Top Smith Mountain Lake Events and Live Music in November (2025)
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Welcome to the ultimate guide for Smith Mountain Lake events in November!
The highlight of this month’s activities include the annual SML Fall Chili and Craft Festival, Virginia Dare Lighted Boat Parade, Santa Around Bridgewater Plaza and the SML Turkey Trot.
We’ve also rounded up dozens of other fun-filled things to do at Smith Mountain Lake this month. Keep scrolling to find the best SML activities this weekend and beyond.
November’s Best Bets
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Nov. 1, 2025
Halloween Party ft. Big Daddy Ray: Celebrate Halloween with your best costume at Mango’s Bar & Grill. Costume Contest prizes for best female and male costume. Live music from Big Daddy Ray. 7 p.m.
Nov. 2, 2025
Virginia Dare Lighted Holiday Boat Parade
Nov. 2, 2024
Boats decorated for the season cruise from Virginia Dare Marina to Bridgewater Plaza and back starting at 7 p.m. All are invited to donate jackets, gloves and toys for distribution to local kids in need.
The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra: Live music at The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 7 p.m.
Nov. 3, 2025
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. 1 p.m.
Nov. 7, 2025
Try Before You Buy: Free wine tastings at SML Fine Wines. 4-7 p.m.
Texas Hold ‘em Poker: Enjoy two games of poker (6 p.m. and 8 p.m.) in this fun-filled weekly Poker League at Hot Shots Bar & Grill.
Trivia Night: At Mango’s Bar & Grill. $25 gift cards go to the winners of each round. 7:30 p.m.
Mark Chestnutt: Live music at The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Nov. 8, 2025
SML Fall Chili and Craft Festival
Nov. 8, 2024
Sample a variety of chili, shop and enjoy live music and amazing fall foliage lakeside at this family-friendly event. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bridgewater Plaza.
Trivia Night
Nov. 8, 2023
Come out for two rounds of fun-filled trivia. Bring some friends for your team. $25 gift card for the winning team of each round.
Nov. 9, 2025
Literary Lakers Book Club: At the Moneta Library. Every second Monday each month. 3 p.m.
Dan Tyminski: Live music at The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Holiday Pottery Market: Vendor market event at Emerson Creek Pottery. Bring the kids for photos with Santa. Bedford Humane Society will have pets for adoption. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival: Eat, drink, shop, enjoy live music and explore Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in Forest. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Toy Drive and Antique Car Show: Raffles, drawings, discounts, activities for kids, entertainment and food sponsored by SML Marine Fire Rescue at Reclaimed. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 11, 2025
Veteran’s Day Observance: Free event at the National D-Day Memorial featuring keynote speaker Mitchell Yockelson, manager of the National Archives and Records Administration’s Archival Recovery Program and professor of military history at Norwich University. 11 a.m.
Nov. 12, 2025
I’m With Her – Wild and Clear and Blue: Live music at The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 13, 2025
Ashley McBryde: Live music at The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Nov. 14, 2025
Try Before You Buy: Free wine tastings at SML Fine Wines. 4-7 p.m.
Texas Hold ‘em Poker: Enjoy two games of poker (6 p.m. and 8 p.m.) in this fun-filled weekly Poker League at Hot Shots Bar & Grill.
Trivia Night: At Mango’s Bar & Grill. $25 gift cards go to the winners of each round. 7:30 p.m.
Motherfolk: Live music at The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Nov. 15, 2025
New Standard Bluegrass: Live music at the Bower Center. 6 p.m.
Homegrown Music Series: The Robey Family: Live music at The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 7 p.m.
Jodie Davis: Live music at Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7 p.m.
Nov. 16, 2025
Tophouse – Standing Show: Live music at The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Nov. 21, 2025
Friday Breakfast Book Club: At Bedford Central Library. Every last Friday of each month. 10 a.m.
Try Before You Buy: Free wine tastings at SML Fine Wines. 4-7 p.m.
Texas Hold ‘em Poker: Enjoy two games of poker (6 p.m. and 8 p.m.) in this fun-filled weekly Poker League at Hot Shots Bar & Grill.
Trivia Night: At Mango’s Bar & Grill. $25 gift cards go to the winners of each round. 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 22, 2025
Marie Anderson: Live music at Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7 p.m.
Keb’ Mo’: Live music at The Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Nov. 27, 2025
SML Turkey Trot: 5K run/walk at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. 9 a.m.
Nov. 28, 2025
Try Before You Buy: Free wine tastings at SML Fine Wines. 4-7 p.m.
Trivia Night: At Mango’s Bar & Grill. $25 gift cards go to the winners of each round. 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 29, 2025
Mistletoe Maker’s Market: Celebrate Small Business Saturday and shop local handmade goods at Bower Center for the Arts. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Santa Around Bridgewater Plaza
Nov. 29, 2025
Bring the kids to see Santa arrive by boat and hear wish lists, participate in the Elf on the Shelf contest and more at this long-running holiday tradition. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bridgewater Plaza.
Karlee Raye: Live music at Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7 p.m.
Did we miss any events? Email us the details!
Andie Gibson
CO-PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Andie has been covering Smith Mountain Lake since 2000 for a variety of publications, including the SML Visitor and Newcomer Guide, SML HOME Magazine, The Roanoker and Life Outside. As a partner in G&C Ventures, LLC, she oversees all content for our suite of websites, including Smith-Mountain-Lake.com and LakeLubbers.com.
