Community Calendar

Medicare Advantage or Part D plans change every year. Medication coverage and costs, premiums, deductibles, and provider networks may all be different next year - even if you make no changes. Stay in control by reviewing options during Open Enrollment.

JABA offers FREE, unbiased counseling from certified volunteers. Choose a plan that will best cover your medications and save you money. Understand your options. Make an informed decision. Request an Appointment: (434) 817-5248 or jabacares.org/medicare-counseling

In January 1848, a carpenter spotted flecks of gold in a shallow stream at Sutter’s Mill in California—triggering the greatest voluntary migration in U.S. history and jolting a fragile republic already sliding toward crisis. In The Rush, Nathaniel Philbrick transforms the Gold Rush from a tale of sudden riches into the origin story of America’s modern contradictions: capital consolidated at dizzying speed, democracy in thrall to private power, xenophobia weaponized in the name of liberty—and a stubborn belief in the American experiment that refuses to die. This is the story of a nation tearing at the seams—a republic tested by its own ideals. From the feverish gold-mining camps of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the wharves and vigilance committees of San Francisco, Philbrick renders a combustible, all-world society. He follows the gold as it moves from riverbed to countinghouse to the halls of power, revealing how vigilantism hardened into law and how debates over slavery in the West tipped the balance in Washington. The result is a clear, human story of how a scramble for wealth reshaped ideas of freedom, labor, and belonging—and how California's rise helped push a fractured nation toward war. The Rush is alive with characters whose choices still reverberate: a searing, panoramic epic that captures both the fury and the promise of America.

Nathaniel Philbrick is the award-winning author of several bestselling books, including In the Heart of the Sea, winner of the National Book Award; Mayflower, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; Valiant Ambition, winner of the George Washington Prize; Bunker Hill, winner of the New England Book Award; Travels with George; Sea of Glory; and The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World.

A book signing and light refreshments will follow the program.

The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Don’t miss Grace & Glorie, Oct. 9-Nov. 8. The poignant, heartwarming comedy by acclaimed Virginia playwright Tom Ziegler explores love, loss, and the universal search for meaning in all our lives. Grace, a fiercely independent 90-year-old with terminal cancer, checks herself out of the hospital to spend her final days at her rustic cabin home nestled deep in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. Glorie, a Harvard MBA, is searching for a new purpose in her life and hoping to find peace in Appalachia, far from the demands of New York City. She volunteers for her local hospice program. Her first client is Grace. What begins as the hilarious collision of two opposite cultures and generations turns into a rich and abiding friendship, in which each woman finds her home. Filled with humor, heart and hope, Grace and Glorie is a celebration of the transformative power of human connection, and a tribute to the strength and resilience of women and their friendships at any age. Starring Richmond favorites Catherine Shaffner* and Amber Marie Martinez. (*Member, Actors' Equity Association)

Medicare Advantage or Part D plans change every year. Medication coverage and costs, premiums, deductibles, and provider networks may all be different next year - even if you make no changes. Stay in control by reviewing options during Open Enrollment.

JABA offers FREE, unbiased counseling from certified volunteers. Choose a plan that will best cover your medications and save you money. Understand your options. Make an informed decision. Request an Appointment: (434) 817-5248 or jabacares.org/medicare-counseling

Event will feature handmade creations for local artisans to raise money for lcoal chariteis. They are, BARCC, Isaiah 117 House, Quilts of Valor, Parkview Mission and Daily Bread. Quilts will be on display and for sale. Learn how to make a block that will be a part of a community quilt. Get a start on your holiday shopping at the Boutique with unique items and gifts for everyone on your list: teachers, coworkers, kids, elders, neighbors, hostess and more. Raffles for charity quilts and door prizes will be given throughout the day. A Quilts of Valor ceremony will be Saturday, November 7 in the early afteroon to honor some brave veterans that have given so much to our country. A quilt will be presented to each of them to show our appreication. Explore, discover, shop, learn and support our community all at one place as we make our area a better place, one stitch at a time.

