Arts for Enrichment and Entertainment

Influenced by the presence of the University of Virginia, whose founder Thomas Jefferson famously believed that a person should be able to read Greek and Latin, play a musical instrument, solve calculus problems, ride a horse, grow grain and make bread from it, Charlottesville offers a long tradition of esteem for the arts in all of their expressions.

Museums
The University of Virginia Art Museum maintains a permanent collection including American and European painting and sculpture spanning the 15th – 19th centuries, art from the ancient Mediterranean, Asian art and 20th century art represented by paintings, sculpture and works on paper including American figurative art and photography.

A gift of American businessman John Kluge in 1997, the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia represents one of the finest collections of Australian Aboriginal art and research archives in the world.

Situated at the east end of Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, the Virginia Discovery Museum provides a stimulating environment for kids and their families to play and learn together.

Art Activities
Downtown Charlottesville is the home of the innovative City Center for Contemporary Arts, which combines several arts organizations under one roof to present theater, dance and musical performances as well as providing space for fine arts studios, digital video, storytelling and arts education programs.

Art galleries abound in Charlottesville and the lively arts scene includes First Fridays, a monthly open house when art aficionados are invited to tour Downtown Mall art galleries and view artists’ works while sampling food and wine.
During summer months, the “Fridays After Five” series features outdoor music concerts on the Downtown Mall.

Performance Arts
Music concerts and recitals attract listeners of every musical genre from classical to jazz, bluegrass and rock and roll, including the unique sounds of Charlottesville’s own Dave Matthews Band.

The Heritage Repertory Theatre is in residence each summer as UVA’s Department of Drama presents a season of musicals and plays.

A Main Street landmark from the Golden Age of movie theaters, Charlottesville’s Paramount Theater offers a breathtaking setting rich in neo-classical architectural detail in which to experience first-rate concerts, plays and more.

Decorative Arts
Whether you wish to fill a room or simply purchase a few pieces to augment your current collection, Charlottesville’s many antique and décor shops provide wide-ranging collections from which to make your selections. Enhancing the interior designers who work in concert with Vineyard Estates, a number of highly qualified interior design firms in the region offer professional home decorating services.

Culinary Arts/ Dining
As with art galleries, Charlottesville is blessed with profusion of independent, chef-centric dining establishments. Epicures will be delighted by diverse offerings that range from French-influenced cuisine to New American, Asian and other international flavors. Many are wine-friendly, taking as much care in selecting their wine lists as they do in choosing local farm-fresh ingredients for their food menus. From intimate and eccentric bistros that reflect the idiosyncratic nature of their chef/owners to the unique setting and fine dining ambience of long-time favorite C&O Restaurant, Charlottesville offers surprising and satisfying dining.

Festivals
One of Charlottesville’s most prestigious annual events is the Virginia Film Festival, founded by Patricia Kluge, which takes place each fall and features four days of programs based on a cultural theme viewed through the social and artistic lens of moviemaking.

As one of the largest gatherings of authors, writers and readers in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Virginia Festival of the Book offers an array of programs and events that promote and celebrate books, reading, literacy and literary culture.
Monticello hosts an annual wine and food festival, while musical performances highlight Summer Festival at neighboring Ash Lawn-Highland. In May, the Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival presents a juried exhibition of pottery, textiles, leather, glass, wood and metal.

Gardening
Beautifully designed gardens are integral to the ambience of Vineyard Estates, which is perfectly fitting in a setting such as Charlottesville, where horticultural interests are highly esteemed.

Every April, Virginia celebrates Historic Garden Week and Charlottesville is well represented in this event, one of the oldest and largest statewide house and garden tours in the nation. Visitors tour some of the country’s finest properties at the height of springtime color. Sponsored by The Garden Club of Virginia, the event appeals to those with horticultural interests, as well as those interested in architecture and interior decorating.

Also in April, the Charlottesville Dogwood Festival celebrates the commonwealth’s official tree with family-friendly activities that include a gathering in McIntire Park and a downtown parade.

Horses and Hounds
Equestrian enthusiasts will find the Charlottesville area very welcoming. Enjoy the serenity of an easy-going ride on Vineyard Estates bridle trails or participate in the excitement of polo. Charlottesville is home to both the U.S. Polo Association-affiliated Charlottesville Polo Club and the Piedmont Women’s Polo Club. Steeplechase aficionados gather each April and September for the Foxfield Races and in November for the Montpelier Hunt Races.

By some accounts Virginia is home to more recognized fox hunting clubs than any other state. The Charlottesville area boasts a number of hunt clubs and the rolling terrain is ideally suited for gatherings of hunters, hounds and horses.

Outdoor Activities
Charlottesville and the surrounding region also feature quite a few scenic and challenging golf courses. Among them are prestigious, private clubs including Farmington Country Club and The Keswick Club. Tennis is also popular in Charlottesville. Members of the Boar’s Head Sports Club enjoy award-winning tennis facilities with 26 courts, including 12 for indoor play throughout the year.

There are six rivers in Albemarle County, making water sports such as kayaking, tube floating and fly fishing popular recreational outlets.

The area’s hills and dales and the Appalachian Trail, which traverses the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, offer plenty of opportunities for hiking and biking. To get above it all, hot air ballooning provides panoramic views of the Charlottesville area’s spectacularly beautiful landscape.

Athletic events at The University of Virginia, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, provide plenty of excitement especially during the football and basketball seasons