Mid to late Summer (June, July, August Lawn-Highland, a mile or two past Monticello- Since 1978, children at the home of James Monroe. $10-$24. typical county fair featuring crafts, animal and agricultural exhibits, family entertainment, rain, pig- and amusement rides.
Plenty of great food always available. 293-6396
September (September 10, 14, 17, 21, and 24, 2006)
Jefferson Theater, Downtown Mall- Does Mozart get your motor runnin'? Does Haydn make the hair on your arms stand up?
If so, get your dose of chamber music and then some at this month-long event. 295-5395
Stadium- This year it's against the Cowboys of the University of Wyoming. Ticket info: 800-542-UVA1 or locally barn-stormin' festival with parachutists, biplanes, and aerial stunts.
Free admission, but pay for rides. Louisa County Airport. 11am-4pm.
540-967-0050
110 exhibitors, face-painting, jugglers, and food (veggie only, natch). Free admission.11am-4pm.
979-1200
24, 2006) and Late April (April 28, 2007)
part of the fun, this equestrian fandango is a spring and fall must-do for horsey locals. Tickets $25 in advance; parking $15 with no tickets available at the gate. Last year's fall race was called "Family Day," and included pony rides, a chili cook-off, Jack Russell Terrier races, and a stroll around the course.
293-9501 or have its own festival, but here several of the leaders band together for a comfy little gig at one of their venues. Location TBD. 977-3042
Montpelier Estate in Orange County- Sheep-shearing and wool spinning, knitting, rug-weaving, a fiber fashion show, and for the first time, a fleece sale allows shepherds to make their own fleeces available.
$5 adults; under-16 free. Sat wood, metal, photography, and art provide a tantalizing array of beautiful handmade articles for sale. This two-day event makes a fine outing for the entire family.
$4 adults; $1 kids 6-12. 823-2211
- Rebec Vineyard, Rt. 29 south just north of Amherst- This festival is part feast, part comedy routine, and all fun.
Kids activities, contests, food, crafts fair, wine tastings, live music, and more. Don't miss the crowning of the Garlic King! 10am-5pm both days.
$20, $25 if you're tasting the wine, $5 kids 2-11, discounts if you buy tickets in advance. 946-5168
local benefactor Patricia Kluge back in 1988, this is the event that has brought to town such stars as Vanessa Redgrave, Ann-Margret, Nicolas Cage, and Sigourney Weaver. Noted critic Roger Ebert has been known to put in an appearance every now and then.
924-3374
marketplace experience. Put on by the Women's Committee of Martha Jefferson Hospital, all vendors donate 15 percent of their sales to benefit breast cancer treatment at the hospital. Admission is $5, kids under 10 are free.
296-7143
treating on the planet. 3-5pm. 924-3736.
Station (45 min. north- Orange County)- A bit farther away than Foxfield, but it may actually take less time thanks to its smaller scale. The Montpelier Hunt Race is one of the Admission $15 advance, $20 race day.
parking $20 advance, $25 race day. 12 and under free. Or spend $1200 and become a "paddock party host.
" 540-672-0027 Downtown Mall, Lee Park, and other venues- performances, craft demonstrations, and historical reenactments. All events free. 249-4032
Scott Stadium- UVA's is a program on the rise, and in the home finale, the Cavs take on conference foe Miami.
Ticket info: For a delicious and hassle-free Thanksgiving, make reservations for you and yours at Graves Mountain Lodge (540-923-4231) in Madison County for their all-you-can-eat buffet-style Thanksgiving dinner. Not only do they serve turkey with all the trimmings, but also Old Dominion delicacies like Virginia ham and fried oysters.
City Market.
The festival offers a variety of holiday events along the Mall, helping families enjoy the spirit of the season. 977-1812
Late November and December (December 1-31, 2006)
St.- It's the rarity of rarities: all studios in the subsidized-rent palace of art may be open.
There's entertainment, and, in the Gallery, a holiday group show by all members. 295-7973
Downtown- For over 20 years, visitors have enjoyed entertainment, food, alcohol-free events, and fireworks at midnight. The program strives to grow and improve its festivities every New Year, and as always an admission button gets you into everything.
