Top Smith Mountain Lake Events and Live Music in October (2024)
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Welcome to the ultimate guide for Smith Mountain Lake events in October!
The highlight of this month’s activities is the SML Charity Home Tour, which takes place Oct. 11-13 at various locations around the lake. This long-time lake event allows you to tour eight spectacular waterfront homes while raising money for area charities.
We’ve also rounded up dozens of other fun-filled things to do at SML this month. Keep scrolling to find the best SML activities this weekend and beyond.
October’s Best Bets
Submit an event: [email protected]
Oct. 3, 2024
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.
Oct. 4, 2024
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. Noon.
Try Before You Buy: Free wine tastings at SML Fine Wines. 4-7 p.m.
Trivia Night: At Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7:30 p.m.
Late-Night Karaoke: At Portside Grill and Bar. 8 p.m.
Trevor Hall & The Great In-Between: Live music at The Coves Amphitheater. 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5, 2024
Oktoberfest: Live music by Music by Sunshine, German food and drink specials and more at Bottles & Bites. 6:30 p.m.
Grease Fire: Live music at Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7-11 p.m.
Destination Soultown: Live music at Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Oct. 6, 2024
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. 1 p.m.
Oct. 7, 2024
Trivia Night: At Magnum Point Marina. 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 8, 2024
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. Noon and 5 p.m.
Todd Rundgren: Live music at Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Oct. 10, 2024
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.
Sara Evans: Live music at Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Oct. 11-13, 2024
Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour
Oct. 11-13, 2024
Eight beautiful lakefront homes are opened to the public for touring on Columbus Day weekend. All are accessible by road and by water. Proceeds benefit eight area charities.
Oct. 11, 2024
SML Fall Classic Golf Tournament: Presented by the SML Regional Chamber of Commerce at Mariners Landing. Pre-registration required. Noon.
Try Before You Buy: Free wine tastings at SML Fine Wines. 4-7 p.m.
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. 4:30 p.m.
Trivia Night: At Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7:30 p.m.
Late-Night Karaoke: At Portside Grill and Bar. 8 p.m.
Sara Evans: Live music at Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Oct. 12, 2024
Lobster at the Lake: Fundraiser for Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake at Hot Shots.
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. Noon.
Travis Reigh Band: Live music at Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7-11 p.m.
Blue Ridge Draft Legal Triathlon Festival
Oct. 12, 2024
Test your endurance while swimming, cycling, and running through one of Virginia’s most beautiful state parks. Or bring the family to watch the excitement. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at SML State Park.
Oct. 13, 2024
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. 3 p.m.
Oct. 14, 2024
Literary Lakers Book Club: Open meeting at the Moneta/SML Library. 3 p.m.
Trivia Night: At Magnum Point Marina. 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 15, 2024
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. Noon.
Neko Case: Live music at Harvester Performance Center, Rocky Mount. 8 p.m.
Oct. 16, 2024
Wildlife Wednesday Cruise on the Virginia Dare: Enjoy a delicious lunch, a tour down to the dam and a presentation by an SML State Park interpreter about the wildlife that call SML home. Noon-2 p.m.
Oct. 17, 2024
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.
Oct. 18, 2024
Try Before You Buy: Free wine tastings at SML Fine Wines. 4-7 p.m.
Trivia Night: At Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7:30 p.m.
Late-Night Karaoke: At Portside Grill and Bar. 8 p.m.
Oct. 19, 2024
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. Noon.
Big Daddy Ray: Live music at Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7-11 p.m.
Oct. 20, 2024
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. 1 p.m.
Oct. 21, 2024
Trivia Night: At Magnum Point Marina. 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 23, 2024
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. Noon.
Oct. 24, 2024
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.
Oct. 25, 2024
Try Before You Buy: Free wine tastings at SML Fine Wines. 4-7 p.m.
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. 4:30 p.m.
That 80s Show by Out of Spite: Live music and Halloween Party at Goodhue Boat Company – Blackwater. 6-9 p.m.
Trivia Night: At Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7:30 p.m.
Late-Night Karaoke: At Portside Grill and Bar. 8 p.m.
Oct. 26, 2024
Blue Ridge Folklife Festival: 51st celebration of the rich heritage and traditions of the region. Live music, horse pulls, mule jumping, coon dog contests, crafts, country food, custom and vintage cars, sheep herding demos and much more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Ferrum College.
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. Noon and 4:30 p.m.
Halloween Party: Music, costumes and dancing at Bottles & Bites. 6:30 p.m.
Halloween party with SupaFly Five: Live music at Mango’s Bar & Grill. 7-11 p.m.
Oct. 28, 2024
Trivia Night: At Magnum Point Marina. 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 31, 2024
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.
Nov. 2, 2024
SML Lighted Boat Parade: Starting from the Virginia Dare Marina. 7 p.m.
Nov. 3, 2024
Sightseeing Cruise: Enjoy a meal and a 2-hour tour of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare cruise boat. 1 p.m.
More Events TBA
These events took place in 2023 and have yet to be finalized for 2024. Stay tuned!
35th Annual Art Show
TBA
Presented by the Smith Mountain Arts Council at Kaleidoscope Church in Hardy. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Trick or Treat Event: Bring the kids dressed in their Halloween costumes to the shops of Halesford Center for for door-to-door trick or treating. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Oyster Fest ’23: Live music by Surrender Dorothy, oysters and more at Harvest Moon Marketplace. 12-4 p.m.
Goblins and Goodies: Halloween event for families at SML State Park Discovery Center. Kids’ costume contest, pumpkin decorating crafts, candy and games. 1:30-4:30 p.m.
EastLake Jamboree: Free family event with live bluegrass music by E41, hay rides, bounce houses, car show, flag football, candy trail and more. 3-8 p.m. at EastLake Community Church.
Portside Halloween Party: Live music by Christian Q. & The Groove, costume contest, drink specials and more. 7:30 p.m.
Andie Gibson
PUBLISHER
Andie has been covering Smith Mountain Lake since 2000 for a variety of publications, including Smith Mountain Laker Magazine, The Roanoker, SML Visitor and Newcomer Guide, SML HOME Magazine 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.
