This week in Lynchburg (Jul 22-28)

Hey, I'm Andrew. I started this newsletter because I kept finding out about good things around Lynchburg about a week after they happened, so now I round up everything into one free list, twice a week. Saturday carries the week: a country headliner on the Riverfront, fireworks after the ballgame, markets all morning, a goth night market after dark, and Christmas in July deals scattered around town. Shakespeare closes its run outdoors, a StarKid horror-comedy musical runs three nights at the University of Lynchburg, a cello-and-piano duo plays Randolph, and the usual trivia, karaoke and gaming circuit fills in the rest. If I'm missing something, or you've got an event you're hosting or want to share, let me know.

Times and details can change after this is sent. For the latest, view this post on the web (the "view in browser" link up top). I post corrections there.

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⭐ Top picks this week

With Gratitude to our Sponsor: Living Line Studio

🟢 free · 🟠 paid · 🎤 karaoke

Wed Jul 22
🟢 Free daytime programs at Templeton · Chair Exercise 9:00am · Canasta 9:30am-12:30pm · Recreation Shuffle 10:00am-12:00pm at Fairview Heights · ages 50+ · Parks&Rec
🟢 LEGO Club · 10:00am-2:00pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center, 301 Grove St
🟢 LEGO Club · 10:00am-5:00pm · Downtown Branch
🟠 Teen Build Camp Drop-In Day · 8:30am-12:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $50 · register for a single day of the build-camp week
🟠 Open Studio (sewing / needle arts) · 12:00-7:30pm two-hour blocks throughout · Needle Ninja · $10 needle arts / $25 sewing · book ahead
🟢 Bookmobile: Riverfront Park · 11:00am-12:00pm · 1100 Jefferson St · then Jefferson House Apartments 12:30-1:30pm · the city's first bookmobile, card signup and checkout on board
🟢 Summer Lunch Program · 11:00am-1:00pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center
🟠 Using a Sewing Pattern (intermediate) · 12:30-2:30pm · Needle Ninja · $98 · a 3-week series begins, 3 spots left
🟢 Marvelous Mahjongg · 1:30-3:30pm · Jamerson Family YMCA · beginners taught on the spot
🟠 Sewing Circle · 2:00-4:00pm · Needle Ninja · $25 · community sew, bring a project
🟢 Rivermont Farmers Market · 3:00-7:00pm · Riverside Park
🟠 Open Studio · 4:00-6:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $25 · pick a DIY project
🟠 Open Studio · 5:00-8:00pm · Living Line Studio (Toby Penney)
🟠 Wednesday Watercolor · 6:00-7:00pm · Living Line Studio (Toby Penney) · $90/6-wk · accessible techniques and projects, new students welcome any week
🟢 Open Mic (hosted by Jodie Davis) · 6:00pm · Big Lick Tropical Grill
🟢 Textiles Improvement Night · 6:15pm · Vector Space · bring a project, get help
🟢 Mindfulness Art Night · doors 6:30pm, program 7:00pm · The Clarity House, 607 Madison St · ages 18+ · beadwork, sober space
🟠 Hill City Howlers vs. Delmarva Shorebirds · 6:30pm · Bank of the James Stadium · from $10 · Two Fur One Wednesday
🟠 The Merry Wives of Lynchburg (Endstation's outdoor Shakespeare) · 7:00pm · Point of Honor · $25-$35 · BYO seating · the theatre lists this one as a rain date, and tickets are on sale for it
🟠 Union Arena Weekly Locals · 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $7.99, pack per win
🟢 Bar Exam Trivia (with Tyler Wolff) · 7:00pm · Apocalypse Ale Works · FOREST
🎤 Karaoke: Lola's 7:00pm (Mogu Entertainment) · Scoreboards 8:00pm-12:00am (DJ Todd) · EL 32 10:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

