Community Calendar

Rural Idaho. Difficult Memories. An estranged father’s house to sell. From the acclaimed author of The Whale, Little Bear Ridge Road confronts issues as wide as galaxies and as intimate as family secrets.

After the death of his long-estranged father, Ethan returns to the tiny hometown he once escaped—only to find himself face to face with the only family he has left: his sharp-tongued, fiercely independent aunt. While cleaning up years of a failing family, the two are forced to confront old pain, unfinished conversations, and the orbit that keeps pulling them back to a place they want to leave.

At its core, Little Bear Ridge Road is a deeply human story about distance and return, silence and understanding, and the complicated ways families try—and sometimes struggle—to show up for each other, even when words fall short.

Performances on Wednesday (alternating 2PM and 7PM), Thursdays and Fridays (7PM), Saturdays (2PM and 7PM), and Sundays (3PM)

Ticket link: https://va-rep.org/events/little-bear-ridge-road/

Address: Virginia Repertory Theatre - 114 W. Broad St, Richmond VA
Phone: 804-282-2620

tickets@virginiarep.org

Touch a Truck Night presented by VATRO! 2026 NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O'Reilly (FREE pre race truck show for spectators 10am-3pm) America Racer Late Models Va Modifieds, Legends, Bandos and Southern Ground Pounders but you don't have to wait until gates to enjoy practice all day from the climate controlled 118 Bar and Grill! But you don't have to wait until gates to enjoy practice all day from the climate controlled 118 Bar and Grill!

East Hill Cemetery comes alive after dark just once a year! The Salem Museum once again welcomes the living for its 28th annual Ghost Walk on October 1-3, 2026. Tour the historic graveyard and meet notable characters from Salem’s past on walking tours that are family-friendly, fun, and informative, but not scary.

“Ghosts” will share captivating tales of fascinating figures from various periods of Salem’s rich history, spanning over 200 years. Each character has made an impact, whether big or small, and some stories are simply delightful. Guests will also discover surprising narratives about some of the region’s most historic locations - places they may encounter in their daily lives.

Tours leave the Museum every 15 minutes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Advanced tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students of any age, and free for children ages three and younger.

All tickets are on sale now at the Salem Museum or online through SalemMuseum.org. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended to reserve your preferred tour time. Groups must register in advance. The Ghost Walk is expected to sell out once again this year.

Good walking shoes and a flashlight are recommended for participants of the Ghost Walk, as the tour covers just over half a mile. The route, reflecting the name “East Hill,” includes some gentle inclines and declines, though it is not strenuous and features several stops along the way. In the event of rain, the tour will be relocated indoors to the Salem Museum.

All proceeds from the Ghost Walk benefit the Salem Museum and its educational programs. For more information, visit SalemMuseum.org or call 540-389-6760.

¡Somos Cultura—We Are the Culture!

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of Hispanic culture filled with music, movement, food, and community! Whether you’re stepping onto the dance floor for the first time or you’re a seasoned dancer, everyone is invited to celebrate.

Kick off the evening with fun, beginner-friendly salsa and bachata dance lessons, then enjoy the electrifying sounds of JStop Latin Soul as they bring the energy of live Latin music to the stage. When the band wraps up, DJ ED will keep the party going with an exciting dance celebration late into the evening.

Savor delicious bites from local food trucks, connect with friends and neighbors, and immerse yourself in a joyful evening that celebrates the vibrant traditions, rhythms, and spirit of Hispanic culture.

Come dance, celebrate, and experience Somos Cultura—We Are the Culture!

Persian/Iranian-American artist Maryam Safajoo works in oil on linen, creating intimate and vulnerable narrative paintings. Safajoo documents the stories of the Iranian Bahá’í community’s systematic persecution after the 1979 revolution—stories that are often erased, silenced, or preserved only in the memories of those who endured them.

Many of the incidents she depicts only exist in the memory of those who experienced them and have no pictorial evidence. Through conversations, interviews, and archival research, she reconstructs these histories with meticulous detail, incorporating the clothing, artifacts, and environments that were present at these events. 

Through her work, Safajoo reflects on a world free from prejudice—one where people are not judged by their beliefs, gender, identity, race, or social status.

Maryam Safajoo: The Dream of Freedom will be on view at the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum from August 6 - December 12, 2026. 

Please be sure to join the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum for Safajoo’s artist talk on Friday, September 18th at 6 PM in the Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center, Room 119.

Image Credits: Maryam Safajoo, As Leaven to the World, 2024. Oil on linen, 24 x 20 inches. Courtesy of the Artist. 

Mallory Zondag, award-winning artist and educator living in New York, uses fiber arts and sculpture to explore the natural world and how it relates to the physical body and the human experience.

She explores deeply personal and connective universal stories through the meditative and hands-on practices of wet felting, weaving, sculpting, and stitching, seeking to bring the ephemeral into physical being. 

This exhibition of work includes a site-specific installation at the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, which was created using hand felted wool, wax, fibers, fabrics and objects both found and recycled. 

Mallory Zondag: Transmissions from the Anthropocene, on view at the museum from July 30 - December 5, will be accompanied by an artist lecture and a series of community workshops in the Roanoke Valley.

Image Credits: Mallory Zondag, the VOID, 2026. Wood, Blackest Black in the Known Universe paint, tufted wool yarn, felted wool, wire, plastic waste, paper mache, sound. In collaboration with Peter Ossi, woodworker, and Lin Furio, sound designer.

Jake McCord, a self-taught artist from Georgia, frequently said that making art was something he did “just for fun.” He lived and worked alone and considered his art to be “company” – Once a painting was complete, McCord would install it on his front porch to share the work with the community, engaging passersby and sparking conversation.

