Community Calendar

On Sunday, April 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., we invite you and your four legged friends out on the Highland Rustic Trails for a day of doggone good fun!

The Highland Rustic Trails are free and open to the public. All dogs must be leashed. Dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals. Please keep our trails clean so everyone can enjoy their experience on the Highland Rustic Trails.

Women of Americana: A Celebration of American Music
From Joan Baez and Bonnie Raitt to Alison Krauss and Brandi Carlile featuring Cristina Vane and Brennen Leigh

Join us for a heartfelt celebration of early folk, gospel, and Western swing music with Women of Americana! This isn’t just a concert—it’s an exuberant exploration of this expansive and singular American genre that planted the roots of American music, featuring vocalists and instrumentalists Cristina Vane and Brennen Leigh. The performance includes songs made famous by iconic artists like Brandi Carlile, Emmy Lou Harris, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, and more. Titles like “Blowin’ In The Wind” (Joan Baez),“Angel From Montgomery” (Bonnie Raitt), “Car Wheels On A Gravel Road” (Lucinda Williams), “Can The Circle Be Unbroken” (The Carter Family), and more. Accompanying video projections make this concert a multimedia event. Coinciding with the upcoming semiquincentennial (250th anniversary of the United States’ founding, Women of Americana will entertain and inspire audiences at a historic moment in our nation’s history.

Formed in 2025 out of a makeshift practice space in Harrisonburg, VA, Vessira began with four college students and a shared dream. Fueled by faith, the Bible, and more than a few Krispy Kremes, the band channels their beliefs into alt rock rooted in honesty and emotion. With themes of struggle, hope, and uncertainty, Vessira seeks to unite listeners from all walks of life. No matter who’s on the other side of the track, the message remains the same: you are never alone. God bless—and rock on.

Tandem Friends School is excited to announce the inaugural Tandem Friends School 5K Fun Run/Walk, taking place on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 9am at Darden Towe Park. This fundraising event will bring together students, families, alumni, and community members for a morning of movement and connection in support of the school.
Open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, the event reflects a core value of Tandem’s athletics program: participation. Tandem Friends School has a no-cut sports policy, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to play and be part of a team.

“At Tandem, we often say that fundraising is a no-cut sport,” said Whitney Thompson, Head of School. “This event is a fun way for our whole community to come together and support the programs and opportunities that make Tandem special.”

Proceeds from the event will support Tandem Friends School, a nonprofit independent Quaker day school serving students in grades 5 –12.

Registration is now open at https://www.tandemfs.org/tandem-friends-5k-fun-runwalk.

The annual Open Studios Tour Roanoke takes place on last week of April. Meet local artists for the 26th annual Open Studios Tour Roanoke on April 25 & 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. This is a free, family-friendly, self-guided tour allowing the public to learn more about what, how, and where artists create by inviting them into their homes and studios.

The tour will take place across several locations throughout Roanoke City, including Downtown Roanoke.

Mediums represented will include painting, photography, prints, sculpture, fine art, jewelry, woven textiles, ceramics, and mixed media. Artists will share glimpses into their processes, work-spaces, and opportunities to purchase their one-of-a-kind pieces.

The annual Open Studios Tour Roanoke takes place on last week of April. Meet local artists for the 26th annual Open Studios Tour Roanoke on April 25 & 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. This is a free, family-friendly, self-guided tour allowing the public to learn more about what, how, and where artists create by inviting them into their homes and studios.

The tour will take place across several locations throughout Roanoke City, including Downtown Roanoke.

Mediums represented will include painting, photography, prints, sculpture, fine art, jewelry, woven textiles, ceramics, and mixed media. Artists will share glimpses into their processes, work-spaces, and opportunities to purchase their one-of-a-kind pieces.

Ever wondered what it’s like to experience 40 countries in a single day?
At the 65th International Street Fair, you can do exactly that!

Explore global customs and traditions brought to life by Virginia Tech’s international and cultural student organizations. Stroll through vibrant booths filled with demonstrations, cultural displays, music, and Hokies dressed in stunning traditional attire. Enjoy hands‑on activities, traditional games, arts, crafts, and unique items created by students.

The fair kicks off with the Global Cultural Parade, showcasing celebrated cultures from around the world. Then stick around for dynamic performances—dancers, singers, and talented instrumentalists lighting up the stage in front of Torgersen Bridge.

Come hungry! We’ll have 16 food trucks serving international and cultural cuisines from across Virginia. Bring the whole family and stop by the Global Kids Zone, sponsored by Falin Life Sciences, for a free craft to make and take home.

Join us at the Richmond SPCA for a special event with local author and journalist Melanie D.G. Kaplan as she discusses her new book, Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research. Curious about her adopted beagle's past—and the broader world of animal research—Kaplan, alongside her former lab dog Hammy, embarks on a quest for answers. Equal parts journalism and love story, Lab Dog offers a nuanced view on our relationship with a species that we both love and exploit. Dr. Jane Goodall called the book “remarkable.”

Kaplan will be in conversation with former WRIC Investigative Reporter, Kerri O’Brien, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.

Registration is required. Guests may purchase a $10 ticket, all of which will be donated to the Richmond SPCA; or a $45 ticket, which includes the donation plus a signed copy of Lab Dog. Books will also be available for purchase courtesy of Shelf Life Books.

Purchase your tickets today and learn how these precious animals went from a lab to loving homes. Well behaved dogs are welcome to join.

Highland’s annual sheep shearing will take place on Sunday, April 26 (rain or shine), at 2:00 p.m. Tom Stanley will demonstrate the New Zealand sheep shearing method at this educational, agricultural event. We will also have traditional wool carding and spinning demonstrations for the family from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Visitors are encouraged to enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds.

Admission to the sheep shearing event is $6 per person. Children under 6 are admitted free. Monroe’s Farm Friends members are admitted FREE OF CHARGE (email info@highland.org to make a reservation)!

About Tom Stanley
Tom Stanley has worked with sheep his entire life, starting with an orphaned lamb when he was 9 years old. He started shearing his own sheep when he was 14 years old. Today, Tom is employed by Virginia Tech as an Agriculture Extension Agent based in Rockbridge County and keeps a small flock of 40 breeding sheep that lamb each April.

KRU (Kreative Room Unfiltered) is a fresh, community-driven open mic experience hosted in the Music Hall at the Academy Center of the Arts, designed to spotlight raw talent, authentic expression, and creative freedom while cultivating a space where artists and audiences can connect without barriers or expectations. This weekly Thursday night event brings together both emerging and established performers across disciplines—including music, spoken word, comedy, and other forms of live creative expression, offering a welcoming yet high-quality environment supported by professional sound and intentional production that elevates every performance. With a focus on unfiltered artistry, individuality, and genuine connection, KRU encourages performers to take creative risks, share their voices honestly, and contribute to a living, evolving creative dialogue, while audiences are invited not just to observe, but to engage with and become part of the experience. Free to attend, KRU serves as both a platform and a gathering place—one that celebrates originality, builds community, and adds a vibrant, inclusive energy to Lynchburg’s arts scene, offering something bold, distinctive, and unlike any other open mic in the area.