Charlottesville Events
What's Happening
Local Events & Experiences
From UVA graduation to concerts, sporting events, and vineyard weekends, there's always something to celebrate in Charlottesville.
Oct 1, 2026
UVA Summer Orientation
UVA Summer Orientation runs June 30 through August 21, 2025. Book accommodations with Guesthouses for new students and families attending orientation events.
Oct 1, 2026
Virginia Craft Brewers Fest
Explore Virginia Craft Brewers Fest on October 26, 2020. Find vacation rentals nearby for your festival visit with Guesthouses.
Oct 1, 2026
Devils Backbone Hoopla
Experience Devils Backbone HOOPLA, an October music festival featuring live performances, craft beer, and outdoor adventures in Roseland, Virginia.
Oct 1, 2026
UVA - Young Alumni Reunions (YAR)
Join UVA Young Alumni Reunions on October 5th, 2024 at Ting Pavilion for football, Corner dining, and celebration with recent graduates.
Oct 1, 2026
Stargaze at Observatory Hill
Visit McCormick Observatory at UVA on select Fridays to view celestial objects through the historic 26-inch refractor telescope. Free admission with registration required.
Oct 1, 2026
Grand Illumination
Experience Charlottesville's Grand Illumination holiday event featuring vendors, music, food, and a tree lighting countdown at 7:30pm.
Oct 1, 2026
Dogwood Grand Parade
Spring celebration featuring floats, marching bands, and entertainment honoring Virginia's state flower in Charlottesville.
Oct 1, 2026
Daze of Rose - Castle Hill Cider
Join the second annual Daze of Rose festival at Castle Hill Cider in Keswick featuring art, wine education, music, and food on March 30, 2024.
Oct 1, 2026
Bow-WOW-Walk
Join the 11th annual bow-WOW-walk, a 5k event at Boar's Head Resort supporting the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA with human and canine festivities.
Oct 1, 2026
Boar's Head Winter Wander
Experience Boar's Head Winter Wander, a self-guided holiday light display with ice skating from November through January.
Oct 1, 2026
Virginia Festival of the Book
Explore Charlottesville's 32nd annual Festival of the Book, March 20-22, 2026, featuring readers and writers across all genres.
Oct 1, 2026
Tom Tom Festival
Tom Tom Festival celebrates music, food, and innovation with community leaders across technology, policy, art, and entrepreneurship April 16-20, 2025.
Oct 1, 2026
Charlottesville Opera: Guys and Dolls
Charlottesville Opera presents Guys and Dolls at The Paramount Theater June 23-25, 2023, featuring local performers and guest stars with tickets starting at $20.
Oct 1, 2026
UVA Soccer
Watch UVA Men's and Women's soccer matches at Klöckner Stadium from August through December, with family-friendly viewing on the hillside.
Oct 1, 2026
UVA Football
Catch UVA Cavaliers football games at Scott Stadium from August through November 2025 with convenient tailgating and parking options nearby.
Oct 1, 2026
Roseland Polo at King Family Vineyards
Watch polo matches at King Family Vineyards every Sunday from May through September, with gates opening at 10am and matches starting at noon.
Oct 1, 2026
UVA Basketball
Catch UVA Basketball games at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville from November 2023 through March 2024 and experience Wahoo spirit.
Oct 1, 2026
Rivanna Greenbelt Marathon and Half-Marathon
Boston Qualifier marathon and half-marathon on the Rivanna River with flat lap-style courses, refill stations every 2 miles, and spectator-friendly routes.
Oct 1, 2026
Moonshiner's Enduro
Join the Moonshiner's Enduro mountain biking event near Charlottesville on April 7, 2024, featuring multiple entry categories and technical downhill racing.
Oct 1, 2026
Montpelier Hunt Races
Experience the historic Montpelier Hunt Races on November 1, 2025, featuring seven races, family activities, and tailgate contests near Charlottesville.
Oct 1, 2026
Foxfield Races
Foxfield Races is a bi-annual steeplechase event operating since 1977, celebrating sports and countryside tradition.
Oct 1, 2026
Charlottesville Women's Four Miler
Virginia's largest all-women's race supports breast cancer care and research on August 31st at Foxfield Race Course.
Oct 1, 2026
Charlottesville Ten Miler
Join the oldest footrace in the area on March 23, 2024, running through Charlottesville's unique neighborhoods at 7:15am.
Oct 1, 2026
Charlottesville Marathon, Half Marathon, and 8K
Voted a Top Destination Marathon, this Charlottesville event features scenic courses and smaller crowds for runners of all levels on April 5, 2025.
Oct 1, 2026
Cavalier MTB Classic
Join UVA and collegiate cycling teams for the 3rd edition of the Cavalier MTB Classic featuring cross country and enduro races near Charlottesville.
Oct 1, 2026
Virginia Film Festival
Explore the Virginia Film Festival, a five-day celebration featuring over 100 films from around the world, October 22-26, 2025.
Oct 1, 2026
Starry Nights Music Festival
Enjoy live music at Starry Nights Music Festival at Veritas Vineyard on July 12 and August 9, 2025, featuring The Significant Others and Applebutter Soul.
Oct 1, 2026
Rivanna Riverfest
Rivanna Riverfest on May 10th features outdoor activities, live music, food, and family-friendly entertainment along the river.
Oct 1, 2026
Loop de'Ville Trailfest
Join Loop de'Ville Trailfest in Charlottesville on September 27, 2025, celebrating the region's greenspace with free activities and trail experiences.
Oct 1, 2026
Historic Garden Week
Explore exclusive tours of Virginia's private, public, and historic gardens during peak spring bloom season, April 26 - May 3, 2025.
Oct 1, 2026
Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello
Explore the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello's apple and cheese tasting event in Charlottesville with family-friendly activities and local ciders.
Oct 1, 2026
Fridays After Five
Free summer concerts with local music, food trucks, and family-friendly entertainment every Friday evening at Ting Pavilion in Charlottesville.
Oct 1, 2026
Crozet Arts and Craft Festival - May and October
Central Virginia's premier juried arts and crafts festival featuring 120+ artists, local food, wine, and live music in May and October at Claudius Crozet Park.
Oct 1, 2026
Carter Mountain Thursday Evening Sunset Series
Join the Thursday Evening Sunset Series at Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville for live music, food, wine, and cider every week.
Oct 1, 2026
C-Ville Restaurant Week
Charlottesville's Restaurant Week features 3-course dining menus at $25, $35, and $45 from July 21-27, 2025. Reservations recommended.
Oct 1, 2026
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival
Experience two evenings of mountain films at Charlottesville's Paramount Theater, featuring stunning cinematography and outdoor adventure stories.
Oct 1, 2026
Albemarle County Fair
The 2025 Albemarle County Fair runs July 31–August 2 at James Monroe's Highland in Charlottesville with live music, livestock shows, and family attractions.