Mar 29 Friday
Join Blandy Director and birding enthusiast Dr. Dave Carr to hunt for tree swallows, eastern phoebes, migrating waterfowl, and more!
What to expect: An outdoor program. We will walk around 1.5 miles over lawn and gravel paths with gently rolling terrain.
Who can come: Adults and children aged 12 and up. No pets, please!
What to bring: Dress for the weather! Wear comfortable walking shoes that can withstand a bit of morning dew from the grass. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair from Blandy.
Where to meet: Meet at the flagpole at the front parking lot close to the “Arboretum Information” kiosk.
The five members of Fast Track are not only all highly decorated in awards from the IBMA and SPBGMA organizations, but are also veteran players on the Grand Ole Opry stage, across the United States, Canada, and throughout Europe. Between all of the gentlemen, they have performed with, recorded on, and participated in countless projects with bluegrass and country music royalty throughout their most impressive careers.
The line up includes Dale Perry (banjo), Steve Day (fiddle), Shayne Bartley (mandolin), Duane Sparks (guitar), and Zach Collier (bass). All members contribute to the band's vocal harmonies.
Mar 30 Saturday
The Daze of Rosé Festival is an annual celebration of Virginia Rosé that promotes inclusivity, art, and freedom of expression by gathering wine lovers together in a beautiful location. Drink pink, wear pink and enjoy an amazing day at Castle Hill Cider. Located in Keswick, Virginia just minutes from Charlottesville - Wine Enthusiast's 2023 Wine Region of the Year.
Purchase the Full Access pass to taste all wines in the Rosé Competition or Daze Your Way with the Limited Access pass - where you can purchase wine a la carte from up to 30 wineries on the Discovery Lawn.
Festival Highlights
People's Choice Rosé Wine Competition Live set by DJ Double U Discovery Lawn featuring wineries from across Virginia Multiple stations of curated cuisine created by The Catering Outfit Art Installation by internationally renowned artist Beatrix Ost Shopping Experience Free wine education sessions - to be announced! ... and more to be announced!
Waynesboro Parks & Rec and the New Valley Church are pleased to announce the annual Easter Egg Hunt! Make sure to come early enough to allow for parking and getting to the egg areas. Don't forget to bring your Easter Egg Basket for gathering eggs!
There are times and areas for different age groups with hunts starting promptly at:10am - 0-2 years10:15am - 3 years to Pre K10:30am - Kindergarteners and 1st graders10:45am - 2nd and 3rd graders
You are invited to join a great gathering of Lenten Pilgrims from 96+ communities in 15 countries, and every continent (yes, even Antarctica!) to walk for peace in Gaza and help raise funds for relief aid. Here in Harrisonburg on Holy Saturday, March 30, we will walk eleven miles - or parts thereof - which is about half the length and twice the width of Gaza. We shall be stopping for meditation and prayer at various spots along the route.
The pilgrimage will begin at 8 a.m., at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. We will walk together as a group and end at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. For more information, or to express interest in joining, please contact gcpilgrimagehburg@gmail.com or go to https://www.gazaceasefirepilgrimage.com and follow to USA, Harrisonburg.
Jake Eddy, a rising star in bluegrass guitar, will deliver a two-hour workshop at Waynesboro Music, breaking down his flatpicking technique and taking questions.
This will be a relaxed workshop, and attendees are not expected to bring their own guitars. Instead, it'll be a presentation from Jake that includes topics such as:
The workshop will include several tunes, as well as question-and-answer session and an up-close look at Jake's 1941 Herringbone D28.
About Jake:
Jake Eddy is a bluegrass guitarist born and raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He began his music career and lifelong addiction to the road by playing banjo professionally at the age of fourteen with bluegrass-legend Melvin Goins. His guitar playing, which is primarily influenced by bluegrass and jazz, is showcased on his debut album of fiddle tunes, entitled "Jake Eddy," which features such greats as Grammy-award winning Bryan Sutton, Rob Ickes, and Kenny Smith. He tours as a sideman with the Becky Buller Band from Manchester, TN as well as his own group. His current touring group features his brother, Carter on the upright bass and NC-native Graham Brewer on the mandolin!
