Festive Food Finds in Ashland

Homemades by Suzanne decorated for the holidays in Ashland Virginia

Ashland’s eateries are a holiday haven! Indulge in festive flavors, shining surroundings, and culinary delights that make every bite a celebration.

Andy’s Restaurant & Lounge
Andy’s has been spicing up Ashland since ‘68! Feast on favorite eats, play on the patio, dance into the night, and cue the jolly billiards!

Ashland Meat Company at Cross Brothers
Deck the halls with on-site cuts, farm-fresh delights, and deli wonders! Farm fresh food and drink await you at Ashland’s historic grocer.

Ashland Pot Pie Company
From savory potpies to seasonal sweet hand pies and cookies, Ashland Pot Pie Company is a taste of handmade happiness. Drop by for a festive lunch or order ahead for a ho-ho-hot dinner to go!

Ban Thai
J
ingle all the way to authentic home-style Thai delights. Dive into the festive flavors with takeout and delivery—bringing the spirit of Thailand straight to your door!

The Caboose Market & Cafe
Find a sleighful of wine, cheese, craft beer, local treasures, and a farm-to-table cafe. The Caboose is a one-stop-shop for holiday cheer!

Casa Herradura Family Mexican Restaurant
Find your fiesta of Mexican-American favorites in a family-friendly winter wonderland! Spice it up with signature margaritas and sangria, making it a merry mealtime destination!

Henry Clay Inn
Warm up to the season at The Henry Clay Inn—a cozy retreat in the heart of historic downtown Ashland. The dining room, open Thursday through Monday, serves up a full menu that's a feast for both the eyes and taste buds!

Homemades by Suzanne
Wrap up your appetite at Homemades by Suzanne. Bring holiday cheer with full-service catering, carry-out delights, boxed lunches, and deli buffet trays—plus, gift baskets, homemade breads, and bakery treats!

Huddle Up Sports Bar
Dive into the holiday spirit at this slam-dunk sports bar, boasting 50 screens, pool tables, and an all-American feast that's a touchdown for your taste buds. Add a jingle to your nights with live music from local bands on Fridays and Saturdays after 8 pm—it's the perfect score!

Iron Horse Restaurant
Amidst the festive hustle and bustle, the Iron Horse stands tall as a beacon on the corner of Ashland's Rt. 54 and Railroad Avenue. Reserve your spot in this holiday hub for both festive family gatherings and private parties.

Jake’s Place
Wrap yourself in Southern Comfortable delights at this festive eatery, where the atmosphere is as warm as a holiday hug! Indulge in specialties like barbecue, brisket, and smoked chicken freshly prepared on the premises. Elevate your celebrations with private parties and special event catering.

Origin Beer Lab
Origin, the festive sibling of Center of the Universe Brewing Company, is the North Pole of brewery research, development, and teaching—all things beer–making it the ultimate workshop for a hoppy holiday!

Ashland Sportspage
Score big at this budget-friendly sports haven, a bar where the game is always on and the menu is a home run of American delights. Don't miss out on their star player—signature chicken wings that'll have your taste buds cheering!

Sugar Fix Bakery
Spring sweetness into your holiday celebrations! Dive into the sweet enchantment of Sugar Fix Bakery's holiday treats, showcasing custom-decorated sugar cookies and baked goodies that dance through every craving!

Sweet Frog
Delight in a swirl of fro-yo, gelato, sorbets, and a merry array of toppings, sodas, frozen drinks, and more in Ashland’s Sweet Frog. It's a sweet symphony for your taste buds!

Trackside Kitchen and Wine
Giddy up to this upscale dining restaurant with a menu for all taste buds in a festive historic setting! Test the house wines or splurge on a festive bottle, to ring in the year!


JOIN US

Commemorate the season and support a vibrant new year in the Center of the Universe.

Get a free Light Up the Tracks ornament when you become a VIP Member of Downtown Ashland Association.

Or purchase an ornament at Caravati's Architectural Salvage now through January 1.

