EXPLORE
ORANGE COUNTY ,VA
Use this calendar to search for upcoming events in Orange County, VA. Here you will be able to find a variety of local events with opportunities for shopping, entertainment, arts and culture, and more!
Interested in regular programming at the Arts Center in Orange? Please visit our Public Programs and Events page.
Revolutionary War Era Music with Alex Caton
Join local musician Alex Caton at the Arts Center in Orange for a live performance of Revolutionary War era music!
This program is part of a series of programs The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This event is FREE and open to the public.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) and is being held as a partnership between the Orange County Public Library and the Arts Center in Orange.
About the artist
Alex Caton made her home and spread her roots in Gordonsville, Virginia when she came to the University of Virginia to pursue a Doctorate in Anthropology. Her studies may have brought her to the Commonwealth, but it was the countryside and strong musical community that kept her here. Having lived, taught and performed in other centers for traditional music, including Upstate New York and Asheville, NC, Alex felt that the heartbeat of old time or Appalachian music (a direct descendent of Irish music which was an early passion of Alex’s) pulsed stronger in the foothills of Virginia than anywhere else. Within the first year of arriving in central Virginia, Alex was an integral member of the traditional music community and also an ambassador and liaison between the worlds of Irish and Old Time music.
A grandchild of master craftsmen, coal miners and strong women, and a daughter of adventurous parents, Alex was born in England and grew up living in the South of England, Scotland and America. Her family finally settled in the States when Alex was twelve. By then, Alex had been playing piano and violin for eight years, and music proved to be a constant in her life. At twenty, Alex was introduced to Appalachian old time and Irish fiddle music and felt like she had stumbled upon a secret. Since then she has dedicated her life to playing traditional music.
Alex studied Appalachian and Irish music the most traditional way possible. She has learned from some of the icons of the tradition including Ginny Hawker (famed mountain and gospel singer) and Tracy Swartz (fiddler, singer and band mate of Mike Seeger), but mainly she apprenticed the music by attending jam sessions, traveling to fiddle conventions and listening.
In addition to the fiddle, Alex has also studied clawhammer banjo, guitar and voice. She brought all these skills to numerous long-term bands, including The Ryegrass Rollers, Odd Legged Jenny and Las Gitanas. Today, Alex primarily performs solo or with Pat Egan and Dick Harrington. Her shows range from intimate house concerts to international traditional music festivals, such as Les Bordees de Cancale in Brittany. In 2009 she released her second solo album, the Sinners and the Saved (recorded at roots-rock legend Levon Helm’s studio in Woodstock, NY), which closely examined the links between Appalachian string band music, gospel and early country. She released another album in 2011 with guitarist and vocalist Pat Egan titled Fiddle Tunes and Ballads that showcased Alex’s intricate Irish fiddling. In 2013, Alex released her third solo album, Swimming to Lindsey, which highlights her deep understanding of Appalachian fiddle and banjo playing as well as her approach to songwriting within the genre.
Alex’s main passion has always been teaching, however, and she has had the pleasure of teaching traditional music since 1997. To Alex, playing traditional music is a way of life and provides an important link between generations. Since moving to Virginia she has privately taught over one hundred students (most of them for many consecutive years) as well as directly touched hundreds more through in-school demonstrations, workshops and summer camps. In 2005 Alex founded Mountain Road Fiddle Camp, which attracts scores of beginners and advanced players annually in West Virginia. In 2009, at only 34 years of age, Alex was nominated for a Virginia Heritage Award for her dedication to the preservation and continuation of traditional forms of music.
One of Alex’s proudest accomplishments is the creation and expansion of her and her husband’s homestead in Virginia. Nestled among the home, gardens, chicken coop and lake is a beautifully crafted music studio, which has become a center for traditional and folk music in rural Virginia. It continues to be a place where families, students and teachers gather to learn, dance, listen and participate in local culture.
