Welcome to Radford University and the City of Radford.

The 2009 Radford Highlanders Festival on October 2 and 3 marks our 14th anniversary and we are particularly excited about this year’s festival – it coincides with the beginning of Radford University’s centennial year. There’s also more special events happening on festival weekend. It’s Family Weekend and RU’s Welcome Back Reunion. This weekend is sure to be one of the best festival weekends we’ve had in our 14-year history.

The festival began in September of 1994 with an approximate crowd of 3,000. In the past 13 years, we’ve more than tripled in size, growing to an attendance of an estimated 10,000.  The festival has become a popular destination for festival-lovers of all ages. Whether a family’s background is of Scots-Irish origin or of other descent, the day always brings with it an air of excitement and anticipation.

 In addition to downtown festivities on Friday night and a Pancake Breakfast at the Farmers Market on the morning of the festival, thousands descend on RU’s Moffett Field for a day-long celebration that begins with a parade through downtown, ending on the festival grounds at Moffett Field. Other events include traditional Scots-Irish heavyweight games, clan gatherings, shopping with a diverse group of more than 30 vendors, and music grounded in the rich heritage of  both the Scots-Irish and the Appalachian region.  In celebration of the region’s Appalachian heritage, Radford University hosts the annual Appalachian Folk Arts Festival on festival day, bringing together traditional crafters and artists.

A partnership of the city of Radford and the university, both 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 9,220 students from throughout the Commonwealth. Additionally, all states and numerous foreign countries are represented in our student population.

Radford University is recognized as a Top 20 Public Master's University in the South by U.S. News & World Report and a 2009 "Best College in the Southeast" by Princeton Review. Located in the heart of scenic Southwest Virginia, RU features nationally recognized faculty-student collaborations and a dynamic curriculum of more than 140 undergraduate and graduate programs. In the last year alone, RU has opened a state-of-the-art visual and performing arts center and welcomed three new graduate programs: doctoral degrees in nursing practice and physical therapy and a master’s degree in occupational therapy. Outside the classroom, RU supports a culturally diverse student population through a wealth of co-curricular activities and events, outstanding NCAA Division I athletics, a commitment to environmental sustainability and a beautiful campus set alongside the New River near the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway

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.