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Historical document of Gordon Family Manumission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

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!

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!

Learn more and get tickets here!

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.

Get tickets and learn more.

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!

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.

Get tickets and learn more.

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/

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/

Come celebrate the holidays with the BRAVO Christmas Concert!

BRAVO (Blue Ridge Area Virginia Youth Orchestra) is an educational outreach of The Music Room.

Join us at St. Thomas Episcopal Church for our annual Messiah Sing-a-long!

Admission is FREE

Orange Baptist Church’s 40th Annual Singing Christmas Tree!

Free and open to the public

Join the Orange Community Band for their Holiday Concert at Orange County High School!

Admission is FREE

Orange Baptist Church’s 40th Annual Singing Christmas Tree!

Free and open to the public

Join the Orange Community Chorus at Orange Presbyterian Church for their Holiday Concert!

Admission is FREE

The annual Music Room Christmas Sing Along will be Monday, December 9 @ 7:30 p.m.

Seasonal refreshments will be provided!

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.

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

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

Events for our annual bazaar include a used items sale, Advent wreath-making for families, bake sale, fresh centerpieces and Christmas items for sale, Christmas carol sing-along, and more.  All proceeds go to the Children’s Ministry program of the Diocese of Marsabit, Kenya. 

Follow this link to check for updates: https://christanglicanorange.org/events/ 

Image: Christmas Candle - Advent Wreath by Theo Crazzolara

Local Vendors, Yummy Food, Festive Entertainment, and Merriment for all! Mark your calendars for the Four County Players’ 4th Annual Holiday Bazaar!

Orange County Fair Association invites you to our First Annual Christmas Holiday Market! There will be a variety of vendors setup for your shopping convenience right here in Orange.

Additionally, Pancakes with Santa will happen from 9 AM - 11 AM and live music will be playing from 11 AM - 3 PM

For more details about the event please go to this website: Orange County Fair Association Holiday Market

Stop by The Country Gathering for the Holiday Open House.

The store will have discounts, raffles, and light refreshments!

Join us for our annual Christmaskindlmarkt event!

Join us for our annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 6 from 9am-2pm!

The Madison Choral Society will be performing at St. Thomas Episcopal Church!

This concert is FREE and open to the public