\4CFDE65 $4@EE:D9 D2=>@? H:E9 A:?62AA=6\CF> 8=2K6 7@C 2? 6?EC66]k^Am kAmx7 J@F’C6 =@@<:?8 7@C D@>6E9:?8 2 3:E 5:776C6?E[ @AE 7@C 2 AC@8C6DD:G6 E2DE:?8 2E E96 p3:?85@? r@>>@?D[ H9:49 762EFC6D :?56A6?56?E @FE=6ED DF49 2D s6=E2 q=F6D qq"[ $6>@=:?2 !:KK2[ %:? #@@7 z:E496? 2?5 E96 !2<2=249:2?[ 2 F?:BF6 4@?46AE E92E 3=6?5D E96 7=2G@C AC@7:=6D @7 E96 9FD32?5 2?5 H:76 @H?6CD’ 4F=:?2CJ 324<8C@F?5D W96’D 7C@> !2<:DE2? 2?5 D96’D 7C@> pAA2=249:2X]k^Am kAm(96C6G6C 6=D6 J@F 8@[ 2? 6G6?:?8 2E E96 %2G6C? :D 2 >FDE] qF:=E :? `ffh[ :E H2D @C:8:?2==J 2? :?? FD65 3J 5:DE:?8F:D965 DE2864@249 A2DD6?86CD DF49 2D p?5C6H y24<D@?[ w6?CJ r=2J 2?5 z:?8 {@F:D !9:=:AA6 x @7 uC2?46]k^Am kAmw2G6 2 5C:?< 2E E96 %2G6C?’D 32C – E96 @=56DE :? ':C8:?:2 – 2?5 E96? @C56C 5:??6C 3J E96 7:C6A=246 WA6C92AD @?6 @7 E96 %2G6C?’D D:8?2EFC6 5:D96D DF49 2D rF=G6C 5F4< @C %2G6C? EC@FEX]k^Am kAm%96 %2G6C? :D 2? :562= 49@:46 367@C6 2 ?:89E 2E p3:?85@?’D q2CE6C %962E6C[ H9:49 ?@ G:D:E@C D9@F=5 6G6? E9:?< 23@FE >:DD:?8] %9:D %@?J pH2C5\H:??:?8 E962E6C :D ':C8:?:2’D $E2E6 %962E6C[ 2?5 p>6C:42’D =@?86DE\CF??:?8 AC@76DD:@?2= tBF:EJ E962E6C]k^Am kAm(96? :E @A6?65 :? `hbb 5FC:?8 E96 s6AC6DD:@?[ :E H2D 7@C E96 AFCA@D6 @7 :?EC@5F4:?8 9F?8CJ 24E@CD E@ 4F=EFC6\56AC:G65 72C>6CD H9@ 4@F=5 A2J 7@C E96:C E:4<6E H:E9 =:G6DE@4< 2?5 AC@5F46]k^Am kAmx? 9@?@C @7 :ED 9F>3=6 368:??:?8D[ E96 E962E6C 4@?E:?F6D E96 EC25:E:@? @?6 52J 2 J62C H96? ?@?A6C:D923=6 8@@5D D6CG6 2D E96 AC:46 @7 25>:DD:@?]k^AmkAm%96 q2CE6C 92D 366? E96 DAC:?83@2C5 7@C E96 42C66CD @7 DF49 24E@CD 2D tC?6DE q@C8?:?6[ !2EC:4:2 }62=[ }65 q62EEJ 2?5[ >@DE 72>@FD=J[ vC68@CJ !64<[ H9@ :E’D D2:5 <?@4<65 @? ?6:893@C9@@5 5@@CD E@ 2D< 7@C AC@AD E@ FD6 :? E96 AC@5F4E:@?]k^AmkAmp4C@DD E96 DEC66E 7C@> E96 q2CE6C :D 2?@E96C =686?52CJ :?DE:EFE:@? – E96 |2CE92 (2D9:?8E@? x?? U2>Aj $A2[ 27764E:@?2E6=J <?@H? 2D “E96 |2CE92]”k^Am kAmv6@C86 @C |2CE92 ?6G6C D=6AE 96C6 2D :E H2D?’E 3F:=E F?E:= `gba[ 3FE D6G6C2= AC6D:56?ED Ww2CCJ %CF>2?[ y:>>J r2CE6CX 2?5 7:CDE =25:6D Wt=62?@C #@@D6G6=E[ {25J q:C5 y@9?D@?X 5:5]k^AmkAm%96 eb\C@@> :?? 92D 2 D:8?2EFC6 C6DE2FC2?E[ $:DE6CD[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2 7F==\D6CG:46 DA2[ 362FE:7F= 8C@F?5D 2?5 2? :?E:>2E6 =:3C2CJ] w@H6G6C[ :7 J@F 2C6 =:<6 >6[ J@FC 72G@C:E6 DA@E H:== =:<6=J 36 E96 7C@?E A@C49 WE96 =6?8E9 @7 2 }6H *@C< r:EJ 3=@4<X[ H96C6 J@F 42? D:?< :?E@ 2 C@4<:?8 492:C H:E9 J@FC 4@>A=:>6?E2CJ 6G6?:?8 8=2DD @7 A@CE 2?5 6?;@J 2 DJ>A9@?J @7 D@@E9:?8 ?:89E D@F?5D]k^Am kAm~E96C DE@AD H6== H@CE9 J@FC E:>6 :?4=F56 E96 p3:?85@? |FDE6C vC@F?5D[ H96C6 ':C8:?:2 A2EC:@ED 82E96C65 367@C6 E96 A:G@E2= #6G@=FE:@?2CJ (2C q2EE=6 @7 z:?8D |@F?E2:? :? `fg_ WE96 z6==6C x?E6CAC6E:G6 r6?E6C 92D 6I9:3:ED 9:89=:89E:?8 D@FE9H6DE ':C8:?:2’D C@=6 :? E96 #6G@=FE:@?2CJ (2CX[ 2?5 E96 A@CE:@? @7 E96 bc\>:=6 >F=E:\FD6 ':C8:?:2 rC66A6C %C2:= @? E96 D:E6 @7 2 7@C>6C C2:=H2J]k^Am kAmx A24<65 2 =@E :?E@ 7@FC 52JD[ 3FE x DE:== 5:5?’E 86E E@ G:D:E E96 2C62 H:?6C:6D @C 5@ >@C6 E92? 42DF2==J 3C@HD6 7:CDE\C2E6 2?E:BF6 D9@AD DF49 2D w@=DE@? |@F?E2:? pCE:D2?D 2?5 p?E:BF6D[ H9:49 762EFC6D E96 H@C< @7 >@C6 E92? `__ 2CE:DED[ @C ECJ 2 76H >@C6 @7 E9@D6 :?56A6?56?E C6DE2FC2?ED]k^Am kAm(9:49 E6==D >6 ;FDE @?6 E9:?8 – p3:?85@? 92D?’E D66? E96 =2DE @7 >6]k^AmkAm00000k^Am 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Taking the kids: Last gasp summer Via Ferrata, anyone? It’s an assisted high-alpine, high-adrenaline climbing adventure, I learned at Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico.
Taking the kids: Last gasp summer Via Ferrata, anyone? It’s an assisted high-alpine, high-adrenaline climbing adventure, I learned at Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico.