This weekend in Lynchburg (Sep 18-20)

80 or so events this weekend. Friday night brings the Jug Bowl to City Stadium, a kitten paint and sip at the Humane Society, a heavy metal bill at Super Rad and a ghost walk from the old courthouse steps. Saturday stacks up four festivals at once: the Beer, Wine & Cider Festival at City Stadium, the Art Club's 53rd Art Festival at E.C. Glass, an Oktoberfest at the Water Dog, and Party on Pierce, a free street festival celebrating Pierce Street's history. Sunday's quieter, with an afternoon session at the Water Dog and four bands back at Super Rad. 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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🟢 free · 🟠 paid · 🎤 karaoke

Fri Sep 18

🟠 Open Studio · 10:00am-2:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $25-$50 · drop-in DIY session, price depends on the project.
🟢 Builders Club · 10:30am · Miller Center · building with Mega Bloks, KEVA Planks and Magna-Tiles.
🟠 Little Picasso Art Club · 10:30-11:30am · Scrappy Elephant · $13 · toddler art class with storytime, ages 18 months to 3 years.
🟢 Richie Parker Talk · 12:00pm · Acorn Hill Lodge · born without arms, the Clemson-trained engineer contributed to nine NASCAR Cup championships. Guests welcome, optional $15 lunch (Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg).
🟢 Know Your Rights: Reentry Rights 101 · 1:00-5:00pm · The Building on Oakley Ave · for returning citizens: learn the rights you have, get connected to resources and register to vote.
🟢 Live Music: Starfire · 5:30pm · Charley's Restaurant & Catering · Live in the Tavern series.
🟢 Empower Yourself: Awareness, Safety & Self-Defense Workshop · 6:00pm · Forest Library, Forest · library program in the community room.
🟢 Forest Friday Cheers · 6:00pm · Apocalypse Ale Works, Forest · weekly Friday live music.
🟢 Friday Live Music · 6:00pm · Benjamin's Restaurant, Forest · weekly Friday set.
🟠 Pawcasso! Kitten Paint and Sip · 6:00pm · Lynchburg Humane Society · $38 · paint night with adoptable kittens roaming the studio, free wine with ID.
🟠 Wes Iseli Magic & Illusion Show · 6:00-8:00pm · Miller Center Theater · $15 · online sales have closed, tickets at the door if there's room.
🟢 Live Music: The Whiskey Shakes · 6:30pm · The Trailhead
🟠 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 plus a pack per win.
🟢 Friday Night Magic - Commander · 7:00pm · Underground Cards & Disc Shop, Forest · weekly Magic: The Gathering Commander night.
🟢 Hill City Mindfulness Recovery Group · 7:00pm group, doors 6:30 · The Clarity House · weekly, ages 18+, no admittance after 7:00.
🟠 Jug Bowl: Heritage vs. E.C. Glass · 7:00pm · City Stadium · the annual high school football rivalry game, tickets through GoFan.
🟠 Live Music: Raised By Sheep · 7:00pm music, doors 6:00 · RiverView Vinyl · $10 · an extended set, recorded for a live album.
🟠 Speed Dating · 7:00-8:30pm · Millie's Living Café · ages 20-30, register ahead with separate sign-ups for men and women.
🟠 Star Wars Unlimited Weekly Play · 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · weekly locals, league packs for prizes.
🟠 Stygian Mind, Heavy Penalty, Unknown, Revolt · 7:00pm music, doors 6:00 · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $17.85 · heavy metal night until 11:00pm.
🟠 Haunted Pub Crawl · 7:30-9:30pm · Historic Bragassa Toy Store · $35 · two hours through downtown bars with live group readings (Hill City Tours).
🟢 Live Music: Public Consumption · 7:30pm · Big Lick Tropical Grill
🟢 DJ Nights · 8:00pm · The Trading Post Music Hall & Speakeasy · two floors, two DJs, 21+, runs to 2:00am.
🟠 Ebony Nicole and Friends · 8:00-10:00pm · The Music Hall · $10 advance · $15 day of.
🟠 Ghosts of Gallows Hill · 8:00-9:30pm · Old Court House · $25 · ghost walking tour that starts on the courthouse steps (Hill City Tours).
🟢 Live Music: Cara & Tracy · 10:00pm · Dish · late-night set.
🎤 Karaoke: Scoreboards 8:00pm-12:30am (DJ Cameron Wheeler)

