The Stuart Rotary Club (SRC) Productions received a $5,000 reimbursable grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)’s Special Events & Festivals Sponsorship Program (SEF) for the Stuart Beach Music Festival.
SRC Productions will supply a minimum of $5,000 in matching funds to be reimbursed by the grant to host the event at Wayside Park on June 11 – 13. The 44th Stuart Beach Music Festival will feature bands, food and beverages. The event promotes Patrick County tourism and attracts music lovers from several states.
Virginia Tourism Corporation will award more than $885,733 in matching grant funds to 88 special events and festivals during this grant round, ultimately impacting 324 combined partners. The VTC Special Events & Festivals Sponsorship Program is designed to increase visitor spending by maximizing limited marketing and event production dollars to stimulate overnight visitation through new tourism marketing and event expansion partnerships. The program also extends the iconic ‘Virginia is for Lovers’ brand to drive special event and festival visitation. Each GO Virginia region is allocated 20 percent of available funds, creating a diverse portfolio of supported events across the Commonwealth.
In this funding cycle, local partners will commit more than $4.8 million in public-private funds to match VTC funding, generating more than $5.68 million in new marketing and event production activity focused on increasing overnight visitation to Virginia in 2026. In total, the awards will support 88 special events and festivals and impact 526 tourism-related partners statewide.
Using the hub-and-spoke tourism model to create multi-day itineraries, four Virginia entities partner financially to apply for funding. Partners may consist of Virginia cities, towns, counties, destination marketing organizations, restaurants, museums, attractions, and other tourism-related businesses. With the special event or festival as the main lure, the program encourages visitors to extend their stays to experience Virginia Main Streets, boutique shopping, distinctive dining, and historic sites, generating significant economic impact beyond the event itself. These partnerships have proven results in driving creativity among applicants and attracting new visitors to a destination.
“The Stuart Rotary Club is a strong community partner, and the Beach Music Festival is one of the main attractions that helps support our county tourism efforts. I am thankful for their work and glad to see them receive this support from the Virginia Tourism Corporation, our partner at the state level,” said James Houchins, director of Economic Development & Tourism.
“Special events and festivals are at the heart of what makes Virginia such a compelling destination,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Through the Special Events & Festivals Sponsorship Program, we’re proud to support these experiences that bring communities together, inspire travel, and encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more across the Commonwealth.”
VTC will have additional grant and sponsorship rounds opening throughout 2026. Organizations and businesses that are interested in applying may visit vatc.org/grants for more information.
Out-of-state visitors and Virginians alike are encouraged to visit www.virginia.org to start travel planning for these special events and festivals in 2026.
SRC Productions is a non-profit within the Rotary Club of Stuart that hosts the Beach Music Festival. Club members work year-round planning and promoting the event as well as participating in service projects in Patrick County. Proceeds from the Beach Music Festival, from the Annual Steak Dinner and from the annual Agricultural Fair support donations to our local Fire and Rescue squads, the Stuart Rotary Student Loan and Scholarship Foundation, BSA Troop 65, Caring Hearts Free Clinic, the PC Food Bank, Christmas Cheer, local pet rescue efforts, a weekend back-pack food program for the Blue Ridge Elementary School, the PC Cougars baseball team, and other service projects. The Stuart Rotary Club is proud to support Patrick County.