Thu Jul 23
🟢 Free daytime programs at Templeton · Chair Exercise 9:00am · Social Bridge 9:30am-12:30pm · Knit or Knot 6:00-8:00pm · Preschool Play Group 10:00-11:30am at Yoder · Parks&Rec
🟢 Alive & Well Run Club · 7:45am · Millie's Living Cafe · weekly Thursday run
🟠 Teen Build Camp Drop-In Day · 8:30am-12:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $50
🟠 Morning Mahj: Mahjong 102 & Open Play (Hill City Mahj) · 9:30-11:30am · Palmera House · $35 guided play (Mahjong 102) / $15 open play · reservation required
🟢 Brainy Board Games · 10:30am-12:30pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center · best for elementary ages
🟠 Open Studio (sewing / needle arts) · 10:00am-6:00pm two-hour blocks throughout · Needle Ninja · $10 needle arts / $25 sewing
🟢 Bookmobile: Armstrong Place · 12:30-1:30pm · 1721 Monsview Pl
🟢 Mindfulness Photography · 5:00-6:00pm · The Clarity House, 607 Madison St · ages 16+ · group photo share
🟠 A Big Band Birthday with the LSO · 5:00-7:00pm · Hall Campus Center, U of Lynchburg · $30 · Lynchburg Symphony swing band + vocalist, dance floor
🟢 Trivia Night (with Noel) · 6:30-8:00pm · The Vaughan Garage
🟠 Hill City Howlers vs. Delmarva Shorebirds · 6:30pm · Bank of the James Stadium · from $10 · Taps and Tacos Thursday, plus free admission for active and retired military
🟢 Live Music: Thunder Ridge Band · 6:30pm · Big Lick Tropical Grill · rock
🟢 Live Music: The Junkyard Jones · 6:30-9:30pm · The Trailhead
🟢 Lynchburg Live: Virginia Sky · 7:00pm, gates 6:00pm · Lynchburg Amphitheater at Riverfront Park, 1100 Jefferson St · summer concert series
🟢 The Merry Wives of Lynchburg (Endstation's outdoor Shakespeare) · 7:00pm · Point of Honor · free to attend on Thursdays, or $25-$35 for a reserved seat · BYO seating
🟢 Kreative Room Unfiltered · 7:00pm · The Music Hall, 722 Commerce St · a community open mic for music, spoken word and comedy · weekly Thursday through Aug 6
🟢 Music Bingo (with Mike Hand) · 7:00pm · Apocalypse Ale Works · FOREST
🟠 Thursday Night Commander (MTG) · 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $8.99, and everyone gets a $6 pack for entering
🟢 Pokémon Weekly Tournament + One Piece Play · 6:30pm · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · sanctioned Pokémon tournament and Bandai-submitted One Piece, side by side · FOREST
🟠 Line Dancing Party · 8:00pm-12:00am · Trading Post Music Hall, 1222 Main St
🟢 Divorced Dad Rock Night (DJ Allison) · 10:00pm · Dish · weekly Thursday
🎤 Karaoke: No 7 Rooftop Bar 8:00-11:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

Fri Jul 24
🟢 Free daytime programs · Preschool Play Group 10:00-11:30am at Daniel's Hill · Recreation Shuffle 10:00am at Fairview, 11:00am at Yoder · ages 50+ · Parks&Rec
🟢 Sunrise Senior Walking Group · 7:00-8:00am · Percival's Island · ages 50+ · every other Friday, and the spot rotates monthly · Parks&Rec
🟠 Teen Build Camp Drop-In Day · 8:30am-12:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $50 · last day of the build-camp week
🟠 Little Picasso Art Club (ages 18mo-3yr) · 10:30-11:30am · Scrappy Elephant · $13
🟢 Snake Snacks · 12:00-12:30pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center, 301 Grove St · a live snake feeding demo with a Parks & Rec animal caretaker, Q&A after
🟢 LEGOs at the Library · 3:00-4:00pm · Madison Heights Library · MAD HTS
🟠 Annie (Timbre Vocal Studio's summer musical campers) · 6:30pm · Miller Center Theater, 301 Grove St · $15 general / $10 students and seniors
🟠 Annie Jr. (Academy Youth Theatre's camp showcase, a different production from the Annie above, the same night) · 7:00pm · the Academy's Warehouse Theatre, off Commerce St · $7.50 · 36 hours of rehearsal, start to finish
🟠 Hill City Howlers vs. Delmarva Shorebirds · 6:30pm · Bank of the James Stadium · from $10 · Southpaw Championship Bobblehead to the first 1,000 fans
🟢 Pokémon Beginners Play Session · 6:30pm · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · learn-to-play night, free pizza if 12+ RSVP · FOREST
🟠 Rumba Tropical Night · 7:00-9:00pm · Palmera House · beginner class 7-8pm then a dance social 8-9pm with Diana Ibarra · no partner needed, complimentary drink
🟢 Karaoke Night at The Music Hall (Robert Pennix, Shining Star Karaoke) · doors 7:00pm, singing 7:30-10:00pm · The Music Hall, 722 Commerce St · monthly, not weekly
🟠 The Merry Wives of Lynchburg (Endstation's outdoor Shakespeare) · 7:00pm · Point of Honor · $25-$35 · BYO seating
🟠 Star Wars Unlimited, FNM Booster Draft + Digimon Locals · all 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · FNM draft $26.99 this week (it changes with the set), Digimon $8.99, Star Wars entry not published
🟢 Friday Night Magic: Commander · 7:00-9:00pm · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · FOREST
🟠 Nerdy Prudes Must Die (the StarKid horror-comedy musical) · 7:30pm · Hailey Theatre, Dillard Fine Arts Center, University of Lynchburg, 1501 Lakeside Dr · $20 general / $15 seniors 55+ and U of L students · rated R for language, stage violence and sexual themes, plus loud sounds and flashing lights
🟠 Haunted Pub Crawl: History on Tap (Hill City After Dark, first tours of the season) · 7:30-9:30pm · downtown · $35
🟠 Ghosts of Gallows Hill · 8:00-9:30pm · downtown · $25 · lantern-lit Echoes on the Avenue runs the same slot
🎤 Karaoke: Scoreboards 8:00pm-12:00am (DJ Cam)

