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The Valley Today is a radio show and podcast dedicated to shining a light on the vibrant community leaders and local events that make the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia truly special.  Insightful conversations, engaging stories, and event details connect listeners with the heart and soul of the valley, showcasing its unique culture, initiatives, and people.
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  2. Hungry for History Turns Four

Hungry for History Turns Four

Aug 4, 2026

It's almost time for one of the Valley's tastiest traditions — Hungry for History is back for its fourth year, and Janet sits down with the three people who make it happen to talk taverns, colonial "shrubs," and a walnut cake with a very local backstory. Renee Bayliss (Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau), Rick Kriebel (Newtown History Center), and Christa Nahhas (La Grange Family Farm) join the show to preview ten days of food, farms, and 250th-anniversary history across Winchester, Frederick County, and Clarke County.

From a candlelit Tavern Night in a barn built in the mid-1800s to a possibly apocryphal tale of who really invented the potato chip, this episode is packed with the kind of history that makes you hungry — literally. Tune in for all the details on where to go, what to eat, and why colonists drank a lot more than you'd think.

EVENT DETAILS

  • Event: Hungry for History (4th annual)
  • Dates: August 28 – September 7, 2026 (spans Labor Day weekend)
  • Where: Approximately 15 locations across Winchester, Frederick County, and Clarke County, VA
  • Cost: Varies by site/event — some free, some ticketed; vendor fees may apply separately (e.g., Tavern Night entry is free, but food/drink vendors charge individually)
  • Full schedule: visitwinchesterva.com, or pick up a printed program at the Visitor Center, 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Rd., Winchester
  • Select highlights mentioned:
    • Tavern Night — LaGrange Farm, Friday, August 28
    • Colonial-themed beer — Chilly Hollow Brewing
    • Special traditional menu — Clem's Kitchen (Wayside)
    • Colonial dance demo, queen cakes & shrubs — Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center
    • Chef's market hall — Belle Grove, during Shenandoah Sips
    • Colonial Kids Kitchen — Handley Regional Library
    • Patsy Cline Block Party (walnut cake) — Patsy Cline Historic House
    • A Taste of Two Communities (Geneva Jackson) — Claremont Farm & Josephine School Museum
    • Additional participating sites: Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum, Abram's Delight Museum

LINKS & RESOURCES

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

New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon.

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