2023 in Downtown Ashland

Greetings from Ashland Center of the Universe in Ashland Virginia

What was your favorite part of 2023 in Downtown Ashland? Attending free family-friendly events? Shopping at locally owned stores and eateries? Or simply basking in the everyday picturesque beauty of our historic train town? Downtown Ashland Association’s 2023 highlight has been watching the Center of the Universe's vibrance grow daily.

Exciting Events
Downtown Ashland Association is behind some of your favorite free family-friendly fun. Community-building events like Ashland Halloween and Ashland Fourth Fridays brought neighbors together while signature events like Ashland Train Day and Light Up the Tracks entertained locals and visitors alike - attracting over 30,000 attendees downtown.

Marketing Initiatives
We take cheerleading for the Center of the Universe very seriously. We highlight town happenings, feature local favorites. Our comprehensive outreach on online platforms, TV, radio, and news has engaged over 6 million viewers in this year alone, ensuring Ashland stays at the forefront of customers’ minds. You can stay centered in the Center of the Universe when you follow our Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to our Get Centered newsletter.

Historic Preservation
Teaming up with Ashland Museum and the Hanover County Black Heritage Society we honor Ashland's unique history and preserve downtown's distinctive charm. Together, we hosted an oral history event, Untold Stories: Black & White Perspectives Growing Up in Ashland/Hanover, in February 2023 and recognized downtown investments with Art Mckinney Historic Preservation award to Caravatis and the You've Been Noticed Award for RED VEIN Escape.

Business Support
In 2023, Downtown Ashland Association prioritized enhancing economic development and community involvement. Offering resources, workshops, and aid to existing and emerging businesses, we secured a $175,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Starting February 2024, a portion of the grant will fund entrepreneurship initiatives, supporting small businesses in Ashland and Hanover County.

Year-Round Dedication
Downtown Ashland Association is dedicated to building a stronger future for everyone in Ashland. You can support another year of marketing initiatives, special events, business engagement, and historic preservation in our community when you make a tax-deductible donation to Downtown Ashland Association.

Final Ashland Events of 2023


JOIN US

Commemorate the season and support a vibrant new year in the Center of the Universe.

Get a free Light Up the Tracks ornament when you become a VIP Member of Downtown Ashland Association.

Or purchase an ornament at Caravati's Architectural Salvage now through January 1.

Make Melodic Memories with Classic Caroling

Christmas Carolers in Ashland, Virginia

Picture this -  you’ve finished all your holiday shopping, you find festive food amidst thousands of lights, and then carolers start to serenade.

Sound like a picture-perfect Saturday this holiday season? Then use our guide to make melodic memories that will last you all year round.

Carolers singing on Saturdays starting at 5 PM
December 9 - Patrick Henry YMCA Singers

December 16 - Patrick Henry High School Choir

December 23 - John C. Alley


The Route

5 PM - Ashland Town Hall

5:30 PM- Ashland Branch Library Plaza

6 PM - Changing Reins

6:30 PM - Henry Clay Inn

7 PM - Ashland Town Hall


Listen Live from

The Caboose Market and Cafe

The Depot

The Henry Clay Inn

The Iron Horse Restaurant

Origin Beer Lab


JOIN US

Commemorate the season and support a vibrant new year in the Center of the Universe.

Get a free Light Up the Tracks ornament when you become a VIP Member of Downtown Ashland Association.

Or purchase an ornament at Caravati's Architectural Salvage now through January 1.

Holiday Cheer Unveiled: Your Ashland Christmas Market Directory

Ashland Virginia Holiday Market

📸 Robert Pfiefer

'Tis the season to shop, dine, and be merry! Saturday, December 2 from 11 - 4 PM over 60 local artists and makers will showcase their talents at Ashland Christmas Market. Jingle all the way with sidewalk sales, lively holiday tunes, four food trucks, and 18 local eateries.  


Come rain or shine, this seasonal shopping celebration is free, accessible, and open to the public. We’ve made our list and checked it twice so you can find everything nice in our Ashland Christmas Market Directory below.

Downtown Ashland Shops:

Downtown Ashland Eateries:

121 Thompson Street

108 Robinson Street 

107 S. Railroad Avenue 

The Hanover Bank Building

Ashland Town Center

307 England Street

315 England St, Ashland, VA 23005

201 England Street