This weekend in Lynchburg (Sep 11-13)

80 or so events this weekend. The Elvis Festival plays out its last three days at the Academy, the Amherst County Fair runs through Sunday, and the Water Dog turns 10 with a market and live music both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday carries the week: the Junior League's free Day in the Park at Miller Park, the Loft Life self-guided tour through downtown lofts, a river cleanup, and a post-harvest pinot-picking party out at Ankida Ridge. If I'm missing something, or you've got an event you're hosting or want to share, let me know.

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Fri Sep 11

🟢 Fall Plant Sale · 8:00am · Old City Cemetery Museums and Arboretum · heirloom roses and companion plants, 8am-3pm today and 9am-1pm Saturday.
🟠 Open Studio · 10:00am · Hammer & Stain · $25-$50 · drop-in DIY session across five project tiers, 10am-2pm.
🟠 Little Picasso Art Club · 10:30am · Scrappy Elephant · $13 · toddler art class, ages 18 months to 3 years.
🟢 Tiny Tabletops · 10:30am · Miller Center · play-based learning for young kids.
🟠 Lynchburg Virginia Elvis Festival 2026 · 1:00pm · Historic Academy Theatre · $40-$500 · day two of four: "Elvis: America the Beautiful" with all 2026 headliners at 1-3pm, then "Elton and Elvis" ft. Dwight Icenhower and Travis Powell at 7:30-9:30pm, with an after-party 10-11:45pm at the Academy Warehouse.
🟠 Sewing Circle · 4:00pm · Needle Ninja · $25 · bring your own project, 4-6pm.
🟠 3rd Annual Fish Fry · 5:00pm · Thomas J Traylor Lodge · $15 donation · open to the public, while it lasts.
🟠 Amherst County Fair · 5:00pm · Amherst County Fairgrounds · $10 gate · day two of four, 5-10pm. Kids 5 and under free.
🟠 CO2 Laser Cutting + Engraving · 5:30pm · Vector Space · $45 · learn Lightburn and the laser cutter.
🟠 Happy Hour Pilates · 5:30pm · Meanwhile Back On The Farm · $15 · Prana Yoga & Fitness pop-up with a free ditty bag, giveaways and a photo area. Bring a mat.
🟢 Live Music: Andrew Beverly · 5:30pm · Charley's Restaurant & Catering · Live in the Tavern series.
🟠 Book Talk: Frank Cogliano · 5:30pm · Poplar Forest · the author on "Thomas Jefferson Survives," written with Peter Onuf.
🟢 Live Music: Bang Bang Trio · 6:00pm · The Water Dog · no cover, 6-9pm.
🟢 Live Music: Logan Stamm · 6:00pm · Benjamin's Restaurant, Forest · 6-9pm, no cover.
🟢 Forest Friday Cheers: Nick Johnson Band · 6:00pm · Apocalypse Ale Works, Forest · free admission, with local vendors, food and an inflatable bounce pad for the kids.
🟠 Pressed Flower Bar · 6:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $38-$60 · build a custom pressed flower piece, 6-8pm.
🟠 Temple of Vines & Shadows · 6:00pm · Mythic Hall · $25 · Plotweaver session, 6-9pm.
🟢 Hill City Mindfulness Recovery Group · 6:30pm · Clarity House · weekly, ages 18+. Doors 6:30pm and the group starts at 7:00, no admittance after that.
🟢 Friday Night Magic - Commander · 7:00pm · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · weekly Magic: The Gathering Commander night.
🟠 Academy Paint Night: Paint & Sip · 7:00pm · Peggy Burruss Art Studio · $35 · guided paint-and-sip evening.
🟠 Digimon Weekly Locals · 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $8.99 · weekly, a pack per win.
🟠 FNM Weekly Booster Draft · 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $23.99 · Friday Night Magic draft, three packs to draft plus a pack per win.
🟠 Star Wars Unlimited Weekly Play · 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · weekly locals. Dragon Fire publishes no entry fee for this one, unlike its other nights.
🟠 Films on Song Album Release Show (TLVS & You're Jovian) · 7:00pm · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $15 · doors 7:00, unlimited-play entry included.
🎤 Karaoke: The Music Hall 7:30-10:00pm, doors 7:00, free (Robert Pennix) · Scoreboards 8:00pm-12:30am (DJ Cameron Wheeler)

