Discover the wonders of Virginia’s Southern Valley this weekend with a variety of Earth Day activities that are sure to inspire you! Whether you enjoy exploring the great outdoors or learning about sustainability, this list of events offers something for everyone.
Take a look and find the perfect activity for you!
Thursday
Tobacco Road Futurity Cutting Horse Show
Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex
Chatham, VA
Thursday, April 18th – Sunday, April 21st from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tobacco Road Futurity is one of the top-cutting horse shows in the Eastern United States! They are sure to put on an exciting show.
Friday
Reptile Festival
Virginia Museum of Natural History
Martinsville, VA
Friday, April 19th & Saturday, April 20th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Witness extraordinary live animals, from snakes, to lizards, to turtles and more! Investigate reptile specimens from the museum’s scientific collections, including preserved specimens, taxidermy mounts, and even fossil reptiles! Explore the reptile links between different scientific disciplines, such as herpetology, paleontology and invertebrate zoology, while interacting with scientists who are leaders in their fields! Enjoy a wide variety of hands-on, reptile-themed crafts and activities! Capture your memory at the Reptile Festival Photo Booth! Be sure to stop by the balloon animal and face painting stations while you’re here…at no extra charge! Grab a bite to eat from one of the many on-site food truck options and round-out your day by shopping for the perfect souvenir inside the Museum Store!
Bee Flight Festival
Martinsville, VA
Friday, April 19th & Saturday, April 20th
The first-ever Bee Flight Festival in Martinsville is celebrating with a huge block party hosted by Bee City! This event is partnering with other organizations to provide a weekend of fun.
Friday:
Bee City will be at VMNH’s Reptile Festival from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. with educational information, honey, flower seeds, and other pollinator-themed offerings.
Saturday:
8:30 a.m. YMCA’s Bee Flight Fun Run
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. VMNH Reptile Fest, Healthy Kids Day, Piedmont Arts Earth Day Family Day, Starling Scavenger Hunt
6:30 pm – 10 p.m. Beegins With You: High Tea: Down the Rabbit Hole
God-Given Food As Medicine
Melvin’s Farm to Fork Store
Wirtz, VA
Friday, April 19th through Sunday, April 21st
We are excited to bring you another God-centered conference where we share health and healing using God’s wisdom and direction. You will learn how to care for your family’s health with:
- God’s perfect foods to build healthy bodies and minds
- Using God-given foods and herbs for prevention and resilience against disease
- God’s plan for helping our bodies heal and overcome illness
- Praise, worship, prayer, and fellowship throughout the whole weekend
The Lounge of Ordinary Gentlemen
2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co.
Friday, April 19th from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Enjoy award-winning beer, wine, and food while relaxing to acoustic versions of your favorite tunes! The Lounge of Ordinary Gentlemen is here to soothe your soul and heal your heart.
Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails
Science Station at the Danville Science Center
Danville, VA
Friday, April 19th, & Saturday, April 20th from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Sunday, April 21st, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Guests will find themselves surrounded by the Island of Sodor’s iconic locations, such as Knapford Station, Sodor Steamworks and much more. Young conductors can help the world’s most beloved blue train and the other engines solve a variety of challenges, from simple sorting and shape identification to more complex engineering obstacles, such as completing a train track. As children test their abilities, the smiling faces of Thomas and friends offer encouragement and remind children how “really useful” they all are.
The Kentucky Gentlemen with Julie Williams
The Harvester
Rocky Mount, VA
Friday, April 19th at 8 p.m.
The Kentucky Gentlemen’s sound draws inspiration from the ‘90s country and R&B they favored during their childhood, which combine in “Whatever You’re Up For,” their sultry, yet upbeat single. The duo teamed up with multi-Grammy nominated producers to produce this fresh record.
Raised in Florida, Julie is turning heads in Nashville’s country music scene with the soft but powerful songs that capture the soul of growing up as a mixed-race child in the South. Julie was inducted in the CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2023 in January 2023, joining, Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, Brittney Spencer, Lainey Wilson, Lauren Alaina, Madeline Edwards, Maren Morris and Morgan Wade.
Saturday
Earth Day Family Day
Piedmont Arts
Martinsville, VA
Saturday, April 20th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Join Piedmont Arts for their annual Earth Day Family Day in the Gravely-Lester Art Garden! Come celebrate Earth Day with free fun for all ages!
