15 Summer Experiences in Charlottesville
Summer is here and so is our list of the top 15 summer experiences in Charlottesville.
Summer in Charlottesville is our favorite time of year. Even if you’re just visiting, here’s your chance to act like a local. Take a look at our list and enjoy exploring all of the incredible places that our town has to offer. When in Charlottesville, right?
1. Rhythm on the River: Rivanna River Company and Rivanna Roots Concert Series
The Rivanna River is calling and the Rivanna River Company can get you all you need to enjoy it, including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and more, plus guided trips and a sauna, just five minutes from Downtown Charlottesville. Add to that a weekly, family-friendly concert series on Saturdays presented by non-profit The Front Porch and it’s just about as Cville as you can get. Get tickets, bring blankets or grab a picnic table, and enjoy amazing local bands, string lights, local food trucks, beverages, and stars up above. An added enticement: the venue is within walking distance of some of the best smash burgers and handmade ice cream in town!
Rivanna River Company; 1520 E. High St, Charlottesville; 434-218-2052
2. Follow the Appellation Trail (No Hiking Boots Required)
Looking for a winery that’s off the beaten path? The Appellation Trail is the perfect route to explore smaller vineyards in the Charlottesville area. Nestled up against the Blue Ridge Mountains, the northern point begins at Moss Vineyards and heads southwest through Free Union into White Hall and Crozet, ending at Grace Estate. Along the way, you can stop in at Hark, Fallen Tree, Glass House, and Stinson Vineyards, all of which are small, family-run wineries that offer not only delicious wine, but incredible charm and views.
3. Taste Our Lady of the Angel’s Homemade Gouda Cheese
In case it’s not enough that we have a hidden gem of a monastery tucked into the mountains near Charlottesville, add handmade gouda cheese to the list and this secret(ish) spot becomes worth every minute of the scenic drive to get there. Near White Hall, about 20 minutes west of Charlottesville, Our Lady of the Angels Monastery boasts fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and farms. Once you set foot on its grounds we can guarantee an instantaneous feeling of tranquility. The cheese shop is open Monday-Saturday from 2-4 pm and is a true one-of-a-kind experience. Pop in before picnicking at a nearby winery (Stinson Vineyards and Grace Estate are close; Glass House Winery and Moss Vineyards are not much farther). The nutty-tasting soft cheese is exquisite and perfect for sharing. Make sure to buy an extra wheel because one won’t last long.
Our Lady of the Angels Monastery; 3365 Monastery Dr, Crozet; 434-823-1452
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4. Get Down with the Locals at Fridays After Five
When polled, there’s hardly a local in Charlottesville that doesn’t sing the praises of Fridays After Five, a free concert series that takes place each Friday April – September beginning at 5:30 pm at Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall. In its 37th year, this event is where our community meets with great local bands, delicious craft beer and wine, and local food trucks and vendors. Pop in and see the magic for yourself – this is a true Charlottesville experience.
Ting Pavilion; 700 E Main St, Charlottesville; 434-245-4910
5. Celebrate July 4 at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
What better way to celebrate Independence Day than with a trip to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello? The Fourth of July festivities begin at 9am with an inspiring Nationalization Ceremony on the West Lawn with award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns as keynote speaker. You’ll enjoy a morning filled with free family activities, patriotic music, festive food options, and community partners showcasing their work. Monticello is also a sponsor of that evening’s C’Ville Spectacular fireworks show staged at the top of neighboring Carter Mountain.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello; 1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville; 434-984-9800
6. Music on Carter Mountain: Thursday Evening Sunset Series
Running April – October from 6-9pm, this incredible music series atop Carter Mountain offers the best views over Charlottesville. Every Thursday offers a chance for visitors to join in for live bands, food trucks, Carter Mountain Wine, Bold Rock Hard Cider, and the chance to enjoy a breathtaking sunset – all from the comfort of your own blanket or lawn chair. Picnic tables on the terrace or deck are the reward for early arrival! It’s also wise to snag a $10 ticket ahead of time or get a $79 Season Pass for the full season.
Carter Mountain Orchard; 1435 Carters Mountain Trail, Charlottesville; 434-977-1833
7. Get a Jump on the Summer Beer & Music Festivals
There’s nothing quite like a cold beer on a hot day. Luckily, we know there are some great beer festivals to attend during the summer months in and around Charlottesville. We recommend the Know Good Beer & Music Festival at Ix Art Part on Saturday, June 14, for unlimited samples from dozens of local and national breweries and distilleries. If you’re on the western side of town that day, you could head over to Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows to celebrate Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine’s 30th anniversary! Enjoy live music, a rock wall, outdoor exhibits, craft beverages, regional vendors, and a thrilling DockDogs showcase.