Sat Sep 12

🟢 Forest Farmers Market · 8:00am · Forest Farmers Market, Forest
🟢 Saturday Market · 8:00am · Lynchburg Community Market · outdoor farmers market, 8am-1pm, year round.
🟢 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Challenge · 9:00am · Monument Terrace · climbers go up the 207 steps repeatedly to reach 2,071, the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center, in memory of the 343 firefighters lost. Takes about 45 minutes.
🟢 Fall Plant Sale · 9:00am · Old City Cemetery Museums and Arboretum · second and final day, 9am-1pm. Heirloom roses and companion plants.
🟢 James River Regional Cleanup · 9:00am · Rotary Centennial Lynchburg Skatepark · 27th year. Come any time between 9am and noon; vests, gloves and litter grabbers provided.
🟠 Open Studio · 9:00am · Jackson Heights Art Studio · $22/day · wheels, tools, slab rollers and glaze, plus a firing fee if you leave outside pieces. You need at least one completed 8-week class at Jackson Heights first.
🟠 Mindful Movement Saturday Yoga · 9:45am · Sattva Yoga & Wellness Center · weekly class with Gary.
🟢 46th Annual Day in the Park · 10:00am · Miller Park · the Junior League of Lynchburg's free community festival, 10am-2pm, with local exhibitor and vendor booths.
🟠 Loft Life Tour · 10:00am · Downtown Lynchburg Association Office · $25 · self-guided walking tour through downtown lofts and other living spaces, $21 a head for groups of 10 or more. Starts at the DLA office on Church St.
🟢 Roots and Reconnection Festival · 10:00am · Poplar Forest · free festival of African American history and culture, 10am-3pm, with music, dance, exhibits and tours.
🟢 Saturday Vendor Pop-Up Market · 10:00am · Café Monte Belle · local vendor pop-up.
🟠 Touch-a-Truck · 10:00am · Sims Farm, Forest · $8 · kids climb aboard trucks and heavy equipment, 10am-3pm.
🟠 Crochet 101 · 11:00am · Scrappy Elephant · $30 · beginner crochet, 11am-12:30pm.
🟠 Amherst County Fair · 12:00pm · Amherst County Fairgrounds · $10 gate · day three of four, noon-10pm with the gate closing at 9. Kids 5 and under free.
🟠 Best Biscuit Bake-Off · 12:00pm · Amherst County Fairgrounds · $10 · part of fair admission, sponsored by Morris Orchard. First place takes a $50 gift certificate.
🟠 A Post-harvest Pinot Picking Pizza Party · 1:00pm · Ankida Ridge Vineyards, Amherst · $15 · pick Pinot Noir secondary grapes with Christine, includes a glass of Pinot; Neapolitan pizza sold separately, reservations required, limited to 12 pickers.
🟠 Crochet 102: Granny Squares · 12:30pm · Scrappy Elephant · $30 · the granny square stitch with Jordan. Basic crochet knowledge required, ages 12+.
🟢 Flow Water Program · 1:00pm · The Clarity House · free food and water for anyone facing food or water insecurity, with delivery within 25 miles for veterans, single parents and rural residents.
🟠 Lynchburg Virginia Elvis Festival 2026 · 1:00pm · Historic Academy Theatre · $40-$500 · day three of four: "Elvis Taking Care of Business" ft. Diego, Taylor, Brooke and Hayden at 1-3pm, then "Elvis the Legend" ft. Moses, Diego and Taylor at 7:30-9:30pm, with an after-party 10-11:45pm at the Academy Warehouse.
🟢 Teen RPG Club: Dungeons & Dragons · 1:00pm · Forest Library, Forest · ages 12-18, free.
🟢 The Water Dog Turns 10 · 12:00pm · The Water Dog · the LoveLYH Market, added as a bonus second market day this month, noon-6pm, and Bigfoot County playing live 7-10pm.
🟠 Pokemon Casual League Play · 1:30pm · Dragon Fire Games · $4.99 · weekly Pokemon locals, entry includes league packs.
🟠 Sewing Circle · 2:00pm · Needle Ninja · $25 · bring your own project, 2-4pm.
🟠 Tote-ally Charmed · 2:00pm · Wick & Pour Candle Bar · $55 · pour a candle and decorate a tote to carry it home, 90 minutes.
🟠 Yu-Gi-Oh! Weekly Locals · 2:30pm · Dragon Fire Games · $4.99 · weekly, entry includes an OTS prize pack.
🟢 Art at The Market: Local Showcase · 3:00pm · Lynchburg Community Market · curated expo of local performing artists, free to attend.
🟠 Live Music: The Deanie Blues Band · 6:00pm · Second Stage, Amherst · $10 · the last night of the Summer Concert Series, 6-9pm on the outdoor Raine Stage. Free for Second Stage members.
🟠 Riftbound Nexus Nights Weekly Play · 6:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $8.99 · weekly locals.
🟢 Live Music: The Frequency · 7:30pm · Big Lick Tropical Grill
🟠 Guest Artist Recital: Andrew Finn Magill & The Polaris Project · 7:30pm · Thoresen Theatre, Randolph College · $15 · jazz violin quartet blending Irish, Brazilian, Malawian and American fiddle styles. $10 for seniors, free for students and anyone under 18.
🎤 Karaoke: Lola's 7:00pm-close (Mogu Entertainment) · 801 Raw Bar on Rivermont 7:00pm · Stadium Inn 8:00pm, Ready to Rock Karaoke (Cory Burchett)

