Community Calendar

Learn about local wildlife and ways to support your local bird population with the Augusta Bird Club. Learn about apps to help track your birding finds and how to participate in "citizen science" with the annual Backyard Bird Count.

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents: Compositions that Work with Peg Sheridan. Do you wonder why your paintings don't seem to "pull together" at the end? Would you like to understand how to use compositional tools to make your paintings better? In this hands-on class, you will learn powerful, practical compositional tools that work. Whether you are painting landscapes, figures, still life or abstracts, you will learn how to arrange shapes for better impact and balance. Through guided exercises, you will learn compositions that are proven winners. Peg will provide weekly demonstrations for each of the six weeks of class. She will provide color worksheets, one-on-one help and weekly reviews of student paintings. She has been painting in watercolors for 45 years, and teaching watercolor painting for 35 years, and is known to be the most popular watercolor instructor in the Piedmont/Blue Ridge region. See Peg's work, and more about her classes and materials list at www.pegsheridan.com . (Fee: $250, Tuesdays, September 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, & 28, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, at 126 S. Wayne Avenue., Waynesboro, VA 22980, register: www.pegsheridan.com or call SVAC at 540-949-7662)

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents the Shenandoah National Park Trust works of art from the permanent collection of their Artist-in-Residence program. The Hudson River School of the mid-1800’ s turned its attention to American landscapes, providing the public with its first interpretation of parts of the country most had never seen. Talk of preserving these great places ensued and the national park system was born. The Artist-in-Residence Program was begun to inspire artists and visitors to think deeply about the value of the Shenandoah National Park. Goals were to create an understanding of the landscape of Shenandoah in new and unique ways, to increase awareness about important concepts, such as climate change and wildlife management, using images and sound that enriched visitor experiences in the park. This was achieved by inviting professional artists to interpret the landscape through traditional and contemporary art. The Trust provided seed funding to launch Shenandoah National Park’s Artist-in-Residence program in 2013 and proudly continues to fund it annually. Artists live and work in the park for three-week sessions and engage park visitors in public programs, hopefully encouraging them to become stewards of the park. The public is invited to the opening reception on January 15, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the SVAC 416 Gallery, 416 W. Main St. Waynesboro, VA 22980. The exhibition will be open to the public January 15 – February 21, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Advanced Skills in Watercolor II, a six week course with Peg Sheridan. Are you seeking to advance your skills in watercolor painting and increase your confidence with the medium? This course offers a structured exploration of watercolor techniques, emphasizing both creativity and technical competence. Participants will explore wet-in-wet as well as dry brush methods, negative painting approaches, layering color, the use of additional mediums, and the integration of lines using watercolor pencils and crayons. The curriculum also includes practice with larger-scale paintings. Instruction consists of demonstrations, color worksheets, and individual support. Students will have the opportunity to select their subject matter, with an emphasis on experimentation throughout the course. A materials list is available at www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662. (Register with Peg Sheridan directly at www.pegsheridan.com, and click on “Upcoming Classes” and then "Registration for Advanced Skills in Watercolor II," follow the instructions. Register by January 20th. Refunds of a $50 deposit cannot be issued for cancellations after January 20th. Fee $260, Tuesdays, January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 3, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., 416 Classroom, 416 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980)

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents a free Bi-Monthly Printmaking Demonstration! These sessions are not only free but open to the public. Our goal is to have you join us to learn more about this amazing medium and experience the possibilities of the Tom Brown Printmaking Studio! (Tuesdays, January 13 and 27, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., 416 W. Main St. Waynesboro, VA 22980.)

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents a Monthly Print Demo. Free and open to the public! Come join us and learn about the wonderful world of printmaking. Print Club Demos are held every second Tuesday from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the 416 Print studio. (416 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980)

Watch and discuss a themed reel from the recently released PBS documentary, "The American Revolution," in commemoration of America's 250th.

We hope you'll join us for a series of three community screenings of the recent PBS release, “THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION” as we begin our 2026 program calendar!

Each screening will include a thirty-minute thematic reel of stories and highlights from the larger documentary, as well as a moderated conversation between audience members and university faculty and community panelists. Whether you’ve seen all eight hours of the documentary or none at all, these screenings will provide helpful context for the upcoming commemorations of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.

The programs will be held at 5 pm in the Northen Auditorium in Leyburn Library on the campus of Washington and Lee University. Admission is offered free of charge, and attendees are asked to RSVP in advance

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Stretch & Release Yoga with Paula Figgatt & Leslie Chisnell. Gather in the Heart of Downtown Waynesboro for a meditative experience that benefits the mind while increasing your range of flexibility and centeredness in the body. Stretch & Release Yoga targets the fascia and connective tissues including tendons, ligaments and bones while creating suppleness, openness and health for our inner organs and muscles. By stilling the mind, bring the awareness deeply inward to create peace and relaxation. Restore and Renew the Spirit. Tuesday, January 27, 6:05 - 7:00 p.m., (Fee: $10, 12 weeks pass January 27 – April 14, $100, Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, 416 Gallery, 416 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980)

Come learn the sport of rugby while getting fit and making great friends. All are welcome. No experience necessary.

Join local author and social media sensation, Summer England, for a cozy evening as we discuss all things Romantasy (Romance + Fantasy) and her upcoming novel, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne. Tea and pastries will be served.