Books as Self Expression: Drawing (Main Library)
Join artist Stephen Haske at our local libraries for a free drawing workshop!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250)
About our Instructor
Stephen Haske grew up on the mean streets of Orange County, California, and then moved up the rough and tumble forests of Humboldt County, California to receive a degree from Cal Poly Humboldt. He also attended The University of New Orleans where he met his wife and decided to stay for a while: eating good food, listening to great music, and filling lots of sketchbooks with drawings. Instead of doing odd jobs for the rest of his life he moved to Savannah Georgia to get a Masters of Illustration from SCAD in 2005.
Stephen worked for Nirve Sports in Southern California for seven years designing bikes - the kind you pedal to get around. They were mainly beach cruisers and city bikes, which he also enjoys pedaling around.
Since then he has been designing, illustrating, painting, and using other creative approaches to describe and contribute to the beautiful world that is around us all. He has created editorial and commercial illustrations for clients such as WNRN Radio, Nest Realty, Virginia National Bank, Rivanna Medical, Pink Magazine, Ant Farm, and more.
He has drawn and designed posters for such acts as Michael Kiwanuka, Steve Miller, Ben Harper, Lockn Music Festival, Lake Street Dive, Lotus, Bela Fleck, and more.
Stephen also teaches art at Renaissance School in Charlottesville, VA. He can attest that young artists really are fantastic sources of inspiration and hope. That old cliche about teaching and learning being the same thing is true.
Stephen Haske has exhibited artwork in various galleries, lobbies, side streets, and many personal collections.
Much of Haske’s work is focused on drawing images of architecture and mechanical structures and their complex interaction with nature. By contrasting and exploding expectations through drawing and collage, differences that can be at first jarring are made to be newly holistic.
Stephen Haske currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with his family. He has a studio at McGuffey Art Center.
Books as Self Expression: Drawing (Gordonsville)
Join artist Stephen Haske at our local libraries for a free drawing workshop!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250)
About our Instructor
Stephen Haske grew up on the mean streets of Orange County, California, and then moved up the rough and tumble forests of Humboldt County, California to receive a degree from Cal Poly Humboldt. He also attended The University of New Orleans where he met his wife and decided to stay for a while: eating good food, listening to great music, and filling lots of sketchbooks with drawings. Instead of doing odd jobs for the rest of his life he moved to Savannah Georgia to get a Masters of Illustration from SCAD in 2005.
Stephen worked for Nirve Sports in Southern California for seven years designing bikes - the kind you pedal to get around. They were mainly beach cruisers and city bikes, which he also enjoys pedaling around.
Since then he has been designing, illustrating, painting, and using other creative approaches to describe and contribute to the beautiful world that is around us all. He has created editorial and commercial illustrations for clients such as WNRN Radio, Nest Realty, Virginia National Bank, Rivanna Medical, Pink Magazine, Ant Farm, and more.
He has drawn and designed posters for such acts as Michael Kiwanuka, Steve Miller, Ben Harper, Lockn Music Festival, Lake Street Dive, Lotus, Bela Fleck, and more.
Stephen also teaches art at Renaissance School in Charlottesville, VA. He can attest that young artists really are fantastic sources of inspiration and hope. That old cliche about teaching and learning being the same thing is true.
Stephen Haske has exhibited artwork in various galleries, lobbies, side streets, and many personal collections.
Much of Haske’s work is focused on drawing images of architecture and mechanical structures and their complex interaction with nature. By contrasting and exploding expectations through drawing and collage, differences that can be at first jarring are made to be newly holistic.
Stephen Haske currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with his family. He has a studio at McGuffey Art Center.
Books as Self Expression: Drawing (Wilderness)
Join artist Stephen Haske at our local libraries for a free drawing workshop!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250)
About our Instructor
Stephen Haske grew up on the mean streets of Orange County, California, and then moved up the rough and tumble forests of Humboldt County, California to receive a degree from Cal Poly Humboldt. He also attended The University of New Orleans where he met his wife and decided to stay for a while: eating good food, listening to great music, and filling lots of sketchbooks with drawings. Instead of doing odd jobs for the rest of his life he moved to Savannah Georgia to get a Masters of Illustration from SCAD in 2005.
Stephen worked for Nirve Sports in Southern California for seven years designing bikes - the kind you pedal to get around. They were mainly beach cruisers and city bikes, which he also enjoys pedaling around.
Since then he has been designing, illustrating, painting, and using other creative approaches to describe and contribute to the beautiful world that is around us all. He has created editorial and commercial illustrations for clients such as WNRN Radio, Nest Realty, Virginia National Bank, Rivanna Medical, Pink Magazine, Ant Farm, and more.
He has drawn and designed posters for such acts as Michael Kiwanuka, Steve Miller, Ben Harper, Lockn Music Festival, Lake Street Dive, Lotus, Bela Fleck, and more.
Stephen also teaches art at Renaissance School in Charlottesville, VA. He can attest that young artists really are fantastic sources of inspiration and hope. That old cliche about teaching and learning being the same thing is true.
Stephen Haske has exhibited artwork in various galleries, lobbies, side streets, and many personal collections.
Much of Haske’s work is focused on drawing images of architecture and mechanical structures and their complex interaction with nature. By contrasting and exploding expectations through drawing and collage, differences that can be at first jarring are made to be newly holistic.
Stephen Haske currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with his family. He has a studio at McGuffey Art Center.
Books as Self Expression: Painting (Main Library)
Join artist Michael Meredith at our local libraries for a free painting workshop!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250)
About our Instructor
Michael Meredith is a painter, printmaker, and bookbinder who lives and works in Greene County, Virginia. He received his BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art (2010). His artwork delves into the relationship between humans and the natural world. He draws inspiration from many years spent working in remote wilderness areas on conservation projects. His paintings employ a blend of realism and illustrative line and mark making and are influenced by his printmaking practice. His work has been included in numerous group shows in Virginia, North Carolina, and Arizona and has been featured in Western Art Collector and Nashville Arts Magazine. He moved to Virginia in 2023.
Books as Self Expression: Painting (Gordonsville)
Join artist Michael Meredith at our local libraries for a free painting workshop!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250)
About our Instructor
Michael Meredith is a painter, printmaker, and bookbinder who lives and works in Greene County, Virginia. He received his BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art (2010). His artwork delves into the relationship between humans and the natural world. He draws inspiration from many years spent working in remote wilderness areas on conservation projects. His paintings employ a blend of realism and illustrative line and mark making and are influenced by his printmaking practice. His work has been included in numerous group shows in Virginia, North Carolina, and Arizona and has been featured in Western Art Collector and Nashville Arts Magazine. He moved to Virginia in 2023.
Books as Self Expression: Painting (Wilderness)
Join artist Michael Meredith at our local libraries for a free painting workshop!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250)
About our Instructor
Michael Meredith is a painter, printmaker, and bookbinder who lives and works in Greene County, Virginia. He received his BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art (2010). His artwork delves into the relationship between humans and the natural world. He draws inspiration from many years spent working in remote wilderness areas on conservation projects. His paintings employ a blend of realism and illustrative line and mark making and are influenced by his printmaking practice. His work has been included in numerous group shows in Virginia, North Carolina, and Arizona and has been featured in Western Art Collector and Nashville Arts Magazine. He moved to Virginia in 2023.
Spring Fundraiser - Casino Night
Cash in for a good cause! Get ready to hold ‘em or fold ‘em on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
For one night only, we’re transforming the former Waugh Harley-Davidson dealership for a lively evening of casino-style games, raffles, food, and community spirit—all to support vital arts programming in Orange and surrounding rural communities.
With increasing uncertainty around arts funding, this event is more than just a fun night out—it’s a crucial effort to raise funds for programs that provide free gallery exhibitions, hands-on youth activities, community partnerships, and student internships.
Have questions? Please contact us at info@artscenterinorange.com.
Music in the Park
The Town of Orange will be hosting Music in the Park again this year on 4th Thursdays | May – August
The dates are May 22nd, June 26th, July 24, and August 28th.
Music in the Park
The Town of Orange will be hosting Music in the Park again this year on 4th Thursdays | May – August
The dates are May 22nd, June 26th, July 24, and August 28th.
Music in the Park
The Town of Orange will be hosting Music in the Park again this year on 4th Thursdays | May – August
The dates are May 22nd, June 26th, July 24, and August 28th.
Music in the Park
The Town of Orange will be hosting Music in the Park again this year on 4th Thursdays | May – August
The dates are May 22nd, June 26th, July 24, and August 28th.
Books as Self Expression (Wilderness Branch Library)
Join local author Cary Holladay in this history-inspired creative writing workshop!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250)
About our Instructor
Cary Holladay grew up in Virginia and Pennsylvania. She earned an A.B. at The College of William and Mary and an M.A. at the Pennsylvania State University, where she studied fiction writing with the novelists Robert C. S. Downs, Thomas Rogers, and Paul West, and poetry with John Balaban and John Haag.
She has published eight volumes of fiction as well as a pictorial history of Glen Allen, Va. Over 100 of her stories and essays have appeared in journals and anthologies, including Alaska Quarterly Review, Arkansas Review, Black Warrior Review, Blackbird, Chattahoochee Review, Cimarron Review, Cincinnati Review, Ecotone, Epoch, Five Points, Florida Review, Georgia Review, Glimmer Train, Gulf Coast, The Hudson Review, Idaho Review, Kenyon Review, Kestrel, Los Angeles Review, Missouri Review, New Letters, New Stories from the South: The Year's Best, Oxford American, Prairie Schooner, The Sewanee Review, Shenandoah, Southern Humanities Review, The Southern Review, Tin House, Virginia Quarterly Review, and West Branch.
Her awards include an O. Henry Prize and fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her work is represented by Liz Darhansoff of Darhansoff & Verrill.
Cary Holladay is a Professor of English, Emeritus, at the University of Memphis, where she was named a First Tennessee Professor and served as director of the creative writing program. She is on the faculty of the low-residency MFA program at Converse University. She and her husband, the poet and fiction writer John Bensko, live in Rapidan, Virginia.
Books as Self Expression (Gordonsville Branch Library)
Join local author Cary Holladay in this history-inspired creative writing workshop!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) and is being held as a partnership between the Orange County Public Library and the Arts Center in Orange.
About our Instructor
Cary Holladay grew up in Virginia and Pennsylvania. She earned an A.B. at The College of William and Mary and an M.A. at the Pennsylvania State University, where she studied fiction writing with the novelists Robert C. S. Downs, Thomas Rogers, and Paul West, and poetry with John Balaban and John Haag.
She has published eight volumes of fiction as well as a pictorial history of Glen Allen, Va. Over 100 of her stories and essays have appeared in journals and anthologies, including Alaska Quarterly Review, Arkansas Review, Black Warrior Review, Blackbird, Chattahoochee Review, Cimarron Review, Cincinnati Review, Ecotone, Epoch, Five Points, Florida Review, Georgia Review, Glimmer Train, Gulf Coast, The Hudson Review, Idaho Review, Kenyon Review, Kestrel, Los Angeles Review, Missouri Review, New Letters, New Stories from the South: The Year's Best, Oxford American, Prairie Schooner, The Sewanee Review, Shenandoah, Southern Humanities Review, The Southern Review, Tin House, Virginia Quarterly Review, and West Branch.
Her awards include an O. Henry Prize and fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her work is represented by Liz Darhansoff of Darhansoff & Verrill.
Cary Holladay is a Professor of English, Emeritus, at the University of Memphis, where she was named a First Tennessee Professor and served as director of the creative writing program. She is on the faculty of the low-residency MFA program at Converse University. She and her husband, the poet and fiction writer John Bensko, live in Rapidan, Virginia.
Books as Self Expression (Main Library)
Join local author Cary Holladay in this history-inspired creative writing workshop!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250)
About our Instructor
Cary Holladay grew up in Virginia and Pennsylvania. She earned an A.B. at The College of William and Mary and an M.A. at the Pennsylvania State University, where she studied fiction writing with the novelists Robert C. S. Downs, Thomas Rogers, and Paul West, and poetry with John Balaban and John Haag.
