Community Calendar

Visit Smith House Galleries this month through June 26 to explore a fantastic exhibition of photo encaustic works by artist David A. Douglas! The show opens with a reception June 5, 5-7 pm. Regular hours are Mon-Fri, 11 am-4 pm, with additional hours June 6, 9 am-1 pm; and June 13, 10 am-2 pm. Closed June 19. Admission is free!

About the artist: David A. Douglas is a Virginia-based contemporary artist who has shown his work across the United States and abroad for over 40 years. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in painting from Virginia Intermont College and his Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from James Madison University. His photo-encaustic works on panel blend photography with drawing and painting techniques, incorporating traditional drawing and painting materials that provide depth and texture to the images, including the use of wax. Douglas’s work is held in numerous public, private, and corporate collections, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Chrysler Museum, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and the Academy Art Museum.

In his Artist Statement, Douglas shares, “My art is a series of actions and reactions. Do one thing, look at it, and decide what to do next. It is how I have always worked, in drawing and painting, through photography, and now with the addition of the computer.”

The hole truth? Planning beats guessing. Join us for Death Over Donuts—an upbeat, small-group conversation that turns big end-of-life questions into bite-sized, coffee-and-cruller chat. Guided by trained Death Doulas, you’ll swap stories, gather practical tips, and leave with the gift of clarity for yourself and your family—no lectures, no pressure, just neighbor-to-neighbor insight in a place built for lifelong learning.

Date: Wednesday, June 17
Time: 1:00-2:30 pm
Location: Augusta County Library, 1759 Jefferson Highway, Fishersville, VA
Price: Free. Coffee & donuts provided.

Listen or speak up—it’s your call. Bring a friend, your questions, and your sweet tooth.

Please note: This is not a grief support group. For bereavement resources, visit our Grief and Healing page.

Visit the Turner Pavilion every third Thursday from 5 to 8pm June through August to enjoy live music, local artisans and farmers, food trucks and vendors, and hands-on activities with community organizations. Check our Facebook and Instagram for info about activities and vendors!

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.

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 is not an event but rather an evergreen PSA request for people who may be interested in attending their first AA meeting. Suggested script:

Maybe when you drink, you keep wanting more.

Maybe drinking has gotten in the way of your dreams, of who you wanted to be.

Maybe drinking stopped being fun. Now it just makes you feel lonely.

People in AA understand. And they say, "Welcome."

You can live a sober life that's happy and free. Find an AA meeting in our area at A A Heart of V A dot org. More than 100 in-person and online meetings each week that can help you stay sober just for today. That's A A Heart of V A dot org.

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.

The Shenandoah Valley Art Center during the month of April, in the Cabell/Arehart Invitational Gallery, is exhibiting the artwork of Joan Graybeal Menad of New Hope, VA. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, Menard moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 2012. She has created art her entire life and enjoys combining multiple media in her work. In response to an often chaotic world, Joan creates her own fantasy figures. Her calm-faced ladies emerged during Covid, when she missed seeing people’s happy expressions. She hopes they bring a sense of peace and joy to viewers. “Life Is a Stage: Welcome to Joan of Art’s World” features her beloved ceramic figures alongside new mixed-media assemblages. Step into Joan’s imaginative world and stay awhile. The public is invited to the opening reception on April 4, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. where you can meet and talk to the artist. The exhibition will be open to the public April 4 – May 30, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at 126 S. Wayne Ave, Waynesboro, VA 22980.

In the SVAC Member’s Gallery the theme is “Green.” The members will present their unique interpretations of the theme in each work of art which is priced to accommodate art collectors seeking pieces to expand their collection. The public is invited to view the exhibition, remembering that the art center serves the community by recognizing talent, encouraging creativity, and joining lives through art! The exhibition opening will be April 4, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The exhibition will be open to the public April 4 – May 30, Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 126 S. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, VA 22980.

Visit Smith House Galleries this month through June 26 to explore a fantastic exhibition of photo encaustic works by artist David A. Douglas! The show opens with a reception June 5, 5-7 pm. Regular hours are Mon-Fri, 11 am-4 pm, with additional hours June 6, 9 am-1 pm; and June 13, 10 am-2 pm. Closed June 19. Admission is free!

About the artist: David A. Douglas is a Virginia-based contemporary artist who has shown his work across the United States and abroad for over 40 years. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in painting from Virginia Intermont College and his Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from James Madison University. His photo-encaustic works on panel blend photography with drawing and painting techniques, incorporating traditional drawing and painting materials that provide depth and texture to the images, including the use of wax. Douglas’s work is held in numerous public, private, and corporate collections, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Chrysler Museum, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and the Academy Art Museum.

In his Artist Statement, Douglas shares, “My art is a series of actions and reactions. Do one thing, look at it, and decide what to do next. It is how I have always worked, in drawing and painting, through photography, and now with the addition of the computer.”