Virginia has always been known for its major cash crop, tobacco. It's also steadfastly becoming known for its climate that's extremely conducive to creating delicious wines.

But that's not all our luscious Virginia soil is producing. And although one may come from a small county just north of Richmond and another is produced all across the state, this weekend aims to celebrate them both with a little thing we like to call a festival.

30th annual Hanover Tomato Festival

Originally a resident of Hanover County myself, I know there's something extra special about the Hanover tomato. It's ripe, it's fresh, it's delicious and no other red seeded beauty can come close to matching it.

I also know that, by no fault of our own, we Hanoverians tend to snub our noses at grocery store and other county, region and state tomatoes. If it didn’t grow in Hanover, it's just not the best.

Hey, don't judge us. It's just the way we were brought up.

Perhaps that's why it's necessary to dedicate an entire Saturday to the celebration of this sacred county fruit of the vine. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, Richmond's neighboring Hanover County invites you to celebrate their tomato at the 30th annual Hanover Tomato Festival.

Now, before you go recalling all those news broadcasts at the beginning of June stating that tomatoes were being recalled for serious cases of salmonella, never fear -- Virginia tomatoes have been declared safe.

And not only safe to eat, but safe to slice, dice, back, juice and even dress up. With more than 40,000 people in attendance last year, this event is sure to get the rest of you tomatoheads out to celebrate.

You may even want to choose to enter various contests throughout the day, including the highly competitive Hanover Tomato Contest. Local residents are invited to enter their favorite recipe using their own true Hanover tomatoes for a chance to win first place and more importantly, bragging rights for the rest of the year. Recipe categories will include "Most Original," "Best Green Tomato Recipe," "Best Homemade Tomato Juice," "Best Homemade Salsa" as well as "Prettiest Tomato."

Specifically for Hanover residents, bring forth your most prized sprouts for the "Best Tasting" contests, one for large and one for small variety tomatoes.

Children can get involved with the Hanover tomato tradition early by entering their very own Roma tomato in the "Best Dressed" contest on the day of the festival, or by submitting a colorful "Mr. Mator" prior to the festival by Wednesday, July 2. Parents can download the coloring page off the event Web site.

And as every good, old-fashioned Southern festival should, the Hanover Tomato Festival will crown the county's annual Tiny Miss Hanover Tomato and Little Miss Hanover Tomato. So come out and support your favorite cherry tomato!

All tomatoes aside, vendors including A.C.E. Concessions, Gail's Gumbo House and Rosemary's among others will have food available and artisans, crafters and non-profits alike will be in attendance for perusing and purchasing.

Alongside the festival's stage entertainment, which will include the Hanover Concert Band, West Hanover Boys, juggler Jonathan Austin, Marna and Macy and many others, there will be a children's area complete with arts and crafts, face-painting, pony rides, mechanical rides inflatables, games and much more.

• The 30th annual Hanover Tomato Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, rain or shine at Pole Green Park, located at 8996 Pole Green Park Lane. Admission and parking are free. For more information and directions, visit hanovertomatofestival.com.

First-ever Virginia Beer Festival

You hear about wine festivals all the time. Whether it's the hyper-local wineries they're trying to highlight or the vast amount of vineyards located across the state -- people know, get excited for and love a wine festival.

But whatever happened to relishing in the taste of an ice cold, well-brewed beer during a summer evening, complete with a juicy steak, baked potato and crisp green salad?

Do I have your mouth watering yet?

If I do, and if you're looking to branch out from the mass-marketed American beer that most bars offer, this festival will come as a welcomed surprise.

Capital Ale House's Innsbrook location invites all Richmonders to offer up their pallets this weekend for the first-ever Virginia Beer Festival, which will be held in two sessions from noon to 4 p.m. and again from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 5 at the Innsbrook Shoppes Courtyard.

"We have a lot of up-and-coming Virginia breweries that have been doing some really unique stuff," said Brigette Smith, an associate manager and beer buyer for Capital Ale House.

"There is a lot of buzz around Virginia Beer so we really want to highlight that and give [these breweries] a venue to show off their stuff. And they'll be bringing some really interesting [brews] that are not the norm by any means."

Breweries involved include a few local, old-faithfuls such as Legend, Richbrau and Olde Richmond Brewing, as well as neighboring Blue & Gray, Blue Mountain, Old Dominion, St. George, Starr Hill and Williamsburg Ale Werks.

Brewers, or their representatives, will be on hand throughout the day to answer questions and enlighten tasters on all that goes in to their craft, which will make the festival that much more intimate.

Knowing that Virginia has an abundance of wine festivals, Smith says the limited attention towards finding a great, personal beer is unfortunate.

"Everyone assumes that wine is the best thing that pairs best with food and it's almost looked at as more of a classier venture when it's not by any means," Smith said. "I believe that there's a beer out there for everyone. There's not one person that I'm not confident I can sell a beer to -- even if they hate beer."

Food vendors will be on hand to help tithe you over between rounds and the live bluegrass from Copper Ridge and The Slack Family Bluegrass will provide an enjoyable, laid-back vibe all afternoon.

With tickets only priced at $10 each, which will include admission to the event, a glass tasting mug and five tasting tickets, you'll want to snatch them up fast.

Only 500 tickets will be sold for each of the two sessions. In addition, all advance tickets purchased prior to midnight, July 3 will be entered to win a limo ride for up to 10 people to and from the event, provided by 1st Class Services.

"I really want to have more people excited about beer, especially in this area," Smith said. "Beer has a more casual feel and it'd be nice to go out and see these beers on draft at other places and be excited not only for the people who are brewing this beer, but to see other people enjoy it."

• The first-ever Virginia Beer Festival will be held in two sessions, from noon to 4 p.m. and again from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 5 at the Innsbrook Shoppes Courtyard. Only 500 tickets will be sold for the event and are priced at $10 a person. For more information, call (804) 780-ALES or visit capitalalehouse.com.