This week in Lynchburg (Jul 29-Aug 4)

Hey, I'm Andrew. I started this newsletter because every event around here lives on a different event aggregator or flyer, and there was no one place to look. So now I round up everything happening in Lynchburg into one free list, twice a week. Heads up: 120 or so events this week, so take your time with it. The week leans free and local: the library's 60th birthday party, a free riverfront concert, a Stevie Wonder tribute, a cat cafe, ghost walks, youth theater, markets, game nights, and a full slate of free Parks & Rec programs. 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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Prefer to browse? The whole list is also on the calendar: https://calendar.lyhevents.com

With Gratitude to our Sponsor: Super Rad Arcade Bar

Super Rad Arcade Bar is the largest classic arcade in Virginia, on 9th St downtown. Pac-Man, Street Fighter, X-Men, pinball, plus live music most weeks. https://thesuperradarcade.com

🟢 free · 🟠 paid · 🎤 karaoke

Wed Jul 29

🟢 Free daytime programs · Chair Exercise 9:00-10:00am and Canasta 9:30am-12:30pm at Templeton Center · Recreation Shuffle 10:00am-12:00pm at Fairview · ages 50+ · Parks&Rec
🟢 LEGO Club · 10:00am-2:00pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center, 301 Grove St · drop-in open play, LEGO plus Mega Bloks and MAGNA-TILES
🟢 LEGO Club · 10:00am-5:00pm · Downtown Library Branch, 216 12th St · all-day LEGO and DUPLO drop-in for preschool and elementary kids
🟢 Bookmobile · three stops · 10:00am-12:00pm Riverside Park · 12:30-1:30pm Hillcrest Senior Apartments (3000 Birchwood Dr) · 3:00-4:00pm Fairview Heights Neighborhood Center
🟢 Summer Lunch Program · 11:00am-1:00pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center · free lunch for anyone 18 and under, no registration
🟢 Rivermont Farmers Market · 3:00-7:00pm · Riverside Park · weekly Wednesday market
🟠 Using a Sewing Pattern (intermediate) · 5:30pm · Needle Ninja · $98 · 6-hr course over three weekly sessions, this is the first
🟢 Women in Technology Networking · 6:00pm · 3115 Rivermont Ave · with the Innovative Leaders Technology Council
🟢 Chess Club · 6:00-9:00pm · Starr Hill On Main, 1300 Main St · brand-new weekly club, all skill levels · stick around for the 7:30 poetry night
🟢 Wine Down live acoustic · 6:00-9:00pm · The Water Dog · half off select wine bottles, act announced day-of
🟢 Ace Spade Rally Supercar Showcase · 6:00-8:00pm · The Virginian Hotel, 712 Church St · supercars downtown for an evening
🟢 Poetry Open Mic: Blacklisted Poets of Lynchburg · 7:30-9:30pm · Starr Hill On Main, 1300 Main St · with Authors Anonymous · listen or get up and read
🟢 Trivia at Apocalypse Ale Works · evening session, comment on their post by 4:00pm to reserve a table · FOREST
🎤 Karaoke: Lola's 7:00pm-close (Mogu Entertainment) · Scoreboards 8:00pm-12:00am (DJ Todd) · EL 32 10:00pm-close (Rhodey Entertainment)

With Gratitude to our Sponsor: Living Line Studio

Living Line Studio is a place to make, learn, and grow alongside other creative people. Join us for small-group classes, studio gatherings, and events where you can build your skills, make new friends, and make art a regular part of your life. tobypenneyartist.bigcartel.com

