Graves Mountain Farm Festivals, Experiences & Events — Attraction in Luray

My wife and I recently went to the Graves Mountain Festival in Syria, Va. Had this been our first time at the Graves Mountain Festival we probably would have been satisfied with the event given that we only paid $5 each to enter, but this years festival was far inferior to the previous free festivals. It started with the long lines to park. We were fortunate that we arrived early and only wait about 20 minutes to park, others I heard had waited over an hour. The food lines were horrendous, taking over 1.5 hours to get your food, and even the food being brought out as "Fresh" was cold. The music was okay, but when the cloggers got on stage we felt that the entourage that came with the cloggers was rude beyond belief. They stood at the edge of the stage preventing anyone else from watching the performance. When asked to please sit down and let others see, they ignored everyone and continued to block the view. In summary, I think Graves should recommend that everyone print their tickets prior to arriving given the lack of cell service. Multiple pay stations for the food payments would have helped with the food lines, but not knowing the food prep process I cannot identify why even the fresh food arrived cold. Allowing outside food vendors might help with the...

Overall, it's alright. It feels like a farmer's market plus. I wouldn't go again.

The good: vendor variety, people were nice, the food was solid, and kids enter free. There are numerous vendors with all different kinds of wares and festival foods. The food we had (funnel cake, donuts, and some kettle corn) was pretty good. Kids entering free is a double edged sword as I'll get into shortly.

The bad: kids might enter free but anything you want to do with them costs money. I expected the hay ride to be extra but if you want to do the hay maze and play on the hay pile? $5. Bounce house? $5. Petting zoo/toddler play area? $5. And they're all separate charges. They nickel and dime you on everything.

Additionally, since there's no cell signal practically everything is cash only. There are one or two stalls that take a card and will do a cash back option. So if you didn't bring cash you'll be struggling.

They have a lot of land, but everything felt condensed and crowded. And when you get over the vendors, there's not much else included with your entry. Few photo op areas, no kids general play areas, nothing. You're basically paying for the right to shop at their...

Incredibly disappointed. Went apple picking. So expensive, apple orchard was disgusting. Cow poop everywhere, feet from the “fresh” apples. NO apples. They were all brown and black, full of bugs. Kids are “free” to get in, but they charged them for literally every single thing. Jump on hay-$5, moon bounce-$5, hayride-$5, maze-$5 ride a pony-$10 Literally walked for 90 seconds!!!!!!! The grounds were so nasty. Muddy, made kids take shoes off to jump but socks were black. Bought food, dropped it on table because they stacked it funny , requested new one and the guy said “Need another one, they are wasting it.” Bought a $5 Carmel apple, wasn’t Carmel, was candy. Like lollipop. Couldn’t bit it at all. Requested to return and lady got mad at us and was very nasty to us! We usually go to Stribling and will from now on. Never ever again. Super disappointed . Nothing but...