Sep 11 Friday
The Luray Fire Department will celebrate its 125th Anniversary on September 11th and 12th at the Page Valley Fairgrounds. The celebration will feature fire truck shows, cash bash, great food, and plenty of activities for kids and families to enjoy. Entertainment will include performances by Chosen Road and Low Water Bridge Band, along with a special memorial tribute by Matt Caton. For more information visit lurayfiredepart.org
Sep 12 Saturday
Residents of Staunton, Augusta, and Waynesboro are invited to bring household hazardous waste materials to the City of Waynesboro Facilities Shop (900 Essex Ave., Waynesboro, 22980) for proper disposal and recycling on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. until noon, for the annual Household Hazardous Waste Day.
Household Hazardous Waste Day Guidelines
Materials ACCEPTED at the EventCFL & fluorescent bulbs Propane tanksGasoline PolyurethaneSolvents (acidic & basic) Batteries (NiCad, NiMH, Lithium, Lithium Ion)Herbicides and pesticides Mercury devicesOil-based paints and stains
Recycled for FREE at the Landfill (NOT accepted at event):Hydraulic & Motor oil Diesel fuelLamp oil Transmission fluid & Kerosene
Items NOT Accepted at This Event:• Hazardous materials from businesses (households only per EPA/DEQ)• Unknown or unlabeled containers• Medications• Electronics, TVs, water-based paint, household batteries, and vehicle tires (Please take these to the Augusta Regional Landfill).Note: No trailers are permitted at this event.
The landfill will accept used oil, antifreeze, dried latex paint, and lead acid batteries any time of year. Latex or water-based paints may be disposed of through normal household waste disposal when dried to a solid state. Latex paint is not hazardous.
For a complete listing of accepted items at the landfill and where to take them, see the landfill disposal guide.
For more information on this event, call 540.245.5700.
A Night to Die For is an interactive murder mystery wedding reception benefiting Connections Early Learning Center. Guests are invited to step into a three-part evening of suspense, celebration, unexpected twists, prizes, art, and community connection—all unfolding in the middle of a wedding reception dinner where not everything goes according to plan.
Connections Early Learning Center is a community-centered early learning program rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and real-world connection. Through hands-on learning, local partnerships, hot meals, and meaningful community engagement, we believe children thrive when they grow within a strong, connected “village.”
This annual fundraiser supports the daily operations and enrichment programming that make our work possible. The evening will also feature silent auction baskets curated through collaborations with local businesses, highlighting the strength and creativity of our broader community.
Curious about what we do—and the impact community collaboration has already made? Visit our website to explore our mission, our projects, and our growing track record of turning community support into real, visible outcomes. As for the mystery itself… we’ll let you solve that part on your own.
Join us at the Holy Myrrhbearers Orthodox Christian Church for our 3rd annual Bazaar - a free, family-friendly celebration of Orthodox Christian culture and Eastern European heritage, with live music and dance performances, authentic cuisine, a bouncy castle and kids' activities, and guided church tours. Experience the Matreshki Dance Group, live violin, folk dancing, and a Slavic sword dance exhibition. Savor traditional foods like pelmeni, pirogi, and blini, plus fresh-ground coffee. Free admission, free parking, a bouncy castle, and fun for the whole family. Learn more at https://holymyrrh.org.
Sep 13 Sunday
Join in the fun at Run the Runway 2026 on September 13 at Shenandoah Valley Airport! This unique, family-friendly community event features a 1K for kids 3-12 and a chip-timed 5K for all fitness levels on the taxiway and runway. For runners, walkers, strollers, and families, this event includes educational activities and aircraft displays before and after the race, plus food trucks and a photo booth.
Sep 17 Thursday
The Furious Flower Reading Series kicks off its first event of the season in the renovated Carrier Library! Join us as we bask in a poetry-filled evening with poetry prize honorable mention Sherina Rodriguez Sharpe, prize winner Wes Matthews, and our Guest Judge Major Jackson. The reading will conclude with a book signing with Major Jackson at the reception in the dedicated Gwendolyn Brooks Reading Room and Furious Flower Suite. This event is free and open to the public; free parking will be available across the street in the Grace Street Parking Garage.