Sat Jul 25
🟢 Lynchburg Community Market · 8:00am-1:00pm · 1219 Main St
🟢 Forest Farmers Market · 8:00am-12:00pm · behind the Forest Library · FOREST
🟠 Women's Pistol Training & Personal Safety Class · 9:00am · 110 Vista Centre Dr, Forest · FOREST
🟢 Amherst's Original Christmas in July Craft Fair · 9:00am-1:00pm · Amherst County Visitor Center, 328 Richmond Hwy · hosted by the county Chamber of Commerce · AMHERST
🟢 Touch-A-Truck · 10:00am-12:00pm · Madison Heights Library · see what county vehicles the kids can climb on · MAD HTS
🟢 Cafe Monte Bello Vendor Market · 10:00am-2:00pm · 828 Main St
🟠 Canoe & Kayak Rentals · 10:00am-5:00pm, last rental 4:00pm · Ivy Creek Park · canoes $10/hr, kayaks $8/hr · first come, first served, no reservations · Parks&Rec
🟢 Millie's Summer Market · 11:00am-3:00pm · Millie's Living Cafe, 1701 Enterprise Dr · flower crown bar, permanent jewelry, nails, photo booth
🟢 Christmas in July Beer Releases · 12:00pm · Apocalypse Ale Works · FOREST
🟠 Pokémon Monthly Tournament · 1:30pm · Dragon Fire Games · the last Saturday of the month is a tournament rather than casual league play, and the entry isn't published
🟠 Yu-Gi-Oh! Weekly Locals · 2:30pm · Dragon Fire Games · $4.99, includes OTS pack prizing
🟠 Riftbound: Vendetta Pre-Rift Event · 6:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $32.99 · the pre-rift kit plus pack prizing, and they want you to reserve a spot ahead
🟠 Disney Lorcana League Play · 7:00-9:30pm · Dragon Fire Games · $8.99
🟠 Gundam Weekly Locals · 7:00-9:30pm · Dragon Fire Games · $6.99
🟠 Annie (Timbre Vocal Studio) · 2:00pm and 6:30pm · Miller Center Theater, 301 Grove St · $15 general / $10 students and seniors
🟢 Laura Wooten: Windowsill Reveries · final day · SFFA Main Street Gallery, 1200 Main St
🟠 Murder Mystery & Mocktails · 6:00-8:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $65 · ages 18+
🟠 Hill City Howlers vs. Delmarva Shorebirds · 6:30pm · Bank of the James Stadium · from $10 · First Responders Appreciation Night, then fireworks after the game
🟢 Live Music: Winegrass · 6:30-9:30pm · The Trailhead
🟠 Zach Rushing · 7:00pm · Historic Academy Theatre, 600 Main St · $48-$110 · comedy
🟠 The Merry Wives of Lynchburg (Endstation's outdoor Shakespeare) · 7:00pm · Point of Honor · $25-$35 · closing night
🟢 Drag Bingo · 7:00pm · Starr Hill On Main, 1300 Main St
🟢 Goth of July night market (Punk Rock Flea Market x Three Roads) · 7:00-11:00pm · Three Roads Brewing BURG · DJ set, free entry
🟠 Nerdy Prudes Must Die (the StarKid horror-comedy musical) · 7:30pm · Hailey Theatre, Dillard Fine Arts Center, University of Lynchburg, 1501 Lakeside Dr · $20 general / $15 seniors 55+ and U of L students · rated R for language, stage violence and sexual themes, plus loud sounds and flashing lights
🟠 An Evening with Bett Padgett · 8:00-10:00pm · The Music Hall, 722 Commerce St · $12 advance / $15 day of · guitar, banjo, and stories
🟠 Ghosts of Gallows Hill + Echoes on the Avenue · 8:00-9:30pm · downtown · $25
🎤 Karaoke: Lola's 7:00pm (Mogu Entertainment) · 801 Raw Bar on Rivermont 7:00pm