Sat Sep 19

🟢 Cars & Coffee: Super September · 8:00-10:00am · Tree of Life Ministries · monthly car meet (Cars & Coffee Lynchburg VA).
🟢 Forest Farmers Market · 8:00am-12:00pm · Forest Farmers Market, Forest
🟢 Saturday Market · 8:00am-1:00pm · Lynchburg Community Market · weekly farmers and artisan market.
🟢 Mindful Movement Saturday Yoga · 9:45am · Sattva Yoga & Wellness Center · gentle yoga with Gary.
🟢 53rd Annual Lynchburg Art Festival · 10:00am-4:00pm · E.C. Glass High School · the Lynchburg Art Club's fine art festival, rain date Sunday.
🟢 Community Care Day · 10:00am-2:00pm · Diamond Hill Center · 5th annual "Day of Peace" with live music, vendors, door prizes and a produce giveaway. Wear white; a GLTC shuttle runs from Diamond Hill Baptist Church.
🟢 Composting Workshop · 10:00am-12:00pm · Davis Instruction Garden at HumanKind · starting and keeping a compost indoors and out, with Q&A. Meet under the red roof pavilion (Hill City Master Gardeners).
🟢 Back-to-School Confidence & Anti-Bullying Workshop · 10:30am · Forest Library, Forest · library program (Warrior Success Academy).
🟠 17th Annual Lynchburg Beer, Wine & Cider Festival · 12:00-7:00pm · Lynchburg City Stadium Event Complex · $25-$30 · 70+ wineries, cideries, distilleries and artisans, food and live music. Kids 12 and under free.
🟢 Family Art & Pancake Brunch · 12:00-3:00pm · The Clarity House
🟢 Table Top Games · 12:00pm · Miller Center · monthly tabletop gaming, bring your own or borrow from the collection.
🟢 Composting: Nature's After Party · 1:00pm · Forest Library, Forest · talk from the Bedford Extension Master Gardeners.
🟢 Hydration Education · 1:00pm · Templeton Senior Center · why hydration matters and your options for drinking water · Parks&Rec
🟢 Oktoberfest Bash · 1:00-9:00pm · The Water Dog · Vince Whorley 2-4pm, Local Call 6-8pm, Hammerschlagen and stein-holding contests, beer garden.
🟢 Flow Water Program · 1:30-3:00pm · The Clarity House · drinking water pickup for anyone facing water insecurity, with delivery within about 25 miles for veterans, single parents and rural residents.
🟠 Pokemon Casual League Play · 1:30pm · Dragon Fire Games · $4.99 · weekly, entry includes league packs.
🟢 6th Annual Mods & Rockers · 2:00pm party, rides at 10:00 · Three Roads Brewing - BURG · the scooter and motorcycle charity ride finishes here with 501 Coyotes, a food truck, games and raffles. Benefits United Way of Central Virginia.
🟢 Party on Pierce · 2:00-7:00pm · 1300 and 1400 blocks of Pierce St · 3rd annual street festival celebrating Pierce Street's history, with music, historical tours and activities for all ages (Pierce Street Gateway).
🟠 Yu-Gi-Oh! Weekly Locals · 2:30pm · Dragon Fire Games · $4.99 · weekly, entry includes an OTS prize pack.
🟢 Badminton Activity · 3:00-6:00pm · One in Christ Church Fellowship Hall, Forest · open to every level, Saturdays through Dec 12. A $2-5 contribution for shuttlecocks is welcome.
🟠 Pops of Pink Benefit Fashion Show · 3:00-7:00pm · Miller Center · $50 general admission · $60 VIP with early entry at 2:30, plus a ticket fee. WAITT fundraiser for cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers.
🟢 Teen Creative Writing Club · 3:30pm · Forest Library, Forest
🟢 Live Music: Starfire · 5:00pm · Virginia Tasting Cellar · acoustic set, no cover.
🟠 2026 Gala: The Next Act · 6:00-9:30pm · Historic Academy Theatre · $250 · the Academy's annual fundraising gala.
🟢 Mizfit Cosplayers of VA Meetup · 6:00pm · Forest Library, Forest · monthly cosplay-making meetup.
🟢 Live Music: Karlee Raye · 6:30-9:30pm · The Trailhead
🟠 Disney Lorcana League Play · 7:00pm · Dragon Fire Games · $8.99 · weekly, a pack per win.
🟢 LOVELYH Market: The Pirate Party · 7:00-11:00pm · Three Roads Brewing - BURG · September Nights edition of the LoveLYH night market, local artists and makers.
🟢 Live Music: The Jen Tal Band · 7:30pm · Big Lick Tropical Grill · funk.
🟢 DJ Nights · 8:00pm · The Trading Post Music Hall & Speakeasy · two floors, two DJs, 21+, runs to 2:00am.
🟠 Locked in Time · 8:00-9:30pm · Bowman's Locksmith · $25 · story walking tour down Church Street that meets at the locksmith shop (Hill City Tours).
🟠 Paranormal Investigation · 8:00pm · Miller-Claytor House · $35-$65 · two groups, 8-10pm or 10:30pm-12:30am at $35, or VIP for the whole night at $65, eight people per group (Hill City Tours).
🟠 Goth Night with Mr. Fang & the Dark Tones · 9:30pm · Starr Hill On Main · $10 · dress in black, music until 1:00am. Ages 18+, 21+ for the bar (Lynchburg Gothic League).
🟢 Live Music: Casey Wood · 10:00pm · Dish · late-night set.
🎤 Karaoke: Lola's 7:00pm (Mogu Entertainment) · Apocalypse Ale Works, Forest 7:00-10:00pm (Shining Star Karaoke) · 801 Raw Bar on Rivermont 7:00pm (DJ Mike)