Thu Jul 30

🟢 Alive & Well Run Club · 7:45am · Millie's Living Cafe patio, inside Health Nut Nutrition
🟢 Awareness Garden Appreciation Day at Nomad · 8:30am-5:00pm · Nomad, at the Ed Page entrance to the Blackwater Creek Trail · grab a drink, 100% of the day's sales go to the Awareness Garden
🟢 Free daytime programs · Chair Exercise 9:00-10:00am and Social Bridge 9:30am-12:30pm at Templeton Center · Preschool Play Group 10:00-11:30am at Aubrey Barbour Park (109 Jackson St) · Recreation Shuffle 11:00am-1:00pm at College Hill · Parks&Rec
🟢 Lynchburg Grows Farm Store · 9:00am-6:00pm · 1339 Englewood St · weekly farm store, 50% off with SNAP
🟢 Bookmobile · three stops · 9:30-10:30am Subway parking lot (2154 Wards Rd) · 11:00am-12:00pm Greenview stop (1209 Greenview Dr, Mobil lot) · 2:30-3:30pm Lynchburg Humane Society
🟠 Basic Alterations & Repairs · 10:00am · Needle Ninja · $68 · beginner sewing, two weekly sessions
🟠 Candle Pouring Experience · sessions 11:00am & 2:00pm · Wick & Pour Candle Bar, 205 9th St · $45 · 90 minutes, pour your own custom candle
🟢 Bookmobile Bash · 4:00-6:00pm · Miller Park, Grove St side · the library's 60th anniversary party and the new bookmobile's launch: music, face painting, balloon art, yard games, refreshments · rain plan moves it to the Aviary
🟢 Live Music: Andrew Beverly · 6:00-9:00pm · The Trailhead · on the patio
🟢 Tiki Thursday: Stevie Ray live · 6:00pm · Iron & Ale
🟢 Live Music: Ray Martin · 6:30pm · Big Lick Tropical Grill
🟠 Yoga · 6:00-7:00pm · Templeton Center · drop-in, rate at registration · ages 15+, bring a mat, Paul Webb · Parks&Rec
🟢 Knit or Knot Knitting · 6:00-8:00pm · Templeton Center · Parks&Rec
🟢 Lynchburg Live: Groovatron · gates 6:00pm, music 7:00-9:00pm · Lynchburg Amphitheater · the free summer concert series; outside chairs welcome, re-entry allowed
🟢 Kreative Room Unfiltered open mic · 7:00pm ·** The Music Hall, 722 Commerce St · music, spoken word, and comedy
🟢 Summer Hits with the Pops · 7:00pm · the lawn behind American Legion Post 16, 1301 Greenview Dr · the Lynchburg Pops Community Band, bring a chair or blanket
🟢 Music Bingo at Apocalypse Ale Works · 7:00pm · comment on their post by 4:00pm to reserve · FOREST
🟠 Her Majesty + The Falsies + Leannan Sídhe · doors 7:00pm, music 8:00pm · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $14 · touring rock bill, arcade play included with entry
🟠 Thursday Night Commander · 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games, 408 Federal St
🟠 Downtown Lynchburg Walking Ghost Tour: Sunset · 7:00-8:00pm · meets at the Community Market, 1219 Main St · $15 (kids 7-18 $10, under 6 free) · the historical route up Court St and back along Main
🟠 Downtown Lynchburg Walking Ghost Tour: Waterfront · 8:15-9:15pm · meets at the Community Market, 1219 Main St · $15 (kids 7-18 $10, under 6 free) · past Craddock Terry and around the waterfront
🎤 Karaoke: No 7 Rooftop Bar 8:00-11:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

