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Hello Harrisonburg! Hope your coffee’s especially good this morning.

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: A First Amendment Press Freedom Award, a spring flower walk, and a lucky duck race + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

📰 In the news

Spotlight on scholastic voices: Harrisonburg High School received the 2026 First Amendment Press Freedom Award recognizing schools supporting student-run media, with awards to be presented at the National High School Journalism Convention in Minneapolis — read the full story.

Honoring those once omitted: Harrisonburg and Rockingham County seek families of Vietnam War fallen to update a 1973 memorial, and the marker will be unveiled March 29 at Court Square with a flagpole dedication — learn how you can help.

Hands-on ways to help pollinators: Harrisonburg Public Works will host its fourth Pollinators in Your Yard event on March 21, with talks, activities, and panels on local projects, plus a BINGO to try at home — get all the event details.

Gold just hit record highs. What about your savings? While traditional IRAs have been treading water against inflation, gold has gained over 50% in three years. That gap is why more retirees are rolling a portion of their savings into gold IRAs (the kind that hold physical metal). We compared the top five options and broke down who they’re best for. Check it out here →

Paying hundreds of dollars a month for car insurance? Switching providers could save you up to $600 a year, and shopping around is way faster than it used to be – free comparison tools like this one make it easy.*

Highlights this week:

• Hear and discuss plays over coffee
• Learn vegetable gardening from Master Gardeners
• Sip wine with Kelly and Crystal
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home*

💎 Local business spotlight

Live music home base: Whether you’re chasing a loud local set, a touring act you almost discovered first, or a late-night dance floor, The Golden Pony keeps downtown Harrisonburg buzzing with legit live shows and DJ nights—peek the calendar this week and pick a vibe you can hum home.

Sip something fun: When the afternoon slump calls for chewy pearls and real tea flavor, BoBo Cafés bubble tea lineup delivers—classic milk teas, fruit-forward refreshers, and creative specials you’ll want to rotate through. Pro tip: bring a friend so you can “sample” their drink, too.

Local art, zero pretension: Need a quick inspiration boost? OASIS Fine Art & Craft is a downtown artists’ co‑op showcasing fine art and contemporary crafts by local artisans—an easy drop‑in for gifts or a treat‑yourself moment that also keeps our creative community humming.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, *their curated kits are worth a look →

Own a piece of Apple for less than a coffee: Every time you buy something from Amazon or Starbucks, you’re putting money in their pocket. Fractional shares flip that: you can own a slice of those companies for as little as a dollar. Most investing apps make it incredibly easy, with zero commissions and no account minimums. See which ones we recommend →

Mom says she’s fine. You’re not so sure: “What if something happens when you’re home alone?” You’ve asked a hundred times, but the outcome’s always the same. I don’t need that. Life Alert’s for old people. The real struggle isn’t finding a medical alert system that’ll work… it’s finding one she won’t fight you on. We looked into five options designed to settle the standoff, from smartwatches to systems with nothing to wear at all. See which ones stood out →

Thinning hair? Your shampoo was never going to fix it: I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of money on hair-loss products, biotin, masks, sprays, you name it. Not one of them lasted. Turns out, most things target the strand, not the follicle (where thinning actually happens). Dermatologists have been prescribing treatments that work for years, but there are now plenty of options available with no office visits required. See our top picks for men and women →

Strangers can buy your personal data for $0.50: Data brokers sell your name, home address, phone number, estimated income, and other personal info to anyone willing to pay. Scammers and identity thieves use these databases to take advantage of you. There are dozens of affordable services that can help you protect yourself. These three are our favorites →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🌯 Redeemer Fundraising Night @ QDOBA Mexican Eats | Friday (3/20) at 4:00 PM – Trade the sink full of dishes for QDOBA and feel smug about it, because 25% goes to Redeemer Classical School’s Griffin Gala. Flash the fundraiser QR at checkout, or use code QDOBAGIVES online, and call it dinner, charity, and zero pans to scrub.

☕ Cards + Coffee @ Bridgewater Coffee Co. (Dayton) | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Swing by Bridgewater Coffee for a drop-in thank-you card session for JWES faculty and staff. PTO brings the supplies, you bring your caffeine-fueled charm, and maybe a kid or two. You caffeinate, they educate, local business wins, everyone feels useful.

🌸 2026 Flower Walk @ Blakemore’s Flowers | Saturday (3/21) at 12:00 PM – After years of shivering through Galentine’s, the Flower Walk is a spring thing. Start at Blakemore’s for your jar, collect stems at 12 downtown spots, finish with a bouquet and maybe a cider at Sage Bird, $35 in advance with a $10 class credit.

🐝 Pollinators in Your Yard @ JMU ICE House | Saturday (3/21) at 1:00 PM – Whether your yard is a native-plant paradise or a patchy rectangle the dog owns, this free, family-friendly workshop, open to all, shows you how to make it a pollinator buffet. Expect practical tips, local resources, hands-on activities for all ages, and tomatoes that finally cooperate.

🦆 Lucky Duck Race @ Massanutten Waterpark (McGaheysville) | Sunday (3/22) at 5:30 PM – Adopt a rubber duck and cheer it on at Massanutten’s WaterPark, nothing says community like yelling at plastic in a lazy river. Ducks are $5, family and flock deals, $10 off passes per duck, and prizes include a resort stay or cash. Tickets at MassResort.com/LuckyDuck.

🔭 Homeschool Field Trip: JMU Planetarium @ John C. Wells Planetarium | Tuesday (3/24) at 11:00 AM – Field trip alert: JMU’s planetarium is screening Ancient Skies for homeschoolers, plus a live tour of our Valley’s night sky. Expect real-deal science, comfy seats, and kids who finally know Orion from a porch light. Advance registration required, $3 ages 4+, under 3 free.

🎮 Game Design Studio @ Juice Works 3D Innovation Academy | Tuesday (3/24) at 5:45 PM – Sign up your curious teen, or claim a seat yourself, for a beginner-friendly, three-week studio that turns bright ideas into actual objects. You will sketch, tinker, and prototype with patient guidance, then head home with something you made, and a perfectly reasonable amount of bragging.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Harrisonburg report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 41°F – Low: 26°F – Precip: 2%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. South wind 1 to 8 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind 2 to 7 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 54°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 5%

Partly sunny, with a high near 54. South wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Southwest wind 1 to 6 mph.

This house is wild

On 11+ acres just 10 minutes from Harrisonburg, this 4-bedroom, 2,240-square-foot ranch pairs Shenandoah Valley views with true mini farm potential. A bright open layout features LVP flooring, while a finished bonus area with a mini split adds flexible space. Multiple sheds, a chicken coop, and a detached garage shine, plus a second buildable lot with public water access.

Take a peek inside →