Sun Sep 20

🟢 A Little 'Musical Serendipity' with Dave Owens and Ken Matthews · 1:00-4:00pm · Ankida Ridge Vineyards, Amherst · afternoon music at the vineyard.
🟠 Central + Southwest Virginia Weddings Showcase · 1:00-4:00pm · Tresca on 8th · $5 · wedding vendor showcase for couples planning a wedding.
🟢 Sunday Session: Gabriel Van Trio · 1:00-4:00pm · The Water Dog · wings and Chesapeakes are $1 while they last.
🟠 Book Vase · 2:00-4:00pm · Hammer & Stain · $50 · turn an old book into a vase.
🟢 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.
🟠 20 Watt Tombstone + Orenda + Heemeyer + Crooked Cash · 7:00pm music, doors 6:00 · Super Rad Arcade Bar · all ages, unlimited arcade play included.
🎤 Karaoke: The Vault 6:00pm (Robert Pennix) · The World Famous Stadium Inn 8:00-11:00pm (Rhodey Entertainment)

All weekend

🟢 Field of Honor · all day · Automated Conveyor Systems · more than a thousand American flags set out by the Rotary Club of Forest, on view through Sep 23.
🟢 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

🟢 Fall Lumberjack Classic Weekend · Fri-Sat 8:00am · Devils Backbone Basecamp and Meadows, Roseland · timbersports pros compete in springboard, hot saw, chopping and axe throwing, through 5:00pm Saturday.
🟠 U.S. Air Force Birthday · Fri 10:00am-5:00pm · National D-Day Memorial, Bedford · $15 adult · Air Force veterans get in free all day.
🟢 Visit Johnson Farm · Fri-Sun 10:00am-3:00pm · Johnson Farm, Peaks of Otter, Bedford · 1850s mountain homestead with guided tours, a short hike from the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center.
🟠 National POW/MIA Recognition Day · Fri 11:00-11:30am · National D-Day Memorial, Bedford · $15 adult · wreath-laying ceremony, regular Memorial admission.
🟢 Western Games · Fri 6:00-10:00pm · Spring Valley Farm, Bedford · a schooling-style fun show on horseback, and anyone can enter at no charge.
🟠 Wait Until Dark · Fri-Sat 7:30pm · Fred Harper Theater, Bedford · $20 · $15 for kids 12 and under, Sunday matinee at 2:00pm. Little Town Players' closing weekend of the classic thriller.
🟢 Pick Your Own Apples · Sat 9:00am-4:00pm · Seaman's Orchard, Roseland · Red and Golden Delicious, Early Fuji, Empire and Jonagold on the trees, sold by the half-bushel bag.
🟢 Bedford Centerfest · Sat 10:00am-4:00pm · Downtown Bedford · 37th annual street festival with local vendors, food and entertainment.
🟢 Big Rig Festival 2026 · Sat 11:00am-2:00pm · Bold Rock Hard Cider, Nellysford · off-road rig show with vendors and live music.
🟠 3rd Annual Celtic Festival and Blue Ridge Highland Game Championship · Sat-Sun 12:00pm · Wood Ridge Farm Brewery, Lovingston · two days of Celtic music and highland games, through 5:00pm Sunday.

🗓️ Coming up next week

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

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.