Fri Jul 31

🟢 Coffee Talk · 8:00-10:00am · Sweet Indulgence Bakery, 1030 McConville Rd · the Central Virginia Business Coalition's monthly networking morning for area business owners
🟢 Free daytime programs · Preschool Play Group 10:00-11:30am at Daniel's Hill · Recreation Shuffle 10:00am-12:00pm at Fairview and 11:00am-1:00pm at Aubrey Barbour Park · Parks&Rec
🟠 Candle Pouring Experience · sessions 11:00am & 2:00pm · Wick & Pour Candle Bar, 205 9th St · $45
🟠 Using a Sewing Machine · 12:00pm · Needle Ninja · $98 · beginner, 6-hr course over three weekly sessions
🟠 Beginner Knitting · 1:00pm · Needle Ninja · $68 · Tammy is back teaching
🟠 The Social Pour · 5:00pm · Wick & Pour Candle Bar, 205 9th St · $50 · come alone, leave with community: guided conversation prompts while you pour a custom candle
🟢 Forest Friday Cheers: The Troy Coleman Project · from 6:00pm, Troy Coleman plays 7:00-10:00pm · Apocalypse Ale Works & Beer Garden · play zone, food, and family entertainment · FOREST
🟢 Live Music: Whiskey Shakes · 6:00pm · Starr Hill On Main, 1300 Main St
🟢 Live Music: Michael Wayne Dill · 6:00pm · No 7 Rooftop Bar
🟠 Shrek Kids (Academy Youth Theatre) · 6:00pm · Historic Academy Theatre, 600 Main St · $10-$14 · the camp showcase, second show Sat morning
🟠 Metal Takeover: Convictions + Two Sides of Me + Thin the Herd + Freedom from The Shadows · doors 6:00pm, music 7:00-11:30pm · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $20 advance / $25 day of show · all ages, arcade included
🟢 DJ T-Rex · 6:30-9:30pm · The Trailhead · dance night on the patio
🟢 Hill City Mindfulness Recovery Group · doors 6:30pm, starts 7:00pm · The Clarity House, 607 Madison St · ages 18+ · weekly A.C.T.I.O.N. series
🟠 Star Wars Unlimited league, FNM Booster Draft, and Digimon locals · all 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games
🟢 Last Fridays Bingo Night · 7:00pm · Lynchburg Beer Company, 3813 Wards Rd
🟠 Downtown Lynchburg Walking Ghost Tour: Sunset · 7:00-8:00pm · meets at the Community Market, 1219 Main St · $15 (kids 7-18 $10, under 6 free)
🟢 Live Music: The Pete Turpin Band · 7:30pm · Big Lick Tropical Grill
🟠 Haunted Pub Crawl · 7:30pm · meets at the Historic Bragassa Toy Store · $35 · ages 21+ for the drinking stops · Hill City After Dark
🟠 A Tribute to Stevie Wonder · 8:00-10:00pm, doors 7:00pm · Joy & Lynch Christian Warehouse Theatre, 600 Main St · $24-$35.50 · Lew Taylor & Soulstice with DJ Noyz
🟠 Ghosts of Gallows Hill · 8:00pm · meets at the Old Court House steps, 901 Court St · $25 · lantern-led walking tour
🟠 Echoes on the Avenue · 8:00pm · meets at the Miller-Claytor House, 2200 Miller Claytor Ln · $25 · lantern-led ghost walk
🟠 Public Investigation at the Miller-Claytor House · 8:00pm · $35-$65 · bring-your-own-equipment paranormal investigation
🟠 Downtown Lynchburg Walking Ghost Tour: Waterfront · 8:15-9:15pm · meets at the Community Market, 1219 Main St · $15 (kids 7-18 $10, under 6 free)
🎤 Karaoke: Scoreboards 8:00pm-12:00am (DJ Cam)

Sat Aug 1

🟢 Lynchburg Community Market · 8:00am-1:00pm · 1219 Main St · farmers and producers, year-round
🟢 Forest Farmer's Market · 8:00am · FOREST
🟠 Rabies Vaccination Clinic & Microchips · 9:00am-12:00pm · Forest Presbyterian Church · shot fees not posted · FOREST
🟠 Using a Sewing Machine · 10:00am · Needle Ninja · $98 · beginner, three weekly sessions
🟠 Summer Saturdays mahjong · 10:00am-1:00pm · The Gilded Dogwood Mahjong Society · $35 · boxed lunch included, payment reserves your seat
🟠 Upcycled Magnet Making · 10:00am-12:00pm · The Scrappy Elephant, 400 12th St · $30 · ages 8+ · fabric scraps, paper, and ribbon into one-of-a-kind magnets
🟠 Bespoke Tote Bag Workshop · 10:00-11:30am · Riverviews Artspace, 52 9th St · $35 · no-sew appliqué with artist-in-residence Katie Martin, all materials provided
🟠 Ivy Creek Park canoe & kayak rentals · 10:00am-5:00pm · Ivy Creek Park, 118 Clemmons Lake Pl · canoes $10/hr, kayaks $8/hr · Parks&Rec
🟠 Beginner Crochet · 11:00am · Needle Ninja · $68
🟠 Shrek Kids matinee (Academy Youth Theatre) · 11:00am · Historic Academy Theatre, 600 Main St · $10-$14 · final performance
🟠 Pop-Up Cat Cafe · 11:00am-3:00pm · Templeton Center, 225 Wiggington Rd · $10, under 3 free · coffee from Mission House plus adoptable cats, discounted adoptions on every cat there · with Lynchburg Humane Society and Parks & Rec
🟠 Candle Pouring Experience · sessions 11:00am & 5:00pm · Wick & Pour Candle Bar, 205 9th St · $45
🟢 Food Not Bombs Back to School Giveaway · 11:00am-12:00pm · Miller Park, 2100 Park Ave · the group's annual school-supply giveaway
🟢 Back-to-School Giveaway · 12:00-3:00pm, while supplies last · Miller Park, 2100 Park Ave · K-12 school supplies first come first served, plus free hot dogs, kettle corn, ice cream, and games · hosted by Immanuel Christian Church
🟢 Live music at The Water Dog · 1:00-4:00pm · act announced day-of
🟠 Pokemon Casual League · 1:30pm, then Yu-Gi-Oh locals 2:30pm and Riftbound Nexus Nights 6:00pm · Dragon Fire Games
🟠 Ghosts of Gallows Hill · 8:00pm · meets at the Old Court House steps, 901 Court St · $25 · lantern-led walking tour
🟠 Echoes on the Avenue · 8:00pm · meets at the Miller-Claytor House · $25-$45 · lantern-led ghost walk
🟠 The Cardinal Summer · 8:00-10:00pm · The Music Hall, 722 Commerce St · $17 advance / $20 day of · a band whose whole pitch is face-to-face connection and community at their shows · Academy Presents series
🎤 Karaoke: Lola's 7:00pm (Mogu Entertainment) · 801 Raw Bar on Rivermont 7:00pm

