Community Calendar

This introductory playwriting course invites adult learners to explore the fundamentals of writing for the stage in a supportive, creative environment. Participants will examine various dramatic structures, engage with key narrative conventions, and experiment with techniques that bring stories to the stage through dialogue, character, and action. Through guided exercises, discussions, and writing prompts, participants will develop original pieces of dramatic art while gaining a deeper understanding of how plays are often built to function as meaning machines. This class offers a mix of practical application and theoretical discussion.

This class will provide aspiring actors with the tools they need to smoothly go from first read-through to opening night. Participants will learn proven techniques for analyzing a script and understanding a character’s motivations, and practice essential skills for working with scene partners, making bold choices, and being creative in the rehearsal room. This class is open to anyone who is curious about how to get started in acting, with no experience required. Whether you are keen to get on the stage yourself, or even to understand the process of those you enjoy watching on stage, this class is for you. This class will be entirely practical.

This class is an opportunity for actors to dig deeper into proven techniques that will strengthen the voice, body, presence, imagination, and instinct. Guided by the work of practitioners such as Sanford Meisner, Cicely Berry, Uta Hagen, and others, participants will work toward developing a reliable toolkit to access deeper connections to their characters, scene partners, objectives, actions, and their own instrument. This class is open to anyone who has some previous experience or training and is interested in deepening their practice, enhancing their skill set, and approaching old acting challenges in new ways. This class will be entirely practical.

Oak Grove Theater's Summer 2026 Session begins with "No Sex Please, We're British": Newlyweds Peter and Frances Hunter are settling into life above Peter’s bank when a harmless mail-order mistake delivers Scandinavian pornography instead of glassware. As the illicit packages multiply, the couple, along with a panicked bank cashier, scramble to contain the chaos, dodging bosses, inspectors, in-laws, and the police in a farce that spirals wildly out of control.

Join us for live theater outdoors under the stars at beautiful Oak Grove Theater; performances begin at 8:45pm sharp, but attendees are welcome and encouraged to come early, bring a picnic and enjoy the grounds. Oak Grove Theater sells tickets for the season - one season ticket purchase allows you to see each show once; tickets for a single performance are not available. Learn more and purchase your tickets here

In this class, participants will explore the full scope of the director’s role: from choosing the right play to giving final notes. They will learn the importance of creative problem solving, text analysis, collaboration, running a successful casting session, working with actors in rehearsal, using space as a storytelling tool, and ultimately bringing the imagination to life on stage. This class is intended for both first-time directors and those looking to expand their technique. If you have a curiosity about how to take a play from the page to the stage and how to keep rehearsals progressing toward clear storytelling, this class is for you. No experience required in directing, acting or writing. This class offers a mix of practical application and theoretical discussion.

A farm-to-table experience that will fuel our growth: Chef Throwdown Benefiting Jones Gardens- September 7, 2026 @ 5:30pm (Location TBD)

Jones Gardens invites Virginia chefs to apply for a friendly Farm-to-Table Chef Throwdown, featured as part of a lively, ticketed fundraising dinner celebrating local food, farms, and community.

Each selected chef will be paired with a Virginia farm and challenged to create a dish that highlights the farm’s ingredients and a thoughtful farm-to-table approach. Guests will enjoy the event as both entertainment and dining, tasting inspired dishes while cheering on chef–farm teams.

All proceeds benefit Jones Gardens, and help fuel our operations, particularly a new and exciting venture that will break soon break ground, which will bring more programming and education to the community.

What Chefs Receive

Stipend for participation
Volunteer assistance during prep and service (if needed)
Exposure to a broad, food-loving community audience through our social media and website, as well as potential to be featured in local news broadcastings
Collaboration with a Virginia farm
A fun, high-energy competition for a meaningful cause

Chef Requirements (Seeking 2-3 chefs)

Must apply via the Jones Gardens website
Must Prepare at least one dish that contributes to the full course meal (either an appetizer, entree or desert)
Submit a short video clip showing yourself preparing a dish and explaining your process
Be genuinely passionate about Jones Gardens’ mission and local food systems

Chefs of all backgrounds and culinary styles are encouraged to apply.

VMFA on the Road will be in Harrisonburg (between the Smith House and Turner Pavilion) during First Fridays of the Valley June 5 (5-7 pm) and again Saturday, June 6 (9 am-1 pm)!

The Artmobile’s new exhibition, "Virginia as America: Navigating Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," honors America’s 250th birthday with artworks from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts permanent collection.

About the exhibition: "The spirit of rebellion that sparked the American Revolution and transformed the North American colonies into a United States was decades in the making, and the ideas that catalyzed it continue to shape American debate and dissent today... Two hundred and fifty years on, the principles that inspired the Revolution in 1776 continue to bond a diverse and discordant population towards the realizing of a “more perfect union.” The road to that achievement has been navigated by Virginians since the colony became a Commonwealth, its experience manifest in the material culture made by and for its people."

Thanks so much to Rockingham County Circuit Court for sponsoring this visit!

Come Out for First Friday!

Join us on Friday, June 5th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM as we kick off the Co-op’s 15th Birthday celebrations with 15 Years of Local Love, a mixed media group art show inspired by community, food, and connection.

This show will feature a collection of 10” x 10” works by local artists, and explores what the Co-op means to the people who make up our community. Through both literal and abstract interpretations, artists reflect on the ways the Co-op feeds, grounds, and connects us to each other, to local food, and to a shared sense of place.

Enjoy an evening of local art, conversation, and community as we celebrate 15 years of the Friendly City Food Co-op. The exhibit will be on display in the café gallery space for the month of June.

We hope you’ll join us for this special First Friday event!

Mark your calendar for the Rhythm & Rescue Music Festival on June 6, 2026, at the Augusta Regional SPCA (33 Archery Lane, Staunton, VA 24401). Gates open at 11am, with live music from 11am–6pm for a full day of fun, food, and fundraising.

Enjoy fantastic performances by The Loya Brothers, The Hot Mamas, and Love Dawg. Browse craft vendors, animal-themed merchandise, and delicious baked goods. Come hungry—food trucks will include Mr. BBQ, Country Crazy, and Kona Ice.

All proceeds benefit the Augusta Regional SPCA, helping fund much-needed improvements at the shelter and support animals in need. Bring your friends, bring your family, and help make a difference—one song at a time!

FREE ADMISSION!
Bluegrass Concert live every Sunday 2pm-4pm