Editing Ashland, Virginia (section)

==Local attractions and events==
Ashland's tourist information center is located at the [[Ashland station (Virginia)|Ashland railroad station]]. ''Bloomberg Business'' in 2009 named Ashland "Best Place to Raise your Kids" in Virginia. In 2014, Movoto.com named Ashland one of America's 10 best small towns.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2014 |title=These Are The 10 Best Small Towns In America |url=https://www.movoto.com/blog/best-small-towns/ |access-date=February 28, 2022 |newspaper=Movoto Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>

Pufferbelly Park, located behind the Ashland Police Department,<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.ashlandva.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Kiwanis-Pufferbelly-Park-5/
|title=Kiwanis Pufferbelly Park
|publisher=Town of Ashland, Virginia}}</ref> features playground facilities and the town's [[Ashland Skate Park|public skatepark]], which opened in 2004.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.ashlandva.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Skate-Park-7/
|title=Ashland Skate Park @ Pufferbelly Park
|publisher=Town of Ashland, Virginia}}</ref>

For nearly 35 years, Ashland's main festival has been the "Strawberry Faire" in June,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ashlandstrawberryfaire.com/|title=Ashland Strawberry Faire|access-date=November 13, 2015}}</ref> at which vendors from around the state sell a variety of different items (with a strawberry theme). Festivities include a Strawberry Faire Pageant for Little Miss and Mister Strawberry, as well as live performances by local artists. Ten [[Hanover County]] Schools students each year receive Strawberry Faire scholarships.

The "Ashland Musical Variety Show" is a biennial talent show held in odd years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hanoverarts.org/variety-show/ |website=Hanover Arts and Activity Center |title=Ashland Musical Variety Show}}</ref> It features songs and skits performed by area residents and raises funds for the Hanover Arts & Activities Center in Ashland. It started in 1982.

Another festival is the family-friendly annual "Ashland Train Day" on the last Saturday in April. Vendors can be found from around the country up and down Railroad Avenue. With the Quiet Zone rules in suspension, visitors are treated to frequent [[CSX]] freight trains and [[Amtrak]] passenger trains sounding off.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ashlandvirginia.com/trainday/ |title=Ashland Train Day |work=Downtown Ashland, Virginia |publisher=Downtown Ashland Association}}</ref> Train day usually occurs on the last Saturday of April. During the event, Railroad Ave and England St are blocked off from vehicle traffic.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Delaney |last=Murray |url=https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/ashland-train-day-brings-road-and-parking-closures-throughout-the-city/ |title=Ashland Train Day brings road and parking closures throughout the city |work=[[WRIC-TV]] |date=April 26, 2023}}</ref>

Mr. Jingles is a [[cross-dressing]] man who rides a bicycle through the town while playing music; he peddles thirty miles daily.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-23 |title=PHOTOS: Ashland man now lives life as a woman |url=https://richmond.com/collection_387c1434-3195-11e5-9279-536ca3852609.html#26 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Olsen |first=Carole |date=2024-05-18 |title=Mr. Jingles of Ashland, Virginia |url=https://medium.com/illumination/mr-jingles-of-ashland-virginia-f0727eecfb74 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241124133858/https://medium.com/illumination/mr-jingles-of-ashland-virginia-f0727eecfb74 |archive-date=2024-11-24 |access-date=2025-04-15 |work=Medium |language=en}}</ref>