Prices have yet to be finalized but should be in the area of $12 adults, $6 kids, kids under 4 free. 975-8269
ACC Basketball at UVA- John Paul Jones Arena- For decades, the Atlantic Coast Conference has been the premiere conference in the nation for and college basketball. In January, you can find out why when UVA begins its conference schedule in earnest at the brand new 16,000-seat John Paul Jones Arena.
These hard-to-come-by tickets go on sale in late Mid January (January 20-21, 2007)
piping hot chili. Be sure to vote for your favorite! Price of admission and, of course, what would a bowl of chili be without a side of cornbread?
11am-5pm both days. $12, $5 of which goes to the volunteer fire department. 1650 Harris Creek Road.
293-2054
groupies, this popular event continues to grow after setting another attendance record at the 2005 festival. The event has featured such luminaries as Garrison Keillor, the Fellowship of Southern Writers, , and . Most events at the five-day fest are free.
924-6890
participants from all over the state and beyond, usually tops out at 2,000 entrants and blocks off city roads, streets, and alleys. But you have to get up early on Saturday to check it out. Fee to run to be determined (probably $15-20).
Fee to watch? Priceless. 296-6115
Last Sat in April (April 28, 2007)
Park, Downtown and other sites- Two weeks packed with events: the biggies are the Dogwood Festival Parade, the carnival rides in McIntire Park.
Along the way, there's the coronation of the Dogwood queen, a tennis tournament, the 10-miler, Garden Week, and even fireworks lighting up city skies. Some events are free; most have a modest entry fee. early May to early October, this massive free party fills best musical artists.
Attendance is still free, and the beer still costs $3. 817-0220
locals. Recent years have included John Grisham's secret garden and perennial favorites, UVA Lawn Pavilions.
The main tour in this area for horticulture. $35 in Charlottesville. 804-644-7776
All over town and then some- To paraphrase Merle Haggard, it seems Charlottesvillians were born the running kind.
After years of the Ten-Miler growing in popularity, Charlottesville had its first marathon and half-marathon in 2002, and it's been a hit every year since. The starting gun goes off at 7:30am. Registration opens on October 1.
293-7115
two-day extravaganza at Montpelier, the home of James Madison 45 minutes north of town. Price of admission includes tastings, a commemorative glass, food, live music and a lot more. $12 advance, cities, this is called the Farmers' Market, but then again, in most cities, the local college has a "campus.
" Fresh fruits, veggies, baked goods, flower bouquets and plants are offered for sale, while a spirit of civil disobedience state banned their sales, are now giving away their yummy products! Saturdays, 7am-noon. 970-3371
Mid-May (May 19-20, 2007)
kids activities.
This festival at James Monroe's house is the closest major wine shindig to town. Eight to ten vintners, plus eating, shopping, and music. $10-15, includes tastings and glass.
293-9539
Downtown Mall. Now, in its 16th year, the race is a School. 977-1025
Ridge Estate, 40 minutes south of town, featuring fine wines, kids' stuff, music, and more oak trees than you can shake a-- well-- stick at, this one's worth the drive just magnate a century ago.
12 and under free; adults $10-12, with additional charges for wine and house tours. 263-8098 Naturalization of approximately 75 new citizens. Guest speakers have included Secretary of State Colin Powell, architect I.
M. Pei, and large-scale artist Christo; patriotic tone. Admission to ceremony and grounds is free.
fly at McIntire Park. Fees for some events, but the fireworks are free. Info: Dave Phillips, Park- In 2005, this old-fashioned carnival lasted three days, including games, rides, live bands, a parade and great fair food.
Hosted by the town's volunteer fire department. Fourth, starting with a big parade through town. Arts and crafts vendors, food, an antiques fair, a flea market, live music at The Rhythm on the River concer, and Putting on your own fireworks display at home?
Anything more serious than sparklers, spinners, and Albemarle. Not okay: bottle rockets, roman candles, and Booker T. Washington Park- Education and entertainment Events include storytelling, crafts, live music, and dance performances.
Free.
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