A string of pearls runs along Route 11 — and every one of them is built for summer. On this Shenandoah County Tourism Tuesday edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael is joined on the Zooms by Kary Haun and Brittany Clem-Hott for a conversation devoted to the best of summer in Shenandoah County, from Strasburg to New Market and everywhere between.

Three Valley League baseball teams, a county full of ice cream stands, fireworks displays, summer music series in nearly every town, the river walks of Seven Bends State Park and Lake Laura, dozens of outdoor-dining patios, and an underground 55-degree cavern for the days when the heat just won't quit. Whether you live in Shenandoah County or you're just a drive away, this episode is a complete summer planning guide.

SUMMER IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY — AT A GLANCE

BASEBALL (Valley League — collegiate, community-hosted, family-affordable) • Strasburg Express • Woodstock River Bandits (Central High School stadium) • New Market Rebels (Rebel Park) • Schedules, scores, rosters, stats: valleybaseballleague.com

ICE CREAM (a few favorites mentioned on the show) • Katie's Custard — Route 11, near the Woodstock games • Sugar Creek — Route 11, Woodstock (now near the Food Lion; still bright pink) • Ice Cream Depot — downtown Strasburg • Peep's Ice Cream Stand — New Market • Smiley's Ice Cream — Basye (with putt-putt and gem sluicing) • Edinburg mini golf and ice cream — right off Route 11

FIREWORKS — JULY 2026 (VA250) • New Market — Thursday, July 3 • Woodstock — at the fairgrounds (July 4) • Strasburg — town display (July 4) • Bryce Resort — fireworks on the slopes (July 4)

MUSIC SERIES THIS SUMMER • Strasburg — Front Porch Live (Thursday evenings) • Woodstock — Woodstock ROCS at the community park • New Market — Crossroads Fest at Rebel Park • Vineyards, breweries, and wineries across the county host live music throughout the summer (full list on the events tab at visitshenandoahcounty.com)

RIVER & WATER WALKS • Seven Bends State Park (Woodstock) — three-mile riverside loop with kayak rentals from the Hollingsworth side to the Lupton side • Strasburg River Walk — near the town municipal park • Lake Laura (Bryce) — 2.5-mile loop, paddle boats, paddle boards

OUTDOOR DINING (a sampler from the show) • Box Office Brewery — Strasburg • Bean's Barbecue — Edinburg (mostly takeout; perfect for a picnic) • Miller Grill — New Market • Woodstock Cafe — front and back patios with strung lights • Flour to Fork — alleyway summer dinner series, plus pizza Wednesdays and dinners Fridays • Swover Creek Farms — wood-fired pizza, sausages, dog-friendly, kid-friendly • Woodstock BrewHouse — patio with Thursday live music • Pale Fire — pizza and beer, Basye • The Burn Barrel — Basye

WHEN IT'S TOO HOT TO BE OUTSIDE • Shenandoah Caverns — guided one-hour tours, 55° year-round, exceptionally family-friendly

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Shenandoah County Tourism: visitshenandoahcounty.com (Events tab for the full summer calendar; search bar to look up any business or attraction)

• Valley Baseball League — schedules, scores, rosters, and YouTube replays: valleybaseballleague.com

• Seven Bends State Park: dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/seven-bends

THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations.

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