Welcome to Radford

Welcome to Radford University and the City of Radford.

The 2008 festival on October 10 marks our 13th anniversary. A partnership between the university and the City of Radford, this day-long celebration of Southwest Virginia’s rich Scots-Irish linkages has become a popular destination for fall festival enthusiasts all over the East Coast. The city and the university work closely together to promote this small town that has a proud history.

The city’s natural forest growth, unusual rock formations and the beautiful New River provide a scenic setting for Radford University. The school enrolls more than 9,500 students from throughout the Commonwealth. Additionally, all states and numerous foreign countries are represented in our student population.

Founded in 1910, RU is a state-supported institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in seven colleges: Humanities and Behavioral Sciences, Business and Economics, Education and Human Development, Science and Technology, Graduate and Extended Education, Visual and Performing Arts and the Waldron College of Nursing and Health Services

RU’s 175-acre campus is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 36 miles from Roanoke, Virginia. In addition to the main campus, RU West Campus is located on the Pulaski County side of the New River and houses several departmental offices including University Relations and the RU Foundation.

The RU Foundation also owns Selu Conservancy, a 380-acre tract of land in Montgomery County. The conservancy is available for academic and recreational use and features a retreat center, observatory and overlook at the river. The newest addition to the conservancy is the Farm at Selu. Located in the C.E. Richardson Appalachian Heritage Park, this house is an “authentic replica” of a 1930s working homestead and farm.

The City of Radford is proud to be a part of The Crooked Road music trail and the Civil War historical trail. Extend your festival weekend to Monday night and stop by The Coffee Mill downtown, home of the Monday Night Fiddle and Banjo Club. At the far end of Bisset Park near downtown, there’s the Civil War marker that tells the story of the area’s most famous battle. Remnants of that battle can be seen near the marker. The concrete columns left standing alone in the New River are the end result of a bridge burning that occurred on that fateful day. Also a part of the city history is the story of Appalachian heroine Mary Draper Ingles who made her home in the western portion of the city. Ingles was captured by the Shawnee Indians in 1755 and escaped captivity after journeying more than 800 miles through treacherous terrain and uncharted territory.

The Pathways to Radford trail that weaves its way along the river banks, city parks and residential districts provides an intimate and relaxful time with Mother Nature. We encourage you to take some time on your visit to Radford and enjoy this scenic route through Radford.

Points of interest in neighboring areas include Claytor Lake, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail.

To learn more about the festival call (540) 831-5182 or e-mail Bonnie Roberts Erickson.