From polo and swimming holes, to sunsets and weed, here’s our guide to the season’s hottest happenings.
1. Flix at IX
Remember the good ol’ days of drive-in movies—basking in the warm summer air, holding your portable radio close, munching on snacks? If you’ve never experienced the magic of outdoor cinema in the summer, IX and Violet Crown Theater are capturing that feeling with Flix at IX, a free weekly film series on the art park’s outdoor piazza. Stop by every Friday evening this summer for family-friendly activities, artmaking, food trucks, cold drinks, snacks, and a sunset screening of your favorite films, including Labyrinth, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Clueless, Men in Black, and Back to the Future. Free, 6pm, Fridays through August 19.
2. Fruit picking
Savor the flavor of the season with luscious local fruits. Fresh is best, so make a day of it and pick your own plump peaches, succulent strawberries, decadent cherries, and more from these area orchards.
Carter Mountain Orchard 1435 Carters Mountain Trl. Peaches and apples.
Chiles Peach Orchard 1351 Greenwood Rd., Crozet. Strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, veggies, flowers, and pumpkins.
Critzer Family Farm 9388 Critzer Shop Rd., Afton. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, peaches, and apples.
Henley’s Orchard 2192 Holly Hill Farm, Crozet. Peaches, apples, and nectarines.
Spring Valley Orchard 3526 Spring Valley Rd., Afton. Cherries.
3. Piedmont Master Gardeners classes
Get your hands dirty and learn a thing or two at the Piedmont Master Gardeners’ in-person Garden Basics classes. Courses will cover everything from soil and mulch to insects, and participants will leave ready to start their own perennial or vegetable gardens. Go to piedmontmastergardeners.org for more info.
4. Blue Ridge Tunnel
If lounging in the hot summer sun isn’t your thing, venture below ground at the Blue Ridge Tunnel. The abandoned railroad tunnel was constructed between 1850 and 1858 as a way to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains at Rockfish Gap. In 1944, it was replaced by a newer tunnel, and it sat without traffic until it was reopened in 2020 as an access trail. Now, walkers, hikers, and cyclists can traverse the belly of the Blue Ridge Mountains through the eerie, cavernous space. A round trip from one trailhead to the other is 4.5 miles, and walking takes approximately 1.5 hours. Packing list: flashlight or headlamp, waterproof shoes, jacket, water. Learn more at nelsoncounty.com.
5. Park it
How do you get away without actually having to get away? The answer lies about 45 minutes from Charlottesville at Shenandoah National Park. Pack a picnic and go for a day hike or spend the night at one of five campgrounds. Enjoy the waterfalls, meadows, and wildlife. Just remember, if you want to hike Old Rag, you do need to buy a ticket in advance (it’s only $1.)
6. Take a dip
Hike up, jump in, cool down. The Charlottesville area offers ample options for taking a dip, but it’s our swimming holes that capture something special. Maybe it’s the remote, natural locations, or the feeling of discovering a hidden gem. Whatever the allure, no summer is complete without a trip to Sugar Hollow for a dip in Blue Hole or Snake Hole. Pro tip: Go on a cloudy day or a weekday to avoid the crowds.
7. Ganga-ing up
Few things illustrate how the times have changed like the location for the Virginia Grown—Cannabis Event: A weed-centric evening at The Shops at Stonefield is definitive proof that marijuana has gone mainstream. Peruse top local cannabis vendors and hear from experts who can help you get your own plants started. The event also features an art sale and live music. 5-10pm, July 2. 21-plus only.
8. Picnic ‘n’ polo
There’s absolutely nothing not to like about polo and picnicking at King Family Vineyards. Roseland Polo matches happen every Sunday at noon from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, field and weather permitting (kingfamilyvineyards.com/polo/).
9. Fresh from the farm
If wholesome fun is your jam, the proliferation of farmers’ markets around Charlottesville is just the (free!) ticket. You’ll find much more than locally grown veggies and flowers, too. Meats, coffee, cheese, sweets, prepared food, and arts and crafts fill the stalls, and acoustic music is almost a sure thing. Grab a reusable bag or two and get going—your head, heart, and stomach will thank you.
Charlottesville City Market Saturday, 8am-noon, 100 Water St.
The Farmers Market at Ix Saturday, 8am-noon, IX Art Park
Sunset Market at Ix Thursday, 3-7pm, IX Art Park
Farmers in the Park Wednesday, 3-7pm, Meade Park
Albemarle Farmers Market Saturday, 8:30am-1pm, Hollymead Town Center
10. Carter Mountain Sunset Series
Watch the sun paint the sky in electrifying hues of orange and pink at Carter Mountain Orchard’s Thursday Evening Sunset Series. Also enjoy live music, two food trucks, Carter Mountain wine, and Bold Rock Hard Cider. Don’t forget your lawn chairs and blankets, and make sure to take advantage of the golden hour glow by snapping a selfie or two. $10, 6-9pm, May 5–September 29.
11. I scream, you scream
“Since Aristotle, happiness has been usefully thought of as consisting of at least two aspects: hedonia (pleasure) and eudaimonia (a life well lived).” That’s how the authors of “The Neuroscience of Happiness and Pleasure” begin their article on the NIH website. Here’s an easy way to get on the fast track to hedonia and eudaimonia: ice cream. Order a dish, cone, or sundae at Chap’s on the Downtown Mall; La Flor Michoacana (popsicles!) on Cherry Avenue; Moo Thru at Dairy Market; Ben & Jerry’s at Barracks Road; Kohr Bros. Frozen Custard on Seminole Trail; or Chandler’s Ice Cream on River Road.