Sun Aug 2

🟠 Sewing Machine 101 · 11:30am-1:30pm · The Scrappy Elephant, 400 12th St · $25 · ages 10+ · machines available to borrow
🟠 Candle Pouring Experience · sessions 12:00pm & 4:00pm · Wick & Pour Candle Bar, 205 9th St · $45
🟢 Sunday brunch live music · 1:00-4:00pm · The Water Dog · $1 wings and $1 Chesapeake oysters, act announced day-of
🟠 Creativity with Creekside · 2:00-5:00pm · The Scrappy Elephant, 400 12th St · an afternoon of no-pressure creative and sensory exploration with Creekside Therapeutics · reserve through their site
🟢 Blood Drive with the Blood Connection · 2:30-5:00pm · Lynchburg Humane Society, 1211 Old Graves Mill Rd · donors get $60 in rewards, book a slot at the link
🟢 Back to School Community Day · 3:00pm · Forest Recreation Center · school-supply giveaway hosted by Grove United's youth ministry · FOREST
🟠 Rest, Balance, & Pour · 2:00pm · Wick & Pour Candle Bar, 205 9th St · $55 · the monthly self-care session: a calming wellness activity, then pour a shower steamer
🎤 Karaoke: Stadium Inn 8:00-11:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment) · industry night, 10% off for bar and restaurant staff with proof of employment

Mon Aug 3

🟢 Free daytime programs · Chair Exercise 9:00-10:00am and Tabletop Games 9:30am-12:30pm at Templeton Center · Recreation Shuffle 10:00am-12:00pm at Fairview · Parks&Rec
🟠 Coffee & Create · 9:00-10:00am or 10:30-11:30am · Living Line Studio · $10 · no project to finish, no experience required, just a place to be
🟠 Homeschool Social · 10:00am-12:00pm · Imagination Rising, 4541 S Amherst Hwy · $5/child, pass holders free · iced coffee included · MAD HTS
🟢 Tooth Tales storytime · 10:30-11:30am · Miller Center, 301 Grove St · stories and songs, then brushing practice with Children's Dentistry, goodie bag for every child
🟢 Summer Lunch Program · 11:00am-1:00pm · Library Hub at the Miller Center · free lunch for anyone 18 and under
🟠 Fairview Fitness, August session begins · 12:00-12:45pm · Fairview Center, 3621 Campbell Ave · $30 LR / $45 · ages 50+, M/W/F through Aug 28, register at the first class · Parks&Rec
🟢 Summer Mondays Soul Line Dance · 6:00-7:00pm · Diamond Hill Center, 1005 Seventeenth St · ages 21+ · with Mz. Micky · Parks&Rec
🟢 Music Bingo · 7:00-9:00pm · The Trailhead · prizes
🟢 Monday Night Trivia · 9:00pm · Rivermont Pizza
🎤 Karaoke: 801 Raw Bar on Rivermont 7:00-10:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment) · Tiger Sun 7:00pm