Ix Art Park; 522 2nd St SE D, Charlottesville; 434-207-2964
Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub; 200 Crandall Run, Roseland; 434-361-1001
8. The Hills Are Alive with Wintergreen Music
Looking for a reprieve from the summer heat? Wintergreen offers a delightful multi-day music festival. In its 30th year, this year’s festival runs July 3-27 and features professional musicians and artists from around the country alongside aspiring student musicians and faculty to bring music to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The “Live from the Mountaintop” festival represents many musical genres and is the perfect place to visit during the warm summer months. Look for additional concerts performed at partner venues like Veritas Winery & Vineyard, Three Notch’d Brewery, Bold Rock, and more.
Wintergreen Music; 3029 Rockfish Valley Hwy; Nellysford; 434-361-0541
9. Find Summer Fun All Around McIntire Park
McIntire Park, 130 acres just off Route 250, is one of the most popular parks in Charlottesville. You’ll find baseball and softball fields, the YMCA, picnic shelters, and Charlottesville Skate Park’s wheel-friendly street plaza, concrete pools, rails, ledges, and more! Nearby, a paved trail accesses the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial.
At the northeast end of the park, work has begun on the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont. Explore the open trails, join a guided tour, listen to music, find nature-themed art activities, or take a Pilates class. Their June and August Super Saturday events are a great way to experience the 14.75-acre site, at the intersection of Melbourne Road and the John W. Warner Parkway.
And just up the block from the Garden, cheer on the 2024 Valley Baseball League champion Charlottesville Tom Sox in their 10th season. Charlottesville High School’s CHO Airport Field is home base for the team and games continue through playoff week at the end of July. Look for Prairiewether Lewis (“Lewie”) and enjoy concessions as you watch potential MLB players in one of 13 national collegiate summer leagues (this one founded in 1897!).
10. Experience the Cool, Dark, and Historic Blue Ridge Tunnel
The Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel is a historical landmark and must-visit destination for adventure seekers of all ages. Built in the 1850s, the 4,273-foot-long tunnel runs through Afton Mountain and was donated by CSX to Nelson County in 2007.
Open year-round from sunrise to sunset, the tunnel sits at the southern entrance of Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, the northern entrance of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Appalachian Trail, and U. S. Bicycle Route 76. Both Interstate 64 and Route 250 cross over the tunnel and you can park on both the Afton and Waynesboro sides. The distance between the two parking areas is just under 3 miles and trail markers tell the story of the rail line and tunnel’s origins. From the eastern access, you might catch sight of trains just beneath you, while the western access is a gentle ascent through a scenic forest.
The tunnel itself envelops you in near darkness. The light at the opposite end guides you along the gentle path deep inside the cool mountain where water runs continuously. The experience of darkness and occasional perfect silence stimulates both wonder and awe, and with just one passage we believe you’ll find it unforgettable.
Blue Ridge Tunnel; East Trailhead: 215 Afton Depot Ln; Afton; West Trailhead: 483 Three Notched Mountain Hwy; Waynesboro; 434-263-7015
11. Teddy Roosevelt’s Pine Knot: For Presidential “Rest and Repairs”
Pine Knot is Teddy Roosevelt’s outdoorsy retreat in southern Albemarle County. In 1905 the 90+-acre property was reachable from the White House in a day—four hours by train to Charlottesville and another four hours on horseback from Red Hill. Where TR and his family journeyed for “rest and repairs” is now just 20 minutes away down Route 20 into wine country on the way to Scottsville. The rustic cottage and peaceful setting entreat reflection upon America’s first conservationist President. The site is owned and managed by The Edith and Theodore Roosevelt Pine Knot Foundation and visiting Pine Knot is by appointment only.
Pine Knot; 711 Coles Rolling Rd; Keene; 434-286-6106
12. Giddy-Up to Gordonsville for Live Rodeo at Oakland Heights Farm
“We wanna be better than Texas,” says rodeo entrepreneur Matt Lamb. Well, you be the judge! On the second Saturday from June through September, experience real-live rodeo at Oakland Heights Farm, just 24 miles up Rt. 231 from Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall.
