{"id":61818,"date":"2026-06-30T11:27:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T15:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=61818"},"modified":"2026-06-30T11:27:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T15:27:54","slug":"qa-with-cassidy-walker-25-development-manager-for-harrisonburg-downtown-renaissance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2026\/qa-with-cassidy-walker-25-development-manager-for-harrisonburg-downtown-renaissance\/","title":{"rendered":"EMU’s Cassidy Walker \u201925 of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance talks VA250 fireworks and community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VACA grad talks about her love for Downtown Harrisonburg, the lessons she brought from EMU, and the city\u2019s \u2018biggest fireworks show yet\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Levitt AMP Music Series kickoff concert and VA250 Fireworks Celebration<\/strong>
Date:<\/strong> Thursday, July 2
Time:<\/strong> Turner Pavilion opens at 5:30 p.m. Music begins at 6:20 p.m., followed by Scott Miller & The Commonwealth at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks are expected to begin between 9:10 and 9:20 p.m.
Location:<\/strong> Turner Pavilion lawn, 228 S. Liberty St., Harrisonburg
Recommended fireworks viewing locations:<\/strong>
\u2022 Turner Pavilion
\u2022 Food Maxx International Market, 924 W. Market St.
\u2022 JMU Memorial Hall parking lots, 395 S. High St.
\u2022 Thomas Harrison Middle School, 1311 W. Market St.
\u2022 West Side Baptist Church, 715 W. Wolfe St.
\u2022 Harrisonburg High School, 1001 Garbers Church Road
More information:<\/strong> amphburg.com<\/strong><\/a> and downtownharrisonburg.org\/independence-day-fireworks<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As Downtown Harrisonburg prepares to celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary with a free concert and fireworks spectacular Thursday, Cassidy Walker \u201925<\/strong> is helping bring one of the city’s biggest summer events to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Visual and Communication Arts (VACA<\/a>) graduate has served as development manager for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR<\/a>) since January, where she builds and strengthens relationships with donors, sponsors, and local businesses to advance the nonprofit\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She spoke with EMU News about her love for Downtown Harrisonburg, the lessons she brought from EMU, and the city\u2019s \u201cbiggest fireworks show yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How did you end up working for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I fell in love with Downtown Harrisonburg, and I couldn\u2019t really leave it. HDR is actually one of the reasons I fell in love with it.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Through the VACA program at EMU, I also worked with downtown business owners, so I already understood the impact HDR was making. Then someone I knew told me, \u201cYou\u2019d be great at this job. You love talking to people, and you\u2019d really excel in this role.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my interview, I talked about how much I admired what HDR was doing and how my experiences at EMU, from admissions to VACA and working with students, had prepared me for this role. Thankfully, I got the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s been your favorite part of the job?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I love talking to people. Being able to make these amazing connections with business owners, sponsors, and community partners is my favorite part of what I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EMU taught me how to build meaningful relationships and have genuine conversations with people. Those skills have carried over directly into this role, and now I get to use them every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

You mentioned falling in love with Downtown Harrisonburg. What do you love most about it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like EMU, Downtown Harrisonburg is incredibly community-oriented. People just care about one another and want to see each other succeed. That\u2019s something I experienced at EMU, and when I got to know downtown and the people behind HDR, I saw that same spirit among the business owners and community partners. They really support one another, and that\u2019s something special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Since starting this job, what\u2019s been your favorite moment so far?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve had a lot of favorite moments, but one really stands out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of our sponsors had worked closely with the previous development manager, and I was terrified walking into that first meeting. It was my first sponsorship meeting, and I wasn\u2019t sure how it would go. As we started talking, I realized they also had ties to EMU. We talked about where I came from, why I wanted to work for HDR, and what this role meant to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that moment, it clicked that I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing. Even though I was nervous, the conversation felt natural and gave me a lot of confidence moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a big event happening Thursday. What can people expect?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re presenting the VA250 Fireworks Celebration, which also serves as the kickoff to this year\u2019s Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series. It\u2019s really two events in one.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We\u2019ll kick off the series with the first of seven free concerts, featuring a local opening act. There will be food vendors, kids\u2019 activities, giveaways, and our biggest fireworks show yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s designed for everyone: families, friends, kids, and even dogs. Thanks to sponsors like EMU and Blue Ridge Insurance Services, we\u2019re able to make this event possible and are very grateful for their support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What are you most excited for people to experience?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The whole idea behind the Levitt AMP Music Series is building community through the shared experience of live music. I get to see that happen in real time while working with our sponsors and artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watching people come together, make connections, and simply enjoy being part of the community is what I\u2019m most excited about. That\u2019s really what these events are all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

EMU is a sponsor of the VA250 Fireworks Celebration and Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These answers have been edited for clarity and conciseness. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VACA grad talks about her love for Downtown Harrisonburg, the lessons she brought from EMU, and the city\u2019s \u2018biggest fireworks show yet\u2019 Levitt AMP Music Series kickoff concert and VA250 ... read more about EMU’s Cassidy Walker \u201925 of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance talks VA250 fireworks and community<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":302,"featured_media":61822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[266,5861,17564,12507],"tags":[5753,19105,17904,18368,18595,19106,19103,19107,19104,9598],"feature":[17427,17426,17241,17422],"class_list":["post-61818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-conferences-and-events","category-events","category-vaca","tag-alumni","tag-america250","tag-cassidy-walker","tag-concerts","tag-downtown-harrisonburg","tag-harrisonburg-downtown-renaissance","tag-hdr","tag-levitt-amp-harrisonburg-music-series","tag-va250","tag-vaca","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-myemu-feature","feature-news-feature","feature-news-landing-page-main-feature"],"yoast_head":"\nEMU's Cassidy Walker \u201925 of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance talks VA250 fireworks and community - 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