Check out his playing
Follow Jake on Instagram
Apr 02 Tuesday
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, the Piedmont Master Gardeners and The Center at Belvedere will co-host “Simply Sustainable Landscapes,” an evening with author, educator and landscape designer Nate Miller. The free spring lecture is open to all and will be held at The Center, 540 Belvedere Blvd. in Charlottesville. Please register for the program here. Miller will explain how a design theory he calls EONS (for edible, ornamental, native plants and sustainable methods) can deliver low-maintenance landscapes that provide healthy food, year-round displays of color, and support for wildlife and many other ecological benefits. Miller is co-author of “Simply Sustainable Landscapes: Designing with Edible and Native Plants for the Southeast.” He is on the staff of Messer Landscape Inc. in Staunton and teaches horticulture and landscape design at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville.
Apr 05 Friday
Prepare to be awed by a wonderful and creative performance of dance in this inspiring show featuring JMU’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble honoring original choreography by JMU dance majors who are up-and-coming “new voices” in dance. The concert also includes student performances in guest artist and faculty work
See Susan Werner perform live at the Wayne Theatre in a "one-woman master class in musicianship."
Over the course of her twenty five year career, Susan Werner has earned a reputation as “one of the most innovative songwriters working today” (Chicago Tribune). With formidable chops on guitar (she began playing at age 5) and piano (she was a guest on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz), along with a graduate degree in voice performance, her shows are a one-woman master class in musicianship. Although best known as an acoustic songwriter that came up through coffeehouses and folk festivals, the Chicago-based artist has written songs in the style of Gershwin and Cole Porter (I Can’t Be New, 2004), gospel music (The Gospel Truth, 2007), traditional Cuban “son” (An American In Havana, 2016), and New Orleans junk piano (NOLA, 2019). In 2014 she composed the music and lyrics to the musical theater score Bull Durham, The Musical (MGM). Her songs have been recorded by Tom Jones, Michael Feinstein, and Shemekia Copeland, and her latest recording of originals, The Birds of Florida, took flight in 2022.
The Houston Bowman Progressive Agricultural Farm Safety Day is an annual event providing FREE, fun, safety education to local youth and families who live, work, and/or visit farms or ranches. The RMH Foundation, Rockingham County Extension Services, and the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, along with a dedicated planning committee – that includes farm accident survivors, and extensive community support, ensure that Rockingham County and surrounding area youth receive education to prevent preventable accidents on farms and involving farming equipment.
This year’s topics include:
Blind Spot Recognition Skid Loader Safety Silage Safety Water Safety Hearing Safety Prosthetics Firearms Safety Large Farm Animals
Pre-registration required by calling 540-564-3080 by Friday, March 23, 2024
In partnership with the Rockfish Valley Foundation, Blue Ridge PRISM is happy to offer an in-person workshop to guide you through invasive plant management in the spring and summer.
Join Blue Ridge PRISM’s knowledgeable staff at the beautiful Rockfish Valley Trails to learn about invasive plant ID, herbicide safety, basic management strategies, and a step-by-step tutorial on how to use herbicide techniques as well as manual control options.
This in-person workshop will take place on Friday, April 5th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in Nellysford. The site of the workshop is a short walking distance from the main trailhead (Camille Trailhead) of the Rockfish Valley Trails in Nelson County. This workshop will include an invasive plant identification walk on the trail.
It is our hope that participants will be able to take what they learn and utilize it in their own backyards.
Please visit the event website for more information and to register for this workshop.
Apr 07 Sunday
On Sunday, April 7 from 2-4pm the Plains District Memorial Museum will present a talk by Arlene Reid, an expert gardener and owner of the Glenhaven Nursery. She will share stories and advice on gardening in our area.
Free admission - donations welcome to benefit the Plains District Memorial Museum
Apr 13 Saturday
Join us at Harmony Harvest Farm to learn how to create stunning foam-free floral arrangements using farm-fresh flowers! The session will be led by our resident designer, Jessica Hall who has trained under celebrity designers such as Holly Chapple, Ariella Chezar, Gregor Lersch, Susan Mcleary, and Steve Moore!
The workshop will be an exclusive experience and you'll be provided with everything you need to create a foam-free design! Each ticket includes:
- A beautiful sampling of fresh flowers
- A reusable compote vase
- Design instruction catered to all skill levels
Please note this workshop has multiple dates through the spring and summer!
Apr 14 Sunday
Join our monthly vegan sanctuary tour, meet the rescued residents, hear their stories, and learn about our mission of saving lives at Peaceful Fields Sanctuary.
This is a great introduction to the Sanctuary’s mission and, most importantly, to our many rescued residents who call PFS home! The tour begins promptly at 2 PM so please arrive a little beforehand. Dress for being outdoors - we recommend a change of closed-toe shoes or boots that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Children age six and over are welcome. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Parking is in the front yard.
