Illumination of the Bridge

Natural Bridge State Park, 6477 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

Illumination of the Bridge

Natural Bridge State Park, 6477 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

Illumination of the Bridge

Natural Bridge State Park, 6477 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

Movie Mondays at Skyland in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park — Skyland (mile 41.7 on Skyline Drive)

Join us at Skyland in Shenandoah National Park on Monday Movie Nights starting at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy refreshments and a leisurely evening in the Mountain Taproom.

November 3 – Fantastic Mr. Fox
November 10 – The Princess Bride
November 17 – The Nightmare Before Christmas
November 24 – Edward Scissorhands

Free!

 

 

Movie Mondays at Skyland in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park — Skyland (mile 41.7 on Skyline Drive)

Join us at Skyland in Shenandoah National Park on Monday Movie Nights starting at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy refreshments and a leisurely evening in the Mountain Taproom.

October 6 – Alice in Wonderland
October 13 – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
October 20 – Back to the Future: Part II
October 27 – Hocus Pocus

Free!

 

 

Movie Mondays at Skyland in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park — Skyland (mile 41.7 on Skyline Drive)

Join us at Skyland in Shenandoah National Park on Monday Movie Nights starting at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy refreshments and a leisurely evening in the Mountain Taproom.

September 1 – Remember the Titans
September 8 – Rudy
September 15 – The Sandlot
September 22 – Field of Dreams
September 29 – The Natural

Free!

 

 

Movie Mondays at Skyland in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park — Skyland (mile 41.7 on Skyline Drive)

Join us at Skyland in Shenandoah National Park on Monday Movie Nights starting at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy refreshments and a leisurely evening in the Mountain Taproom.

August 4 – The National Parks: America’s Best Idea Episode 5
August 11 – The National Parks: America’s Best Idea Episode 6
August 18 – The Great Outdoors
August 25 – Fernguilly: The Last Rainforest

Free.

 

 

Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest Festival

Frederick County Fairgrounds
250 Fairground Road
Clear Brook, VA

This annual celebration of the apple harvest has been going strong for over 50 years, with an apple pie eating contest, apple pie baking contest, and plenty of everything apple!  The event also includes an artisan and craft vendor fair, antique car s how, live entertainment, food concessioners, beer and hard cider, and a kids zone with inflatables, face painting, pony rides, and kiddie train.

General admission: $10
Age 10 and under are FREE

10 AM to 5 PM

Candlelight Wine Dinner at Poplar Forest

Step back in time to experience the magic of Christmas past at a seated holiday dinner in Thomas Jefferson’s villa. Join Mr. Jefferson, as portrayed by actor Bill Barker, to celebrate the season with a multicourse dinner with wine pairings. Following dinner Mr. Jefferson will regale his guests with stories about the holiday traditions popular during his time. Must be 21 and older.

  • $200 per person or $375 per couple. Reservations are required and must be made at least a week prior to dinner for catering consideration.

Candlelight Wine Dinner at Poplar Forest

Step back in time to experience the magic of Christmas past at a seated holiday dinner in Thomas Jefferson’s villa. Join Mr. Jefferson, as portrayed by actor Bill Barker, to celebrate the season with a multicourse dinner with wine pairings. Following dinner Mr. Jefferson will regale his guests with stories about the holiday traditions popular during his time. Must be 21 and older.

  • $200 per person or $375 per couple. Reservations are required and must be made at least a week prior to dinner for catering consideration.

Daytime Holiday Tours at Poplar Forest

Enjoy Poplar Forest decked out for the holidays on this special daytime tour that focuses on holiday traditions of the Jefferson time period. These hour-long, docent guided tours explore how Jefferson and his family celebrated the holidays and takes a look at how the holiday season impacted the enslaved community. These tours are only offered twice in December and reservations are strongly recommended.

Tickets are 

  • $30 for adults 18+
  • $17 for college students and teens (ages 12-17) 
  • $11 for youth (ages 6-11)
  • under 6 free

Daytime Holiday Tours at Poplar Forest

Enjoy Poplar Forest decked out for the holidays on this special daytime tour that focuses on holiday traditions of the Jefferson time period. These hour-long, docent guided tours explore how Jefferson and his family celebrated the holidays and takes a look at how the holiday season impacted the enslaved community. These tours are only offered twice in December and reservations are strongly recommended.

Tickets are 

  • $30 for adults 18+
  • $17 for college students and teens (ages 12-17) 
  • $11 for youth (ages 6-11)
  • under 6 free

Holiday Candlelight Tours at Poplar Forest

Celebrate the advent of the Christmas season in Jeffersonian style at Poplar Forest. Explore the president’s cherished hideaway by candlelight on this hour-long holiday tour. See how early Americans decorated with fresh greens for the holidays as your guide paints intimate portraits of the Jefferson family’s celebration and Christmas at the Quarter Site, drawn from true stories and anecdotes discovered in Jefferson’s letters and diaries. The tour is followed by refreshments in the Museum Shop.

December 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 2025
5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm each night

Cost: $30 pp.  Reservations are required.

Holiday Candlelight Tours at Poplar Forest

Celebrate the advent of the Christmas season in Jeffersonian style at Poplar Forest. Explore the president’s cherished hideaway by candlelight on this hour-long holiday tour. See how early Americans decorated with fresh greens for the holidays as your guide paints intimate portraits of the Jefferson family’s celebration and Christmas at the Quarter Site, drawn from true stories and anecdotes discovered in Jefferson’s letters and diaries. The tour is followed by refreshments in the Museum Shop.