Sun Sep 13

🟠 Lynchburg Virginia Elvis Festival 2026 · 11:00am · Historic Academy Theatre · $40-$500 · closing day: Moses Snow's 2025 championship concert at 11am-12:30pm, then "Elvis the Gospel Side" ft. Taylor, Diego, Brooke and Hayden at 1:30-2:30pm, ending with a farewell meet-and-greet at 2:30-3pm.
🟠 Sewing Machine 101 · 11:30am · Scrappy Elephant · $30 · machine parts, threading and bobbin basics for total beginners, with Natania. Ages 13+.
🟠 Amherst County Fair · 12:00pm · Amherst County Fairgrounds · $10 gate · closing day, noon-6pm. Kids 5 and under free.
🟢 The Water Dog Turns 10: LoveLYH Market · 12:00pm · The Water Dog · closing day of the birthday weekend. Market noon-6pm, Greg Ward noon-3pm, Bigfoot County 4-7pm, and $1 wings while they last.
🟢 Flow Water Program · 1:00pm · The Clarity House · free food and water for anyone facing food or water insecurity.
🟠 Fall Mats & Wreaths · 2:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $40-$45 · 2-4pm.
🟢 Holbrook Lyceum Lecture: A Good and Pleasant Company · 2:00pm · Old City Cemetery Chapel · Drs. Clifton and Dorothy Bundy Potter discuss their Lynchburg 250th Anniversary book, with a signing after. RSVP to [email protected], seating limited.
🟠 Printmaking Workshop · 2:00pm · Scrappy Elephant · $35 · plan, carve and print your own linocut stamp, and keep it. Ages 12+.
🟠 Jukebox Concert Series: Get Happy! · 3:00pm · Smith Hall Theatre, Randolph College · $40 · a Judy Garland songbook afternoon built around Jenna Pastuszek with music director Joshua Zecher-Ross, and not an impersonation act. $35 for seniors.
🟢 Riftbound Play · 3:00pm · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · weekly Riftbound TCG night.
🟢 Weekly Lorcana Play · 3:00pm · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · weekly Disney Lorcana TCG night.
🟠 U.S. Bastards, Murdersome, Revolt, F-Certified · 5:00pm doors, music at 6:00 · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $13 · all ages, and the arcade is unlimited.
🎤 Karaoke: The Vault 6:00pm (Robert Pennix) · Stadium Inn 8:00-11:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