This year’s event series will be the 20th consecutive rodeo produced by Matt Lamb and partners of Oakland Heights Farm. Attendance typically exceeds 3,000 fans from Washington, DC, through Virginia to Richmond.
The program includes barrel racing and bull riding, with a healthy dose of cowboy humor to boot. “We got a lot of good riders who come to us from the Pro Bull Riders (PBR) circuit, and many are on their way to the next PBR,” says Lamb.
Each night the bull riders compete in two rides and prize money can be as high as $5-6K. “Not bad for one short-round and one long-round,” says Lamb. “Our rodeo attracts some of the top riders in the East.”
The BLM Rodeo at Oakland Heights Farm is a “family-friendly” event. No alcohol is sold on premises but a variety of food trucks will serve western fare from burgers to tacos. Gates open at 5:30pm with a pre-show beginning at 6pm. The main event starts at 7:30 and lasts a little longer than two hours under the lights.
June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13; Admission is $20 adults/ $15 kids with children under 3 free.
BLM Rodeo at Oakland Hights Farm; 17110 James Madison Hwy, Gordonsville; 540-222-1824
13. See What They’re Digging at Montpelier and Monticello
Archaeology has long been a focus for Central Virginia’s Presidential homes, but recent discovery of what lies just beneath the surface has become precious and ongoing at both James Madison’s Montpelier and at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
Just 20 miles north of Charlottesville, Montpelier invites visitors to stop by active expeditions near to the main house. For a closer look, they also host in-depth archaeological experiences through the summer – running from 2 days to 2 weeks – for an honest-to-goodness, get your hands dirty, scientific approach to archeology. Best of all, you get to dig alongside Montpelier’s vaunted staff while you excavate, explore, and learn.
Meanwhile, up at Monticello, archeology is always in fashion. An Archeology Tour is included with any ticket, and a 20-minute expert talk occurs Monday thru Friday at 11am, 1, and 3pm. On Thursdays and Fridays at 1:30pm, a 45-minute Archeology Tour visits one of several active digs on the mountain top. Highlights include discussing recent finds, such as tools, housewares, and Native American pottery.
Montpelier; 11350 Constitution Hwy, Montpelier Station; 540-672-2728 x460
Monticello; 1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville; 434-984-9800
14. Happy Hour at Public: Arrive Early for a Seat (and a Lobster Roll)
If you wonder why there’s a crowd standing in the shade outside 513 West Main at 4pm every day of the week, those people know that when the doors open for Happy Hour at Public Fish & Oyster the seats fill up fast! There’s nothing like a plate of fresh oysters ($1 off per oyster) and a Kronebourg Blanc ($2 off) or glass of crisp Sancerre to lift your spirits. Public is renowned for their fresh seafood, including 8 varieties of oysters delivered daily and a lobster roll that sells out quickly. Bartenders John and Danny are among the most revered in town, as is their skilled seafood ecailler, José. You can admire their talents up close if you manage to get one of the 10 bar seats. Be transported by jazz music humming through overhead fans beneath a pressed-tin ceiling, nautical maps on the walls, and hints of the sea in the air.
Public Fish & Oyster; 513 W Main St, Charlottesville; 434-995-5542
TGI(Ferkin)Friday at Decipher Brewing
There aren’t bright lights on Charlottesville’s Broadway but a sleepy drive through Hogwaller below downtown will lead you to Ferkin Friday at Decipher Brewing. Almost every Friday at 3pm, a one-day-only firkin (a Middle English term for “cask”) is tapped for all to enjoy. In this former factory, on a concrete floor with steel beams overhead, two brothers from Denver, Brad & Scott Burton, began a craft brewing operation in 2019. Today it’s a mecca for beer aristocrats in blue jeans.
Ferkin Friday allows lucky patrons to taste the latest 11-gallon batch of the Burton brothers’ beer, which ranges from Italian pilsner to Scottish ale, with a lot of twists in between. Their beers are award winning, and Decipher has quietly become the place where Charlottesville’s brewers drink.
The cavernous space has tables, chairs, and dart boards arrayed before a long bar. Brew tanks and kettles loom in the back above the flags of various military academies in a dog- and kid-friendly space that includes a large outside area and rotating food trucks. This a refreshingly versatile experience for anyone curious to see Cville’s creativity.
Decipher Brewing; 1740 Broadway, Charlottesville; 434-995-5777