🎄 Christmas in July promotions (Sat Jul 25) · most just ask you to mention it at checkout

Sun Jul 26
🟢 Canoe & Kayak Rentals, free today · 10:00am-5:00pm, last rental 4:00pm · Ivy Creek Park · one of two free rental days the city runs all summer · first come, first served · Parks&Rec
🟠 Sunday Afternoon Commander (MTG) · 1:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $8.99, and everyone gets a $6 pack for entering
🟢 Parents Day! · 1:00pm · Starr Hill On Main, 1300 Main St
🟠 Bookbinding a Junk Journal (ages 17+) · 1:00-3:00pm · Scrappy Elephant · $25
🟠 Hill City Howlers vs. Delmarva Shorebirds · 2:00pm · Bank of the James Stadium · from $10 · homestand finale, kids 14 and under free, jersey lunchbox to the first 500 kids, run the bases after
🟠 Annie (Timbre Vocal Studio) · 2:00pm · Miller Center Theater, 301 Grove St · $15 general / $10 students and seniors
🟠 Lighted Decor Experience · 2:00-4:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $40-$60 by base
🟢 Banned Book Club (the East of Eden finale, chapters 39-55) · 2:00-3:30pm · Fox Burrow Books, 1220 Main St · free, but RSVP to hold a spot
🟠 Forte Chamber Music: Julian Schwarz & Marika Bournaki · 3:00pm · Wimberly Recital Hall, Presser Hall, Randolph College · $40 adults, students free · cello and piano
🟢 Riftbound Open Play · 3:00-6:00pm · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · FOREST
🟠 Dish Mat Basket Making (ages 10+) · 4:00-6:00pm · Scrappy Elephant · $30 · bring a sewing machine, or ask them to reserve a loaner
🟠 Summer Putting League · 5:00pm · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · $1 entry, random-draw doubles · FOREST
🟢 Music Booking Event · 6:00-8:00pm · Raven Lounge, 1021 Main St · for local musicians: the lounge is booking its live calendar through 2027, drink specials
🟠 Nerdy Prudes Must Die (the StarKid horror-comedy musical) · 7:30pm · Hailey Theatre, Dillard Fine Arts Center, University of Lynchburg, 1501 Lakeside Dr · $20 general / $15 seniors 55+ and U of L students · final performance · rated R for language, stage violence and sexual themes, plus loud sounds and flashing lights
🎤 Karaoke: Stadium Inn 8:00-11:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

Mon Jul 27
🟠 Coffee & Create · 9:00-10:00am or 10:30-11:30am · Living Line Studio (Toby Penney) · $10 · gather, sip and start the week making
🟢 Family Storytime · 10:30-11:15am · Library Hub at the Miller Center, 301 Grove St
🟢 New Chapter Book Club · 10:30-11:30am · Templeton Senior Center · ages 18+ · meets about once a month · July's book is Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall · Parks&Rec
🟢 Summer Lunch Program · 11:00am-1:00pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center
🟢 Rainbow Puppet Productions · 11:30am-12:30pm · Madison Heights Library · a puppet show · MAD HTS
🟢 Family Storytime · 1:00-1:45pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center, 301 Grove St
🟢 Rainbow Puppet Productions · 3:00-4:00pm · Amherst Library, 382 S Main St · the same puppet show, second showing · AMHERST
🟠 Open Studio · 5:00-8:00pm · Living Line Studio (Toby Penney)
🟢 Summer Mondays Soul Line Dance (with Mz. Micky) · 6:00-7:00pm · Diamond Hill Center, 1005 17th St · ages 21+ · Parks&Rec
🟠 Make & Take Monday · 6:00-7:00pm · Living Line Studio (Toby Penney) · $15 · make something, take it home
🟠 The Scaled Blades · 6:00-9:00pm · Mythic Hall · $10 · hop-in/hop-out weekly D&D campaign, no commitment
🟢 Music Bingo · 7:00-9:00pm · The Trailhead
🟢 Monday Night Trivia · 9:00pm · Rivermont Pizza
🎤 Karaoke: Tiger Sun 7:00pm · 801 Raw Bar on Rivermont 7:00-10:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