She has published eight volumes of fiction as well as a pictorial history of Glen Allen, Va. Over 100 of her stories and essays have appeared in journals and anthologies, including Alaska Quarterly Review, Arkansas Review, Black Warrior Review, Blackbird, Chattahoochee Review, Cimarron Review, Cincinnati Review, Ecotone, Epoch, Five Points, Florida Review, Georgia Review, Glimmer Train, Gulf Coast, The Hudson Review, Idaho Review, Kenyon Review, Kestrel, Los Angeles Review, Missouri Review, New Letters, New Stories from the South: The Year's Best, Oxford American, Prairie Schooner, The Sewanee Review, Shenandoah, Southern Humanities Review, The Southern Review, Tin House, Virginia Quarterly Review, and West Branch.
Her awards include an O. Henry Prize and fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her work is represented by Liz Darhansoff of Darhansoff & Verrill.
Cary Holladay is a Professor of English, Emeritus, at the University of Memphis, where she was named a First Tennessee Professor and served as director of the creative writing program. She is on the faculty of the low-residency MFA program at Converse University. She and her husband, the poet and fiction writer John Bensko, live in Rapidan, Virginia.
Books as Self Expression (Wilderness Branch Library)
Join a professional artist and bookbinder to create your own blank book, which you will fill with words and image at later programs in this series!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) and is being held as a partnership between the Orange County Public Library and the Arts Center in Orange.
About our Instructor
Laura Chalfant has worked in publication layout & design for several colleges and universities. Her commissioned artworks have been printed in brochures and are displayed by prominent members of the City of Petersburg and UVA. She has been an art teacher for more than 20 years. She has taught in private and public schools as well as co-op organizations. After working and teaching for the Petersburg Area Art League (PAAL), Laura became Vice-President of the Board of Directors where she led the charge in art education and the Virginia Standards of Learning for PAAL.
She has taught and worked with different media, but her love of photography and watercolor are where her voice is clear, and her stories are most impactful. Having traveled to many countries and experienced many cultures, her artistic viewpoint is focused on nature journaling and environmental preservation.
Books as Self Expression (Gordonsville Branch Library)
Join a professional artist and bookbinder to create your own blank book, which you will fill with words and image at later programs in this series!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) and is being held as a partnership between the Orange County Public Library and the Arts Center in Orange.
About our Instructor
Laura Chalfant has worked in publication layout & design for several colleges and universities. Her commissioned artworks have been printed in brochures and are displayed by prominent members of the City of Petersburg and UVA. She has been an art teacher for more than 20 years. She has taught in private and public schools as well as co-op organizations. After working and teaching for the Petersburg Area Art League (PAAL), Laura became Vice-President of the Board of Directors where she led the charge in art education and the Virginia Standards of Learning for PAAL.
She has taught and worked with different media, but her love of photography and watercolor are where her voice is clear, and her stories are most impactful. Having traveled to many countries and experienced many cultures, her artistic viewpoint is focused on nature journaling and environmental preservation.
Opening Reception: Potpourri of Imagination
THURSDAY, MARCH 6 | 5:30 - 7:30PM
IN THE COMMUNITY GALLERY
THE ARTS CENTER IN ORANGE (link)
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
Potpourri of Imagination features artwork of animals in unconventional scenarios and whimsical scenes. Join us in celebrating the work of local artist Elena Pratt!
This event is FREE and open to all. Light refreshments will be served.
Books as Self Expression (Main Library)
Join a professional artist and bookbinder to create your own blank book, which you will fill with words and image at later programs in this series!
This program is part of a series The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries. The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it. These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.
This program is FREE and open to the public |Ages 16+
Registration is required and space is limited. To register for this program, click here.
If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list. These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.
Participation in the prior programs is not required, but those who have done so should bring their book to each session.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) and is being held as a partnership between the Orange County Public Library and the Arts Center in Orange.
About our Instructor
Laura Chalfant has worked in publication layout & design for several colleges and universities. Her commissioned artworks have been printed in brochures and are displayed by prominent members of the City of Petersburg and UVA. She has been an art teacher for more than 20 years. She has taught in private and public schools as well as co-op organizations. After working and teaching for the Petersburg Area Art League (PAAL), Laura became Vice-President of the Board of Directors where she led the charge in art education and the Virginia Standards of Learning for PAAL.
She has taught and worked with different media, but her love of photography and watercolor are where her voice is clear, and her stories are most impactful. Having traveled to many countries and experienced many cultures, her artistic viewpoint is focused on nature journaling and environmental preservation.
