Community Calendar

This introductory playwriting course invites adult learners to explore the fundamentals of writing for the stage in a supportive, creative environment. Participants will examine various dramatic structures, engage with key narrative conventions, and experiment with techniques that bring stories to the stage through dialogue, character, and action. Through guided exercises, discussions, and writing prompts, participants will develop original pieces of dramatic art while gaining a deeper understanding of how plays are often built to function as meaning machines. This class offers a mix of practical application and theoretical discussion.

This class will provide aspiring actors with the tools they need to smoothly go from first read-through to opening night. Participants will learn proven techniques for analyzing a script and understanding a character’s motivations, and practice essential skills for working with scene partners, making bold choices, and being creative in the rehearsal room. This class is open to anyone who is curious about how to get started in acting, with no experience required. Whether you are keen to get on the stage yourself, or even to understand the process of those you enjoy watching on stage, this class is for you. This class will be entirely practical.

Oak Grove Theater's Summer 2026 Session begins with "No Sex Please, We're British": Newlyweds Peter and Frances Hunter are settling into life above Peter’s bank when a harmless mail-order mistake delivers Scandinavian pornography instead of glassware. As the illicit packages multiply, the couple, along with a panicked bank cashier, scramble to contain the chaos, dodging bosses, inspectors, in-laws, and the police in a farce that spirals wildly out of control.

Join us for live theater outdoors under the stars at beautiful Oak Grove Theater; performances begin at 8:45pm sharp, but attendees are welcome and encouraged to come early, bring a picnic and enjoy the grounds. Oak Grove Theater sells tickets for the season - one season ticket purchase allows you to see each show once; tickets for a single performance are not available. Learn more and purchase your tickets here

Join us for Fore the Love of Paws, a fun mini golf tournament benefiting the RHSPCA. Grab your friends and sign up for a shotgun-style round of mini-golf, then enjoy grilled lunch under the pavilion after you finish the course with an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to win some great prizes!

Tickets start at $20 per person, with foursomes available for $80 and we encourage signing up as a team for the full experience!

Your ticket includes mini golf, lunch, and an event t-shirt, plus the chance to visit the Puppy Putt Zone to meet adorable adoptable puppies while you play.

*T-shirt orders will be taken at the event and available after for pick up from the RHSPCA

Spots are limited, so grab your group and come putt fore a purpose!

LIVE MUSIC @ Cooter's Luray

Sat May 30
2pm-4pm

FREE ADMISSION!
Bluegrass Concert live every Sunday 2pm-4pm

VMRC’s Juried Art Exhibition is an annual national show that began in 2004 as part of VMRC’s 50th anniversary. Over 23 years, it has featured a curated selection of artwork from artists across 45 states. Typically showcasing around 90 works, the exhibition includes painting, photography, and mixed media, displayed in VMRC’s Park Gables Art Gallery.

Organized and managed by VMRC residents, the exhibition reflects VMRC’s commitment to the arts and desire to provide exceptional art for the enjoyment of residents, staff, and the broader community. Works are selected by jurors based on criteria such as technique, design, creativity, and conceptual quality. Open to the public, the exhibition invites you to spend time with art in a setting that feels welcoming and unhurried, with space to take in each piece at your own pace.

Plan your visit: May 31 - June 26, weekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This class is an opportunity for actors to dig deeper into proven techniques that will strengthen the voice, body, presence, imagination, and instinct. Guided by the work of practitioners such as Sanford Meisner, Cicely Berry, Uta Hagen, and others, participants will work toward developing a reliable toolkit to access deeper connections to their characters, scene partners, objectives, actions, and their own instrument. This class is open to anyone who has some previous experience or training and is interested in deepening their practice, enhancing their skill set, and approaching old acting challenges in new ways. This class will be entirely practical.

A farm-to-table experience that will fuel our growth: Chef Throwdown Benefiting Jones Gardens- September 7, 2026 @ 5:30pm (Location TBD)

Jones Gardens invites Virginia chefs to apply for a friendly Farm-to-Table Chef Throwdown, featured as part of a lively, ticketed fundraising dinner celebrating local food, farms, and community.

Each selected chef will be paired with a Virginia farm and challenged to create a dish that highlights the farm’s ingredients and a thoughtful farm-to-table approach. Guests will enjoy the event as both entertainment and dining, tasting inspired dishes while cheering on chef–farm teams.

All proceeds benefit Jones Gardens, and help fuel our operations, particularly a new and exciting venture that will break soon break ground, which will bring more programming and education to the community.

What Chefs Receive

Stipend for participation
Volunteer assistance during prep and service (if needed)
Exposure to a broad, food-loving community audience through our social media and website, as well as potential to be featured in local news broadcastings
Collaboration with a Virginia farm
A fun, high-energy competition for a meaningful cause

Chef Requirements (Seeking 2-3 chefs)

Must apply via the Jones Gardens website
Must Prepare at least one dish that contributes to the full course meal (either an appetizer, entree or desert)
Submit a short video clip showing yourself preparing a dish and explaining your process
Be genuinely passionate about Jones Gardens’ mission and local food systems

Chefs of all backgrounds and culinary styles are encouraged to apply.

Come Out for First Friday!

Join us on Friday, June 5th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM as we kick off the Co-op’s 15th Birthday celebrations with 15 Years of Local Love, a mixed media group art show inspired by community, food, and connection.

This show will feature a collection of 10” x 10” works by local artists, and explores what the Co-op means to the people who make up our community. Through both literal and abstract interpretations, artists reflect on the ways the Co-op feeds, grounds, and connects us to each other, to local food, and to a shared sense of place.

Enjoy an evening of local art, conversation, and community as we celebrate 15 years of the Friendly City Food Co-op. The exhibit will be on display in the café gallery space for the month of June.

We hope you’ll join us for this special First Friday event!