Virginia Sunflower Fest 8/2

Virginia Sunflower Fest offers a golden opportunity to celebrate summer. Spend a day surrounded by vibrant blooms as you wander the fields in search of your own perfect bouquet. From picking flowers to snapping pics, the festival provides opportunities for exploration and reflection, with beautiful views and refreshing fare. Saturdays feature a hands-on program with […]

Indie short Film Series at Light House Studio 7/25

The program that launched the International Indie short Film Festival returns as the Indie short Film Series showcases a selection of brief cinematic works. Featuring seven to nine short films and a panel discussion with visiting filmmakers, the goal of the series remains unchanged: to provide a platform for independent auteurs to share their art […]

French and American Cinema: Origins & Echoes Series at Violet Crown 7/22

Exploring the cross-cultural influence of one film industry on another, French and American Cinema: Origins & Echoes Series celebrates the enduring relationship between the two nations through artistic expression. Presented in partnership with the Alliance Française de Charlottesville, the program brings together a landmark work of French filmmaking with an American contemporary counterpart, tracing lines […]

Local book club dives into Alan Opts Out

In the opening pages of Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum, readers meet the titular character as he prepares for a big pitch—perhaps his biggest yet—to try to land a multimillion-dollar advertising contract with the U.S. Dairy Council. Alan is a successful man, but he and his family recently moved to a private seaside community […]

The Barber of Seville at The Paramount 7/17 & 7/19

For all of the negative-energy detritus that Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) left smeared across popular culture, no one rioted upon its release—including the people camped out by movie theaters to see it first. But as the origin tale for a beloved sci-fi trilogy, there was no way it was going […]

Alison Krauss & Union Station at The Pavilion 7/18

Touring off the back of the highly anticipated 2025 release Arcadia, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas carry a well-earned legacy. Krauss’ transcendent voice has long been a fixture in the bluegrass and roots scene, and the Arcadia Tour sees her powerhouse vocals paired with celebrated tenor Russell Moore, a six-time International Bluegrass […]

Angela Easterling at Central Library 7/16

Greenville, South Carolina-based singer-songwriter Angela Easterling performs original songs and classic folk, roots, and country tunes in A Songwriter’s Journey Through American Music. Originally developed for the Smithsonian Institution, the program includes Easterling sharing thoughts on the craft of songwriting and talking about the stories behind her songs, while weaving in anecdotes about the history […]

Much Ado About Nothing at Barboursville Ruins 7/17 – 8/1

Summer favorite Shakespeare at the Ruins returns as Four County Players presents Much Ado About Nothing. Central Virginia’s longest-running community theater stages one of the Bard’s best comedies, where two pairs of lovers endure contrasting experiences. Friends conspire to unite the skeptical Beatrice and Benedick as others plot to part the devoted Hero and Claudio. […]

New bakery piles up Southern comforts

Fresh biscuits are on the rise at Pour Baker, a new bakery from owner Cammy Lu that’s serving scratch-made Southern comfort alongside her signature “shake-and-pour” baking mixes. Stop in for buttermilk biscuits piled high with fried chicken, country ham, or bacon, egg, and cheese, then save room for pie. Choose from a classic apple slice, […]