December 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 2025
5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm each night

Cost: $30 pp.  Reservations are required.

Holiday Candlelight Tours at Poplar Forest

Celebrate the advent of the Christmas season in Jeffersonian style at Poplar Forest. Explore the president’s cherished hideaway by candlelight on this hour-long holiday tour. See how early Americans decorated with fresh greens for the holidays as your guide paints intimate portraits of the Jefferson family’s celebration and Christmas at the Quarter Site, drawn from true stories and anecdotes discovered in Jefferson’s letters and diaries. The tour is followed by refreshments in the Museum Shop.

December 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 2025
5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm each night

Cost: $30 pp.  Reservations are required.

Archeology Behind the Scenes at Poplar Forest

An amateur archaeologist known to have studied Native American material culture, Thomas Jefferson would surely be fascinated by the more than 400,000 artifacts found on the Poplar Forest grounds since 1986. Join Poplar Forest’s archaeologists for a walking tour focused on the latest archaeological dig sites and discoveries on the plantation, including a rare up-close look at some of the artifacts in the Poplar Forest Archaeology Lab.

Cost: $30 in advance and $35 day-of.  Reservations highly recommended due to limited space for each tour.

Fall Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival at Poplar Forest

Eat, drink, shop and explore a gem of American history when the Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival returns to Thomas Jefferson’s south lawn. Join Poplar Forest in celebrating Jefferson’s legacy as the father of Virginia wine with tastings from multiple regional wineries. Enjoy live music performances, graze on foods by local vendors and shop the artisan market for one-of-a-kind finds.

Cost: General admission tickets, which include tasting and a complimentary Poplar Forest wine glass (while supplies last), are $35 in advance and $40 at the door; non-tasting tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door; children ages 6 and under free.

Fall Harvest Dinner at Poplar Forest

One of America’s first foodies, Thomas Jefferson had a taste for fine wines and gourmet foods. Join the president, as portrayed by actor Bill Barker, in his private retreat to raise a glass to a successful harvest season and enjoy a multi-course dinner with wine pairings catered by Peakland Catering. Must be 21 and over.

Cost: $200 per person; $375 per couple.  Reservations are required and must be made at least one week prior to dinner for catering considerations.

Archeology Behind the Scenes at Poplar Forest

An amateur archaeologist known to have studied Native American material culture, Thomas Jefferson would surely be fascinated by the more than 400,000 artifacts found on the Poplar Forest grounds since 1986. Join Poplar Forest’s archaeologists for a walking tour focused on the latest archaeological dig sites and discoveries on the plantation, including a rare up-close look at some of the artifacts in the Poplar Forest Archaeology Lab.

Cost: $30 in advance and $35 day-of.  Reservations highly recommended due to limited space for each tour.

Naturalization Ceremony at Poplar Forest

Join Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) to witness a Naturalization Ceremony welcoming 30 new American citizens in honor of Constitution Day, the day in 1787 the American Constitution was signed into law.

Admission to the ceremony is included with general admission to Poplar

Roots and Reconnection at Poplar Forest

Join the Poplar Forest’s African American Advisory Group, interpretation and archaeology staff, and the Board of Directors for the Roots and Reconnection Festival, a special event to honor, celebrate, and educate about the life, culture, and history of the enslaved Africans who lived and worked on the plantation, as well as the culture and life of African Americans today. This festival highlights the profound connection between the past and the present, providing a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate our rich heritage.

Free

Jefferson’s Curiosities: Shakespeare at Poplar Forest

Thomas Jefferson was a man of many varied interests.  Join us at the house he deemed “the best dwelling house in the state” as we delve into topics he found particularly fascinating: from the arts to agriculture, literature to wine, philosophy to natural sciences, and more. Local director and Shakespeare expert, Melora Kordos will join us to highlight some of the scenes that may have influenced Jefferson most.

$25 pp

Sarai’s Knife at JMU Forbes Center

When a vandal cuts the face of a Black student at Boston’s Classical Academy out of a photographic self-portrait on display in the school lobby, mixed-race collage artist and first-year teacher Sarai is asked to capitalize on the strong rapport she has with the student victim to investigate the incident. Pressure from the white Assistant Headmaster and troubling discoveries about the victim make Sarai question her effectiveness as a teacher and artist. When she discovers the truth behind the subsequent destruction of a portrait of the school’s founder, Sarai makes an unexpected choice that changes not only her future but the path the institution must take. Contains adult language, discussions of self-harm and portrayals of systemic racism.

Held at the Studio Theatre.
Tickets: Free but must reserve seat in advance.  Click on BUY SINGLE TICKET to reserve your seat.

Sarai’s Knife at JMU Forbes Center

When a vandal cuts the face of a Black student at Boston’s Classical Academy out of a photographic self-portrait on display in the school lobby, mixed-race collage artist and first-year teacher Sarai is asked to capitalize on the strong rapport she has with the student victim to investigate the incident. Pressure from the white Assistant Headmaster and troubling discoveries about the victim make Sarai question her effectiveness as a teacher and artist. When she discovers the truth behind the subsequent destruction of a portrait of the school’s founder, Sarai makes an unexpected choice that changes not only her future but the path the institution must take. Contains adult language, discussions of self-harm and portrayals of systemic racism.

Held at the Studio Theatre.
Tickets: Free but must reserve seat in advance.  Click on BUY SINGLE TICKET to reserve your seat.

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