At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, officials approved $391,663 in Restricted Transient Occupancy Tax (RTOT) grants to fuel a wide range of tourism events and campaigns across Loudoun.
These funds are earmarked for 16 local groups that draw in visitors, extend their stays and promote our rural history and charm. Most received the maximum $25,000 award; one was awarded $16,663. Here’s a snapshot of the highlights:
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- BENEFIT Live Limited, $25,000: BENEFIT Live Limited hosts the annual Crossroads Music Festival, drawing visitors from Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere to experience more than 30 performers at 11 venues in downtown Leesburg.
- Bow Tie Strategies, $25,000: Bow Tie Strategies produces the Tarara Summer Concert Series, which has established itself as a popular live music venue in the Washington, D.C. region. This series occurs between May and September at Tarara Winery in Leesburg.
- Crave Locally LLC: $25,000: Grant funds will support a digital agritourism platform and tour program featuring Loudoun County farms, wineries and rural destinations.
- George C. Marshall International Center, $25,000: Grant funds will support an initiative to attract out-of-town business visitors and tourists to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary.
- Loudoun County Bed & Breakfast Guild, $25,000: The organization plans to update and expand its popular “Guild Guide,” in digital and print formats.
- Milltown Haunt LLC, $25,000: Milltown Haunt is a seasonal event that takes place on a 12-acre family farm in Lovettsville.
- Morven Park, $25,000: The funds will be used to increase marketing efforts to attract more spectators from outside Loudoun County to the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials in October 2025.
- Purcellville News LLC, $25,000: Grant funds will support attracting visitors to Purcellville by promoting tourism destinations and events, including a farmers market and tag sales.
- Stone Manor Boutique Inn, $25,000: Stone Manor plans to use the funds to support the Fantasy Fete Ball featuring adoptable pets, scavenger hunts, digital photo booth and professional event photography.
- Sweet Jazz Festival, LLC. $25,000: The funds will support the Sweet Jazz Festival, which celebrates jazz, fosters cultural exchanges and boosts the local economy through tourism.
- Town of Lovettsville, $25,000: Grant funds will support the 2025 Oktoberfest, an annual event that features performances by regional bands, an array of local and regional food vendors, authentic German cuisine and traditional dancing.
- Town of Purcellville, $16,663: The funds will support the 2026 Purcellville Music and Arts Festival, which will offer a variety of music, dance, and theater performances and exhibitions of local artists.
- Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association, $25,000: The funds will support the organization’s annual Civil War Conference in October 2025, focusing on the 1862 Shenandoah Valley campaign.
- Vineyard Voyages, $25,000: Grant funds will support the enhancement of marketing and advertising campaigns for guided tours of “DC Wine Country.”
- Vino Virginia, $25,000: Grant funds will support a tourism initiative connecting Amtrak travelers and residents of the region to Loudoun County for curated wine country experiences.
- WEBS Training Center, $25,000: Grant funds will support a two-day, family-friendly event designed to promote sustainability, community engagement and tourism in Loudoun County by attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Gardening Lesson.
One standout is WEBS Training Center, aiming to set a Guinness World Record with the largest gardening lesson to inspire families to plant, connect and explore our green spaces.
Loudoun County’s RTOT grants are intended for initiatives that draw overnight visitors and share the county’s unique character. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, municipalities and local businesses. Every dollar must boost tourism in some way—whether through events, attractions or marketing.
These investments reflect a deliberate commitment by the Board to support growth that also respects and highlights our county’s heritage and rural areas. As the county continues to expand, it’s heartening to see a budget that leans into community-driven tourism, historic preservation and sustainable engagement with our land.
