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Leesburg is a happening place, and the arts and entertainment offerings in Town are increasing all the time.
Entertainment
Outdoor Recreation
Historical Sites & Museums
Walking Tours
Entertainment
Leesburg’s First Friday is a monthly celebration of the arts and the art of shopping. On the first Friday of each month (except January), the Leesburg’s Historic Downtown comes alive in the evening. Events include wine tastings, musical performances, comedy shows, and special art exhibits in over 35 downtown locations.
The Loudoun Arts Council maintains a calendar of art, music, and theatre events, along with a directory of local arts organizations.
The Tally Ho Theater, a former movie theater built in 1932 in downtown Leesburg, hosts a variety of live national music artists and other events.
The following organizations offer performances on a regular basis in and around Leesburg:
Acoustic on the Green – On Saturday evenings from mid-June through August, Acoustic on the Green brings the best local and regional artists to the Town Green. Free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Pets and alcohol not allowed. Visit the website for this season’s line-up.
Movies Under the Stars – On the third Friday of June, July, and August, join us on the Loudoun County Courthouse lawn for a family-friendly movie. Bring your own chair or blanket and popcorn. Movies begin at dusk.
Outdoor Recreation
Town of Leesburg Parks – the Town of Leesburg’s Parks & Recreation Department maintains 17 parks throughout the Town, ranging from the 138-acre Ida Lee Park to small neighborhood “tot lots”. Park amenities include playgrounds, basketball courts, baseball/softball fields, tennis courts, picnic pavilions, hiking and walking trails, and more.
W&OD Trail
Owned and operated by NOVA Parks, the W&OD Trail features 45 miles of walking, running, biking and skating paved trail built on the roadbed of the former Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. The park runs from Alexandria, through Leesburg, to Purcellville.
Red Rock Wilderness Overlook
Located just outside the Leesburg Town limits, Red Rock Wilderness Overlook (another NOVA Parks property) sits on the Potomac River and features several miles of moderate to strenuous hiking trails that offer panoramic views of the river and the foothills of the Blue Ridge.
Rust Nature Sanctuary
Owned by the Audubon Naturalist Society and managed by NOVA Parks, Rust Sanctuary is a 68-acre preserve encompassing forest, meadows and ponds. The sanctuary features a number of nature trails and offers a variety of nature activities and programs for children throughout the year. The Rust Manor is available for rent for special occasions.
Historical Sites & Museums
Founded in 1758, Leesburg’s history spans four centuries. Our historic sites and museums reflect that rich and varied history.
- Ball’s Bluff Battlefield & National Cemetery – located within the Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park, trails and interpretive signs commemorate the Battle of Ball’s Bluff, the first Civil War engagement to take place in Loudoun County. From April to November, the park offers free guided tours of the battlefield every Saturday and Sunday.
- Dodona Manor – the restored home of General George C. Marshall and headquarters for the George C. Marshall International Center.
- Historic Downtown Leesburg – strolling the brick sidewalks of Leesburg’s downtown, you’ll find an amazing collection of well-preserved historic buildings, housing charming unique shops and restaurants. Exploring Leesburg, a walking tour guide to history and architecture, is available for purchase at the Thomas Balch Library and the Leesburg Town Hall.
- Loudoun Museum – located in an historic building in downtown Leesburg, the Loudoun Museum offers a variety of changing exhibits and children’s programs.
- Morven Park – this 1,000 acre property features the historic home of Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis, the Winmill Carriage Museum, the Museum of Hounds & Hunting, beautiful grounds and gardens and an equestrian center that hosts horse shows & events throughout the year.
- Oatlands Historic House and Gardens – a National Trust Historic Site, this stately mansion was the home of the Carter and Eustis families.
- Thomas Balch Library – a local history and genealogy library owned and operated by the Town of Leesburg. Collections focus on Loudoun County, regional and Virginia history, military history with an emphasis on the American Civil War, and ethnic history. The Thomas Balch Library is an Underground Railroad research site.
Leesburg is part of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, a 180-mile long region that stretches from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia, along the Route 15 corridor. Leesburg sits near the center of the corridor, making the Town a perfect hub for visitors to experience all that the Journey offers.
Walking Tours
Tour Leesburg features guided walking tours of downtown Leesburg. Take a tour from your internet browser, or download a free app for your smartphone:
You can begin a tour at any point of interest, or simply open the app to explore the history around you.
Each tour has historical and current photos and images and audio narration of each site.
Current tours:
- African American History Tour
- Highlights of Historic Leesburg
- Women’s History Tour
- Leesburg Public Art Tour
- Loudoun County War Memorials
Additional tours are under development.