Orange County African American County Heritage Program & 2025 Annual Membership Meeting
OCAAHS February 16th, 2025 Program & Annual Meeting
Orange County African American County Heritage Program & 2025 Annual Membership Meeting
The program starts after a brief business meeting
Mapping and Uncovering African American Heritage in Central Virginia. Join us for an illuminating afternoon featuring two groundbreaking research projects exploring African American history in our region.
Archaeological excavation at Gordon Plantation site
Part 1: African and African-Descended Histories at Germanna
Kelly Arford-Horne, Archaeology Site Director, and Jennifer Hurst-Wender, Executive Director of Historic Germanna, will share discoveries about the Gordon family's remarkable journey from enslavement to freedom and their migration to Liberia.
Learn about recent archaeological findings that reveal the daily lives of enslaved people at the Gordon Plantation site, and how this research expands our understanding of 19th-century African American experiences in Orange County.
Historical document of Gordon Family Manumission
Part 2: Roots to Routes - Black Heritage Across Nine Counties
George Monroe Jr., Executive Director of the Montpelier Descendants Committee, together with Dr. Andrea Roberts and her team from the UVA Center for Cultural Landscapes, will present their innovative digital mapping project. Discover how they're documenting historic Black spaces and connecting with descendant families around James Madison's Montpelier. Learn how you can contribute your own family stories to this growing digital archive of Black history.
NO RSVP REQUIRED. Free and Open to All.
Light refreshments will be served
Book Character Speed Dating
Come meet your favorite book characters in person and see if you can find your literary match at our Book Character Speed Dating event at Spelled Ink!
Welcome to Book Character Speed Dating at Spelled Ink Bookstore ! Join us for a fun-filled evening where your favorite book characters come to life. Get ready to mingle with characters from different genres, time periods, and worlds. Who knows, you might just find your literary soulmate! This in-person event will take place at Spelled Ink , the perfect setting for book lovers to connect over their shared passion for reading. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to meet and interact with characters straight out of your favorite books. Get ready for a night of excitement, laughter, and maybe even a little romance!
Opening Reception: Arts of Asia
As a part of our Annual Lunar New Year festivities we will be showcasing cultural objects from the private collections of Jing Shui, Robert Bricker, Charles Laughlin, Ma Lan, Pat McAloon, Monica Xia, and Joanie and Ray Palmer.
This event is FREE and open to all. Light refreshments will be served.
Galentine’s Day at Spelled Ink Bookstore
Come celebrate Galentine's Day with us at Spelled Ink Bookstore, where we'll have fun activities, snacks, and plenty of girl power vibes!
Welcome to Galentine's Day at Spelled Ink Bookstore ! Grab your besties and join us for a fun-filled celebration of friendship and books. We have exciting activities planned just for you and your gal pals.
Admission includes: A specially curated Valentine's Gift Box, filled with an assortment of goodies to pamper you! Pizza, themed mocktails, and an evening of fun and laughter, just for the ladies!
Don't miss out on this special event - mark your calendars and spread the word! See you there!
Build-Your-Own-Macaron Treat Box for Valentine’s Day
Build-Your-Own-Macaron Treat Box for Valentine’s Day
Come join us at Patch Brewing Co. for a fun event where you can create your very own macaron treat box just in time for Valentine’s Day! Choose from 4 different color shells, 3 delicious fillings (chocolate, strawberry & vanilla), jam centers and use sprinkles, edible markers, and royal icing to customize your perfect sweet gift. Whether you’re treating yourself or a loved one, this event is sure to be a hit. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get creative and indulge in some tasty treats!
You can work on your 12-pack or make a date night and work together to build your custom dozen.
After building your macarons they like to rest! It's exhausting turning into a delicious delicacy! Take them home and put them in the fridge and they will be PERFECT to enjoy on Valentine's Day!
Macarons and fillings are GLUTEN FREE and DAIRY FREE.
BRISK at Woodbrook
BRISK is back!!! Listen and dance to all your favorite 90’s and 00’s from 2-5pm. 2 Brothers Southwest Grill will be serving their delicious menu!
Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookie Decorating Class at Well Hung Vineyard
Interested in learning more about decorated sugar cookies?! Brittney's Kitchen is here to help! In this 1.5-hour class we will
Cover the basics to sugar cookies (so – yes, it’s beginner friendly!)
Do some piping practice with Royal Icing
Talk about how to strategize the best ways to decorate sugar cookies.
Everything you'll need is provided in class along with a live in-person instructor – just bring a smile, and your phone to take pictures!
We’ll be decorating 4 cookies during this 1.5 hour cookie decorating class! Don’t miss out on this fun class!
You'll leave class with a great understanding of the basics of sugar cookies plus a few cool techniques we'll cover in class! More details on refunds, things to bring, credits, and FAQs are below - looking forward to having you with us.
Live at Forked on Main
Your favorite music playing in the background as you enjoy one of the finest meals in Orange, VA! Featuring J. Michael Henry.
Learn more: https://forkedonmain.com/
Brazilian Night at Main Street Tavern
Join us for a night of Brazilian fun! Enjoy live music, traditional cocktails, and a delicious meal. Billy has crafted an array of traditional Brazilian cocktails for the evening, including Bombeirinho, Caipirinha Marasca and Batida de coco com abacaxi. Our culinary team is preparing a delicious, traditional Brazilian meal, featuring Bobo de camarao, feijoada, stroganoff de frango, and the famous cheese bread.
Learn more: https://msttavernva.com/
BRAVO Christmas Concert
Come celebrate the holidays with the BRAVO Christmas Concert!
BRAVO (Blue Ridge Area Virginia Youth Orchestra) is an educational outreach of The Music Room.
Messiah Sing-a-long
Join us at St. Thomas Episcopal Church for our annual Messiah Sing-a-long!
Admission is FREE
40th Annual Singing Christmas Tree
Orange Baptist Church’s 40th Annual Singing Christmas Tree!
Free and open to the public
Orange Community Band Holiday Concert
Join the Orange Community Band for their Holiday Concert at Orange County High School!
Admission is FREE
40th Annual Singing Christmas Tree
Orange Baptist Church’s 40th Annual Singing Christmas Tree!
Free and open to the public
Orange Community Chorus
Join the Orange Community Chorus at Orange Presbyterian Church for their Holiday Concert!
Admission is FREE
Annual Music Room Christmas Sing Along
The annual Music Room Christmas Sing Along will be Monday, December 9 @ 7:30 p.m.
Seasonal refreshments will be provided!
Holidays On Main Street & Holiday Market
Join us for our annual HOLIDAYS ON MAIN in Gordonsville! Old fashioned carriage rides, holiday fun, and artisan shopping along charming historic Main Street
Visit this website to learn more about the Holidays on Main Street and Holiday Market, as well as other events organized by Love Gordonsville VA.
Orange Rotary Christmas Parade and Memorial Tree Lighting
The theme for this year's Christmas Parade is "Christmas on the Farm!"
Montpelier Holiday Open House
James Madison's Montpelier invites you to a community holiday event. Take a break from the holiday frenzy to relax and enjoy the season with a bit of history and tradition.
The Madisons' home will be decorated according to 19th-century customs. Open house tours will be from 4PM-7PM. At the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center, browse the galleries and do some holiday shopping in the Museum Shop.
Tickets for the event can be purchase at this link: https://www.simpletix.com/e/holiday-open-house-tickets-193701
Holiday Gift Bazaar
Join us for our annual Holiday Gift Bazaar! Shop artwork by local artists and find the perfect gift for your loved ones this holiday season. Preview some of the fabulous handmade items available from these local artists and artisans below!
Participating Artists:
Anna Blackwood
Barbara Nye
Caleb Mathews
Jennifer Wright
Juliette Swenson
Kathy Atkinson
Leslie and Molly Lillard
Mary McMahon
May Townley
Pearl Hawk
Tammy Tatum
Orange County Gingerbread House Contest
Celebrate the holidays with the annual Orange County Gingerbread House Contest!
This contest is hosted by Orange County Parks & Recreation in partnership with The Arts Center in Orange.