- Crafts and face painting
- Planting day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with C.D. Prillaman
- Activities from the Blue Ridge Regional Library
- Starling Ave. Scavenger Hunt
- Plein air painting by Lynwood Artists and Bull Mountain Artists
- Arts and craft vendors
- Bee City logo contest
- Snacks provided by Food Lion
Hometown Heros Night
Hooker Field in Lou Whitaker Park
Saturday, April 20th
Cheer on Patrick & Henry Community College’s baseball team for their doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Fireworks after the last game! Free admission for first responders, law enforcement, & active/retired military,
Spencer-Penn’s 13th Annual Pig Cookin
Spencer Penn Center
Spencer, VA
Saturday, April 20th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
We will have a Cruise-In, Barnival , and fun for the kids, delicious BBQ, live music, an open jam, vendors and crafters, Pig Patty Bingo, eating contests, revolutionary war demonstrations, and if you stop by the WoodmenLife booth, you’ll get to enjoy some cornhole too! There’s literally something for everyone, so be sure to mark your calendar, set your alarm, and make sure you head down to Spencer-Penn this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and enjoy a beautiful day courtesy of our staff, volunteers, sponsors, and community!
80’s Party at Mango’s Bar & Grill
Moneta, VA
Saturday, April 20th, from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
The Epic 80’s Party with That 80’s Show is rollin’ into Mango’s!. Tease the hair and break out the spandex. Invite your people and make plans to join us for an unforgettable throwback with your 80’s dance, hip hop, pop, and rock favorites.
Blue Ridge Jeep Fest
Rotary Field
Stuart, VA
Saturday, April 20th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Patrick Springs Volunteer Fire Department presents the 1st annual Blue Ridge Jeep Fest! Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m. We will be presenting 3 people’s choice awards for the best jeeps voted on by participants. Live music, Food trucks, and Vendors!
Homegrown Music Series – Dell Iron Project
The Harvester
Rocky Mount, VA
Saturday, April 20th at 7 p.m.
The Dell Iron Project is music that is locally grown and presented live from the roaming hills of Southwestern Virginia. This band offers a unique diversity of music which includes original songs, American, and old country.
Pond Concert with JusT Us Band
Infinity Acres Ranch
Ridgeway, VA
Saturday, April 20th at 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy live music from multi-award winners including Lynchburg’s Best local band 2022 and one of central Virginia’s Premier family-friendly high-energy multigenera bands. Playing all your favorites from A-Z…all over VA TN and NC who has won several 1st place band competitions.
Sweet Potato Queen Brunch
Imagination Lavender Farm
Ridgeway, VA
Saturday, April 20th from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join local Sweet Potato Queens and Wannabe’s to Celebrate the 41st anniversary of Boss Queen Jill Connor Brown’s Brunch and Parade. You don’t need to go to Jackson, Mississippi but just come on down to Imagination Lavender Farm, 3590 Green Hill Drive, Martinsville, VA.
Spring Craft Show
Bassett High School
Bassett, VA
Saturday, April 20th from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Annual spring craft show featuring a wide variety of local vendors. Admission is $5.
Boston Comedy Club
Mountain Valley Brewing
Axton, VA
Saturday, April 20th at 8 p.m.
Boston Comedy Club showcases professional comedians from Boston, New York City and beyond in Boston’s coolest underground bars! Nestled in the tranquil hills of beautiful Axton, Virginia, Mountain Valley Brewing is a local gem just off the beaten path and surrounded by amazing views. Brimming with unique, delicious, Virginia-brewed craft beer and refreshing seltzers, outdoor fun, live music, and rotating food trucks, this farm-to-glass experience in Henry County is well worth the visit.
Art in the Old West End
Danville, VA
Saturday, April 20th from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Join us for a community gathering showcasing local and traveling artists, hosted in some of Danville’s most historic homes and landmarks. Featuring works for sale and for appreciation in a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, and fiber arts.
Sunday
Sunday Afternoon Lecture: “Woodland Plants of the Area: History, Ecology, and Uses”
Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center & Museum
Martinsville, VA
Sunday, April 21st at 3 p.m.
Join the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society for their monthly Sunday Afternoon Lecture, “Woodland Plants of the Area: History, Ecology, and Uses” with Neal Bowman. Bowman will discuss plants from the region that were or still are used by humans and their role in the ecology. Some plants covered may not have had a significant use but may be ones that draw attention on the local hiking trails. Everyone will have heard of a few while others have escaped the spotlight – from ginseng to trillium.