PLEASE NOTE:
With the purchase and use of this ticket you, or anyone who uses the ticket purchased on their behalf, agrees to abide by our waiver of liability. Click here to read our waiver. Tickets may not be resold. Please contact us in order to transfer ticket holders or if you can no longer make it and wish to release the tickets. Online ticketing closes one hour before the event. Limited tickets may be available at the door, if they don't sell out beforehand. Bring a printed copy of your ticket(s) or have it ready on your phone when you arrive.
Event is rain or shine! In the event of severe inclement weather, we will contact ticket holders ahead of time.
Apr 20 Saturday
A stroll by the charming cottages and stately Colonial Revivals on Ridgeview Road provides a picturesque snapshot of Staunton’s early 20th-century residential development. Step inside four homes designed by noted local architect Samuel Collins of the T.J. Collins and Son firm and see his inspired use of classical details complemented by the owners’ creative updates. The gardens, one of which was designed by renowned landscape architect Charles Gillette, are graced with white picket fences, boxwood hedges, flowering borders, and landscaped patios.
The Staunton tour is a shuttle tour. Shuttle and parking access is located at Staunton High School, 1301 N. Coalter Sreet. Please plan ahead for shuttle transportation. There is no parking for tour visitors at the tour properties. Ridgeview Road will be closed to traffic the day of the tour. No drop-offs from Augusta Street will be permitted. There will be a drop-off available at the intersection of Ridgeview and Dogwood Roads.
All tour properties on this walking tour are located within a compact city block. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. More information and tickets available here.
Learn how to help the Earth every day at Earth Day Staunton, Saturday, April 20, 11am-3pm at Gypsy Hill Park Bandstand. This year's theme, “STOP the Plastic Tidal Wave!” focuses on the effects of plastics on the planet. Enjoy a family-friendly, fun day for all with wildlife programs by the Wildlife Center of Virginia, a live beehive exhibit, and electric cars on display. The Underground Classroom trailer will be on hand providing a worm’s eye view of the world of soil. Learn about everyday S.W.A.P.s (Save Whales, Avoid Plastic) that you can make to reduce plastic pollution.Children will receive an event passport to get stamped by exhibitors to earn a souvenir button. Food trucks will be on site. Composting and recycling will be offered by Shenandoah Green and Black Bear Composting. Bring your own reusable water bottle. An Earth Day poetry contest is open for submissions until April 30th. In the event of rain, the event will be held in the Gypsy Hill Park Gym. More information can be found here.
Apr 21 Sunday
With sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Albemarle-Charlottesville tour showcases three different properties in Free Union. This self-driving tour includes a property with beautifully structured gardens, paths, and an orchard on tour for the first time. The second property is the Ballard-Maupin House, an exquisitely restored late 18th-century farmhouse nestled against a tree-lined pond. Third is Waterperry Farm, a 19th-century estate transformed into an expansive botanical garden boasting several lush garden rooms with water features, sculpture, and a greenhouse. Visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes since properties are extensive and will require lots of walking.
Visit the Garden Week website for more information about the statewide tours. To purchase tickets and for more information about the Charlottesville-Albemarle tour see event website.
Apr 24 Wednesday
This self-driving tour follows the Great Wagon Road (now US Route 11) through Northern Rockingham County, an area filled with history, majestic views and verdant farmland. It includes a rustic lodge, a stately manor, and a more contemporary home built on a hill overlooking the Shenandoah Valley and the Great Wagon Road. Nearby New Market offers shopping, dining and museums, making for a full day in a historic setting. Harrisonburg’s vibrant downtown district is a short drive south from the tour properties on US 11.
The tour map is provided below and includes the following tour properties located in Rockingham County:
The Lodge at Melrose Caverns, 6639 North Valley Pike and The James Morgan, 3436 Buffalo Drive. Both are located just north of Harrisonburg.
Court Manor, 13788 N. Valley Pike is located just south of New Market.
More information is available at vagardenweek.org
Apr 26 Friday
Spring (migration) has sprung! Join Blandy Director and birding enthusiast Dr. Dave Carr in search of early breeding warblers (e.g., Pine, Yellow, Palm, and Yellow-rumped) and other neotropical migrants.
What to expect: We will walk ~1.5 miles over lawn and gravel paths with gently rolling terrain.
What to bring: Dress for the weather. Wear comfortable walking shoes that can withstand a bit of early morning dew on the grass. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair from Blandy.