Don’t miss Grace & Glorie, Oct. 9-Nov. 8. The poignant, heartwarming comedy by acclaimed Virginia playwright Tom Ziegler explores love, loss, and the universal search for meaning in all our lives. Grace, a fiercely independent 90-year-old with terminal cancer, checks herself out of the hospital to spend her final days at her rustic cabin home nestled deep in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. Glorie, a Harvard MBA, is searching for a new purpose in her life and hoping to find peace in Appalachia, far from the demands of New York City. She volunteers for her local hospice program. Her first client is Grace. What begins as the hilarious collision of two opposite cultures and generations turns into a rich and abiding friendship, in which each woman finds her home. Filled with humor, heart and hope, Grace and Glorie is a celebration of the transformative power of human connection, and a tribute to the strength and resilience of women and their friendships at any age. Starring Richmond favorites Catherine Shaffner* and Amber Marie Martinez. (*Member, Actors' Equity Association)

Medicare Advantage or Part D plans change every year. Medication coverage and costs, premiums, deductibles, and provider networks may all be different next year - even if you make no changes. Stay in control by reviewing options during Open Enrollment.

JABA offers FREE, unbiased counseling from certified volunteers. Choose a plan that will best cover your medications and save you money. Understand your options. Make an informed decision. Request an Appointment: (434) 817-5248 or jabacares.org/medicare-counseling

Event will feature handmade creations for local artisans to raise money for lcoal chariteis. They are, BARCC, Isaiah 117 House, Quilts of Valor, Parkview Mission and Daily Bread. Quilts will be on display and for sale. Learn how to make a block that will be a part of a community quilt. Get a start on your holiday shopping at the Boutique with unique items and gifts for everyone on your list: teachers, coworkers, kids, elders, neighbors, hostess and more. Raffles for charity quilts and door prizes will be given throughout the day. A Quilts of Valor ceremony will be Saturday, November 7 in the early afteroon to honor some brave veterans that have given so much to our country. A quilt will be presented to each of them to show our appreication. Explore, discover, shop, learn and support our community all at one place as we make our area a better place, one stitch at a time.

Join us for a special family-friendly breakfast featuring teen CEO, innovator, author & activist Bellen Woodard, creator of the “More Than Peach” movement and acclaimed author of More than Peach & Ballet Brown.

Enjoy a delicious pink-themed breakfast before hearing Bellen share her story and the inspiration behind her work, celebrating representation and individuality. After the presentation, children and families will take part in a hands-on activity inspired by Bellen’s message before heading into Barbie™: A Cultural Icon to explore the exhibition.

This family-friendly program is part of the VMHC’s monthly breakfast series in celebration of Barbie™: A Cultural Icon, offering families opportunities to enjoy a meal, meet special guests, and get creative!

This program is recommended for children 7+ and a parent/guardian.

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of music, movement, and heartfelt tribute at Salute, presented by Piedmont Virginia Community College! This FREE concert celebrates the courage and sacrifice of our nation's veterans. This inspiring performance showcases the athleticism and artistry of Charlottesville Ballet's professional dancers through a diverse program of powerful and engaging works.

Through dynamic choreography and an eclectic musical landscape, the concert explores themes of community, culture, and connection. Highlights include Sara Clayborne's Valhalla, set to an original composition by veteran composer David Brent, featuring electric guitar and a compelling fusion of classical and contemporary styles. Also returning to the stage is the audience favorite, A Military Fanfare by choreographer Mary Hein, a beloved dance educator and Army Ranger spouse. Set to a stirring medley of anthems representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, this vibrant work celebrates service with precision, power, and pride.

Whether you are moved by music, inspired by dance, or eager to honor those who have served, Salute offers a moving celebration of patriotism, remembrance, and community through the transformative power of the arts.