Our Favorite Annual Events in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is a town that is rich in cultural opportunities. Whether you enjoy music, art, food, wine, or the beauty of the Virginia countryside, there is an event that will expand your horizons and celebrate what you love. Many of these events have become traditions in Charlottesville, annual events that we look forward to eagerly. Below are a few of our favorites:
Virginia Festival of the Book
Revel in all things literary at this festival that celebrates books, reading, literacy, and literary culture! Activities include writing salons, book panels, and even immersive outdoor programs. The festival aims to build a bridge for Virginia’s next generation of readers, from all backgrounds and across all genres. The Festival is free and open to the public.
Crozet Art Festival
The Crozet Art Festival is a favorite destination for art lovers in Virginia and throughout the East Coast. The festival features Juried artists and an amazing variety of high-quality fine art and crafts against the beautiful backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Artisans offering fine jewelry, art photography, paintings, graphic arts, pastel art, pottery, ceramic art, clothing, home decor, and so much more gather with outstanding food vendors and live musicians to create a fabulous event.
Cville Restaurant Week
For diners who have dreamed about sampling Charlottesville’s impressive fine dining scene without breaking the bank, Restaurant Week is that dream, come to life! This highly anticipated week of good food and good fun allows diners to sample a long list of participating restaurants that provide a special prix fixe menu of three courses— typically an appetizer, an entree, and dessert— for just $25, $35, or $45 (drinks, tax, and tip not included). This popular annual event is a favorite among Charlottesville’s considerable population of culinary enthusiasts.
Soul of C’ville
Charlottesville’s beloved IX Park is home to the Soul of C’ville, an inclusive event that showcases Black excellence in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The festival spans three days and features a diverse array of musicians, films, fashion shows, dancers, and more. A long and ever-expanding list of vendors participates in the event, and participants are encouraged to contribute to community projects.
Tom Tom Festival
Make memories during a community-centric week of parties, concerts, talks, ideas, performances, and art, at the annual Tom Tom Festival! This unique event celebrates our community as we travel into the future together and learn to innovate, experiment, and succeed together. Join a community inspired by the future and learn how we can create the future we dream of together! This is one of Charlottesville’s most beloved (and effective) community events.
Fall Into Fun Festival
Nearby Crozet is home to some of the area’s best festivals, and a visit to Chile’s Orchard for the annual fall festival is one of the annual events that make Crozet worth the trip. Pick your own pumpkins and then browse the shop for yummy fall-themed treats like pumpkin donuts and apple butter. You can also relax and enjoy the entertainment and just soak up the wonder of autumn in Virginia. Bring the whole family and “fall” into the fun!
Virginia Film Festival
Charlottesville’s renowned Virginia Film Festival attracts an international celebrity crowd. The event is famous for being one of the most in-depth and passionate celebrations of film in America. Over 5 days, the festival presents an inspiring, diverse collection of films and events with a dazzling list of guests from all over the world of film. Visitors include Matthew Broderick, Sandra Bullock, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone, Shirley MacLaine, Colin Firth, Will Forte, Mia Wasikowska, and many more. The Virginia Film Festival connects movie lovers with the people who make the films that mean so much to our culture.
These are just a sampling of the events happening every week in Charlottesville, from wine tastings to concerts to educational activities for the whole family. To stay up to date with even more events in our community, check in regularly with our Upcoming Events! We regularly post happenings we think our residents would love. Our community is full of traditions to celebrate together!