McCord’s works are products of his imagination and his unique vision of the world. Looking at his paintings is an invitation to enter McCord’s lively and colorful world and a reminder that anyone can express themselves through creating art. "Jake McCord: Jolly Company" is on view at the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum August 13 – November 14, 2026, and is on loan from Chris Ross and Traveling Art Exhibitions. Please go to Hollins.edu/Museum to find our open hours!

Please also join the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum for a community workshop inspired by McCord's paintings on Friday, October 23rd from 2-4 PM on the front plaza outside the museum.

Image Credits: Jake McCord, "Untitled (Purple Dog with Ball)," 1998. House paint on found wood, 20 x 15 inches. © Private Collection.

"No Excellent Beauty: Disability Aesthetics" is a two-person show that features the work of photographers Kristen Olinger and Michael Van Huffel. Both Olinger and Van Huffel work in the medium of digital photography to engage in self-portraiture as a means to process living with late onset chronic illness and disability. Neither artist carries visible signs of their illness, which can make describing their challenges and experiences more difficult, but through their photographs they are able to make the unseen visible.

The Eleanor D. Wilson Museum has partnered with Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired to provide braille printings of all text included in this exhibition, as well as Swell Touch prints of a selection of pieces for all to feel and enjoy.

Image Credits: Kristen Olinger, "Opulent Dolls," digital photograph, 2025. Image courtesy of the artist.

Celebrate the beauty of fall at the 35th Annual Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival, returning September 19 through November 1, 2026 in Christiansburg, Virginia. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia's Favorite Fall Festival welcomes families from across the region for seven weekends at an award-winning pumpkin patch and corn maze with unforgettable farm fun.
This year's festival introduces America's Harvest Celebration, honoring 250 years of America's agricultural heritage, family traditions, and the spirit of the harvest. Throughout the festival, guests will experience America's Harvest Celebration through the traditions of farm life, live music, seasonal activities, local artisans, delicious food, and the simple joys of gathering with family and friends to celebrate the harvest season.
Recognized by USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards as the 4th Best Pumpkin Patch and 4th Best Corn Maze in the Nation in 2025, Sinkland Farms has become one of Southwest Virginia's premier fall destinations.
Wine Festival admission includes Pumpkin Festival admission.
Festival favorites include:
• Hayrides to the pumpkin patch
• Pick-your-own pumpkins and sunflowers
• A nationally recognized corn maze
• Farm animals
• Kid's Zone with giant slide, jump pad, barrel train, zip line, and games
• Live music (Sat/Sun)
• Special performances by university a cappella groups
• The Virginia Tech Highty-Tighties during Hokie Spirit Weekend
• Radford University dance performances during Highlander Weekend
• Arts & Crafts vendors (Sat/Sun)
• Art in the Barn (Oct) featuring talented local artists and handcrafted goods
• Food trucks
• Face painters
• Pig races (Sat/Sun)
• Blacksmith demonstrations (Sat/Sun)
• Chainsaw carving (Sat/Sun)
• PumpkinTron, Scarecrow, and Juggling Geoff
• Pony rides and horseback trail rides (Sat/Sun, extra cost)
• Blue Ridge Extreme Mobile Laser Tag* (Fri/Sat/Sun, extra cost)
• Beer & wine on the Terrace
Opening weekend also features the 4th Annual Sinkland Farms Wine Festival on September 19-20, where guests can sample wines from Virginia wineries and spirits from local distilleries while enjoying live music and beautiful mountain views. Wine Festival admission includes Pumpkin Festival admission.
Punkin' Chunkin' returns to the farm on October 3rd and 4th with Team Carbo's trebouchet, an innovative new catapult design that uses large rubber bands to power it. This catapult won't be using any motors - it's manually cocked and operated.
Special musical guests include:
Saturday, Oct 10 - Makenzie Phipps of NBC's The Voice
Sunday, Oct 11 - Lily Comer a country favorite
Saturday, Oct 24 - Noah Spencer of NBC's The Voice
Come celebrate autumn where family traditions, agriculture, and Appalachian hospitality come together at one of Virginia's favorite fall festivals. Photographers are encouraged to get photography passes for their clients with the beautiful backdrop of sunflowers, pumpkins, and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
When: Sept 19-Nov 1, 2026
Thursdays (October) & Fridays: 4:00–8:00 PM (limited activities)
Saturdays & Sundays: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (full festival)
Where: Sinkland Farms
3060 Riner Rd
Christiansburg, VA 24073
Admission:
Thursdays(Oct)/Fridays - $15 per person, $14 seniors, military & first responders, free for children 3 and under
Saturdays/Sundays - $20 per person, $19 seniors, military & first responders, free for children 3 and under
Details: https://sinklandfarms.com/pumpkin-festival-about
Tickets: https://sinklandfarms.ticketspice.com/sinkland-farms-pumpkin-festival-2026

Throughout September and October, there's plenty to see at Art Works. Explore six galleries, visit 82 working artist studios, and enjoy a full lineup of exhibits, including new works by Sky Dai, Alcova Key, Carol Gruppé, Tatiana Grace, and Anna Davila. The exhibit featuring Carol Gruppé ends October 31st, Sky Dai ends November 14th, and The Bridge Project featuring Nathan Hosmer Nevarez ends November 31st. The juried September All Media Show features works by regional artists.

Visit us Tuesdays through Sundays 11am- 5pm. Admission is free and open to the public. Convenient and free parking is available. Exhibits will remain on view through October 17th, 2026 (unless otherwise noted).