Tue Jul 28
🟢 Free daytime programs at Templeton · Chair Exercise 9:00am · Social Bridge 9:30am-12:30pm · Preschool Play Group 10:00-11:30am at Yoder · 50+ Softball 10:00am at Peaks View · Parks&Rec
🟠 Beginning Acrylic Painting · 9:00-10:30am · Living Line Studio (Toby Penney) · $125/6-wk · join any week
🟠 Basic Alterations & Repairs · 10:00am · Needle Ninja · $68 · a 2-week beginner series begins, only 2 seats left
🟢 Chill Cinema at the Miller Center · 10:00am-12:30pm · Miller Center Theater, Rm 205, 301 Grove St · a snowy movie in the middle of July to beat the heat, and they drop clues beforehand instead of naming it so you can guess · family-friendly, under 13 with an adult
🟢 Downtown Family Storytime · 10:30-11:15am · Downtown Branch
🟠 Tap, 50+ (drop-in) · 11:00am-12:00pm · Miller Center, Rm 207 · ages 50+ · $9 LR / $11 daily drop-in (full class $64 LR / $66) · Parks&Rec
🟠 Watercolor Foundations for Women · 11:00am-12:30pm · Living Line Studio (Toby Penney) · $125/6-wk · join any week
🟢 Workforce Readiness and Job Placement · 11:00am-1:00pm · College Hill Center, 811 Jackson St · ages 16+ · skills training and placement with Legacy Educational Center · Parks&Rec
🟢 Bookmobile: Daniel's Hill · 1:00-2:00pm · 317 Norwood St · then College Hill Neighborhood Center 3:00-4:00pm
🟠 Tai Chi (Mixed Level) (drop-in) · 4:15-5:45pm · Templeton Senior Center · ages 18+ · $152 LR / $155 for the season, drop-in available but the rate isn't published · qigong plus gentle choreographed movement · Parks&Rec
🟠 Sewing Circle · 4:00pm · Needle Ninja · $25
🟢 Adult Chess · 5:00-7:00pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center · teens and adults
🟠 Open Studio · 5:00-8:00pm · Living Line Studio (Toby Penney)
🟢 Kids Karaoke Dance Party · 5:30pm · Big Lick Tropical Grill
🟠 Together Tuesday · 6:00-7:00pm · Living Line Studio (Toby Penney) · $15
🟠 Modern Line Dance (Mixed Level) (drop-in) · 6:00-7:30pm · Templeton Senior Center · ages 15+ · $7 LR / $10 drop-in, or $143 LR / $146 for the season · Parks&Rec
🟠 Tile Tuesday: Open Play (Hill City Mahj) · 6:00-8:00pm · Palmera House · $15 · still openings after a sold-out beginner class
🟠 Beginner Watercolor · 6:00-8:30pm · Templeton Senior Center · ages 18+ · $50 LR / $63 · materials provided · register by 7/26 · Parks&Rec
🟢 Hill City Writers · 6:00-8:00pm · Templeton Senior Center · Parks&Rec
🟠 Pints After Pedals · 6:00pm · The Trailhead · group ride, $3 cans after
🟠 One Piece Weekly Locals · 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $8.99 · needs an active Bandai card ID
🎤 Karaoke: Big Lick Tropical Grill 5:30pm Kids & Family (Rhodey Entertainment) · Dish 10:00pm (Allison)

Running all week (no single date)
🟢 Riverside Sprayground · daily 10:00am-7:00pm · Riverside Park · free, open through Sept 7
🟢 Kreative Room Unfiltered exhibit · through Jul 30 · The Music Hall, 722 Commerce St · free interactive art room

Enjoying the roundup? It takes a good chunk of my week to put together. If it pointed you to a good night out and you feel like tossing a few bucks in the tip jar, here's my Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/lyhevents. No pressure, and thanks for reading either way.