All weekend

🟢 Field of Honor · opens Fri Sep 11 · Graves Mill Road, Forest · more than a thousand American flags go up for Patriot Day and stay through Sep 23, organized by the Rotary Club of Forest.
🟢 Botanical Alchemy: Echo Prints by Beth Stinson and That Which Forms · Wed-Sun 12:00-4:00pm · Riverviews Artspace · both shows run through Oct 18.

🚗 Worth the Drive

🟠 D-Day, Omaha Beach Traveling Exhibit · Fri 10:00am · National D-Day Memorial, Bedford · $15 general admission · traveling exhibit included with a memorial visit, plus the annual Poppy Peace Garden display marking the war's end.
🟠 Patriot Day Wreath Laying · Fri 11:00am · National D-Day Memorial, Bedford · $15 adult · commemorative wreath-laying ceremony marking Patriot Day.
🟢 Visit Johnson Farm · Fri-Sun 10:00am · Johnson Farm, Peaks of Otter, Bedford · 1850s mountain homestead with guided tours, heirloom apple trees and costumed interpreters. Open Thu-Mon 10am-3pm, reached by a 2.1-mile loop trail from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center at Milepost 86.
🟢 Art in Motion: Reception and Awards · Fri 5:00pm · Bower Center for the Arts, Bedford · opening reception and awards for the Art in Motion exhibit; gallery admission at Bower is always free.
🟢 Karaoke Fridays · Fri 7:00-10:00pm · Beale's, Bedford · new to the circuit this month, hosted by DJ Liz; also runs Sep 25.
🟠 Little Town Players: "Wait Until Dark" · Fri-Sun 7:30pm · Fred Harper Theater, Bedford · price not published · runs over two weekends, Sep 11-13 and Sep 18-20.
🟢 Bedford Farmers Market · Sat 8:00am · Bedford Farmers Market, Bedford
🟢 Wingina Store Market Open for the Season · Sat 9:00am · Wingina Store, Wingina · fun, food, crafts, plants and fruit vendors.
🟢 The Blue Ridge Bee Festival · Sat 10:00am · Falling Creek Park, Bedford
🟠 Bedford Outdoor Sportsman Association Fall Bash · Sat 11:00am · Sedalia Center, Big Island · price not published · live music from 4pm (Karlee Ray Band, Griffin Haley).
🟢 Beale's Oktoberfest · Sat 12:00-10:00pm · Beale's Brewery, Bedford · 9th annual, free to walk in.
🟢 Starfire Live · Sat 3:00pm · Ramulose Ridge Vineyard, Moneta · no-cover acoustic set.
🟠 Rene Sanches and Swansong · Sat 6:00pm · Bower Center for the Arts, Bedford · $20-25 · classical covers of contemporary music, doors 5:30pm.
🟠 Monster Truck Show and Rodeo · Sat-Sun 4:00pm · Wind Vineyards, Moneta · price not published
🟢 Heart of Virginia Artisans Market · Sun 11:00am · Hazy Mountain Vineyards, Afton · local artisans, handcrafted autumn goods and a harvest-season market.
🟢 Second Sunday Stroll · Sun 1:30pm · Stoney Creek (Allen Creek Nature Preserve), Wintergreen · new monthly guided nature walk led by a VA Master Naturalist.

🗓️ Coming up next week

Four worth putting in the calendar now, and the full list lands in Tuesday's email.

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