Tue Aug 4

🟢 Free daytime programs · Chair Exercise 9:00-10:00am and Social Bridge 9:30am-12:30pm at Templeton Center · Preschool Play Group 10:00-11:30am at Aubrey Barbour Park · Recreation Shuffle 11:00am-1:00pm at Daniel's Hill · Workforce Readiness 11:00am-1:00pm at College Hill (ages 16+) · Parks&Rec
🟠 Zumba Gold, August session begins · 10:00-11:00am · Daniel's Hill Center, 317 Norwood St · ages 50+, Tuesdays through Aug 25, drop-ins welcome · Parks&Rec
🟢 Downtown Family Storytime · 10:30-11:15am · Downtown Library Branch, 216 12th St · ages 5 and under, first come first served
🟠 Tap · 11:00am-12:00pm · Miller Center · ages 50+ · drop-in, rate at registration · Parks&Rec
🟠 Hardanger Embroidery · 1:00pm · Needle Ninja · $68 · intermediate, one of Tammy's new classes
🟠 Using a Serger/Overlock Machine · 2:00pm · Needle Ninja · $68 · intermediate
🟠 Tai Chi · 4:15-5:45pm · Templeton Center · ages 18+ · drop-in, rate at registration · qigong plus gentle choreographed movement · Parks&Rec
🟢 Chess Night · 5:00-7:00pm · Miller Center · teens and adults, drop in any time, beginner through master
🟢 School Readiness Workshop · 5:30-7:00pm · Miller Center, 301 Grove St · for families of preschoolers and rising kindergartners, light dinner and take-home materials · space limited, register by Sun Aug 2 · Parks&Rec
🟢 Hill City Writers · 6:00-8:00pm · Templeton Center · Parks&Rec
🟠 Modern Line Dance · 6:00-7:30pm · Templeton Center · ages 15+ · drop-in, rate at registration · Parks&Rec
🟢 Pints After Pedals · 6:00pm · meets at The Trailhead · a no-drop group ride, $3 cans after
🟠 Tile Tuesday: Open Play mahjong · 6:00-8:00pm · Palmera House · $15 · Hill City Mahj hosts, all tiles and mats provided · come early for dinner and a glass of wine
🟠 Hill City Howlers vs Wilson · 6:30pm · Bank of the James Stadium · Silver Sluggers Tuesday · the home stand opener
🟢 Trivia, comedy, and games · 7:00-9:00pm · Tiger Sun · with Anthony "Train" Johnson
🟠 One Piece weekly locals · 7:00-9:30pm · Dragon Fire Games, 3102 Memorial Ave
🟢 Summer Film & Art Series · doors 7:00pm, film 8:15pm · The Clarity House, 607 Madison St · ages 18+ · free popcorn and coffee, art activities included, $1 sodas support Leah's Free Food Bank · the film is announced on their page the day before
🎤 Karaoke: Big Lick Tropical Grill 5:30pm Kids & Family (Rhodey Entertainment) · Dish 10:00pm-close (Allison)

Running all week

🟢 Riverside Sprayground · daily 10:00am-7:00pm · Riverside Park, 2238 Rivermont Ave · through Sept 7 · Parks&Rec
🟢 Steven Francis Gallery · Wed-Sat 11:30am-5:30pm · 102b Tradewynd Dr, above Montana Plains Bakery · three shows on view: the "Nulla Dies Sine Linea" group exhibition, "Being There" (Marjorie Portnow, opens Thu), and a Robert Sulkin solo (opens Sat)
🟢 Mix it Up Media · Thu-Fri 1:00-5:00pm, Sat-Sun 1:30-4:00pm · Lynchburg Art Club and Gallery · four mixed-media artists, final week
🟢 How Will Our Ancestors Find Us? Don't Forget the Chiclets · Riverviews Artspace, 52 9th St · through Aug 16
🟢 Nelfa McReynolds, acrylic paintings · The Virginian Hotel, 712 Church St · through Aug 14 · an Academy satellite exhibit
🟢 Sarah-Faith Strait: BECOMING and Meredith Peverill: Histories · Academy galleries, 600 Main St · both close Fri Jul 31
🟢 Cycling Without Age · free trishaw rides for ages 50+, by appointment

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.