September 25-27th, it’s the Rise & Fall Festival! Celebrating the Virginia Tidewater with Live Music, Local Authors, the Moravian Armory Stunt Team Pirate Show, a Craft & Book Fair, Local Historians, and the VA250 Mobile Museum! The Rise & Fall Festival is free to the public and family friendly.

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A Celebration of the Virginia Tidewater

Next September, find your way to historic Essex County and the town of Tappahannock on the beautiful Rappahannock River, the longest free flowing river in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Rise and Fall Festival will highlight the rich natural, cultural, and creative history of the Virginia Tidewater with a three-day celebration featuring live music, local authors, and a variety of cultural, historical, and recreational experiences.

Life here has always been tied to the water. The name ‘Tappahannock’ is one of deep meaning that originates with the Rappahannock Tribe, part of the Powhatan confederacy and the original inhabitants of this land. The name means “town on the rise and fall of the water,” reflecting the town’s ancient origins and its idyllic location on the Rappahannock River, a place where fresh and salt water meet, and where the tides create a natural ebb and flow.

The Rise & Fall Festival celebrates both the rich history of the town, the beauty of its surroundings, and the deep connection to the land and water that have shaped the region for centuries.

We’re also happy to announce that the VA250 Mobile Museum will be on site for all three days of the Festiva

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VENDORS WANTED 

Please see linked Rise and Fall Vendor Application.   

​For questions, email communications@ecmhs.org