A fundraiser for A Small Hand diaper pantry - because we cover a lot of butts! Live Music by The Instigators | Exciting Raffle Items | Park Lane Jewelry available for purchase | Have fun while helping local families keep their little ones clean, dry, and healthy. www.svlm.org
Sep 19 Saturday
One of Open Doors' signature events, Food Truck Fest supports safe shelter for the unhoused, compassionate support, and access to services for all. All proceeds from the event – including admission – support our local mission!
Save with discounted pre-sale tickets available August 1–31.
Beginning September 1, standard tickets can be purchased online through the end of the event or at the gate
Sep 26 Saturday
Now in its fifth year, Beats on the Bend has become an annual tradition bringing people together to celebrate the natural beauty of Seven Bends State Park. The event encourages people of all ages to experience the park and discover opportunities for recreation, volunteerism, stewardship, and community engagement. This year’s event will celebrate National Public Lands Day, an annual observance recognizing the importance of America’s public lands and the people who enjoy, protect, and care for them.
In addition to live music from Taylor LaFever and the Fever Project, attendees can enjoy food and refreshments from local vendors, including Rutz BBQ and Sugar Creek Snowy & Sweet Ice Cream.
Visitors will also have opportunities to learn more about the Friends of Seven Bends State Park and its work supporting the park.
Start your day with a hike before the music! Register for a hike here
The Central Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners are holding a plant sale and garden fest. Here is your opportunity to purchase plants grown by Master Gardeners, including flowers, fruits, herbs, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and native plants. Food will be provided by the 4-H. The sale will be held on Saturday, September 19, 9AM to 2PM at the United Methodist Church parking lot located at 406 Lee Highway (Route 11), Verona.
Please see the group’s website CSVMGA.org for more information.
https://csvmga.org/event/fall-plant-sale-4/
Join us on Saturday, September 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., as we welcome the Piedmont Master Gardeners for the FREE program about planting cool weather crops and extending your garden harvest. Cool weather crops are essential for gardeners aiming to extend their growing season and make the most of early spring and fall. We will delve into the specifics of selecting the right crops, preparing the garden bed, and managing the unique challenges that come with cool weather gardening. We’ll cover key techniques and timing for planting out cool weather crops, ensuring strong starts and robust harvests.
Space is limited. Please register on our website to reserve your place in the class. Registration closes at 5 p.m. September 18 or when the class is full.
The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum is thrilled to host our first-ever Squirrel Fest!
The JMU and local community are welcome to join us Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for a host of activities that will include:
- Arboretum tours (from the POV of a squirrel!)- A squirrel-based Citizen Science project using iNaturalist- Beatrix Potter's "Squirrel Nutkin," featured on our StoryWalk- Open mic poetry/songs about squirrels at 12 noon- A Haiku workshop- An educational exhibit of squirrels that live in the Arboretum (four species!)- Special focus on our black squirrels- Activity and display tents
Questions? Want to be involved? Contact us at EJCArboretum@jmu.edu or call us at 540-568-3194.
Sep 24 Thursday
Presented by Rocktown History, Fort Harrison, and the Virginia Quilt Museum at Silver Lake Mill, the Heirloom Markets take place on the fourth Thursday of each month, June through September, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The markets include locally grown vegetables, fruits, flowers, artisan-made goods, baked items, food vendors, and demonstrations related to Shenandoah Valley history and traditions.
All three locations will be open on each date with unique vendors at each:
Fort Harrison 335 S. Main St., Dayton
Virginia Quilt Museum at Silver Lake Mill2328 Silver Lake Rd., Dayton
Rocktown History382 High St., Dayton
Visitors may attend at all three sites during the event. More information, including market dates and vendors, is available at rocktownhistory.org/heirloommarkets or by emailing info@HeirloomMarketsDaytonVA.org.