Arts & Entertainment

Spring kicks off with the Hill City Howlers (Lynchburg’s Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians), who start their home season each April at Bank of the James Stadium Momentum West — affordable tickets and warm evenings make it a community favorite. The Downtown Lynchburg Association’s free International Festival brings live music, cultural displays, and artisan vendors celebrating the region’s diversity, while First Fridays turns downtown into a monthly evening street party with local art, music, and food.

Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest hosts the Independence Day Celebration, a family favorite with colonial-era activities, folk music, and old-fashioned kids’ games.

Amherst’s Virginia Wine and Garlic Festival draws crowds to Rebec Vineyards each fall with wineries, cideries, arts & crafts, and four stages of live music. The Historic Appomattox Railroad Festival brings live music and small-town charm to Appomattox County, and the Amherst County Fair arrives each September showcasing local art, photography, baking competitions, and the agricultural heart of the community.

The holiday season kicks off with Bright Nights on the Bluffwalk, featuring a Christmas tree lighting at Craddock Terry Hotel, 30+ artisan vendors, and family activities. Handmade for the Holidays offers a cozy holiday market of handcrafted gifts from local makers, and indoor arts, live theater, and concert hall programming take center stage throughout the season.

Yes! The Lynchburg Community Market and Forest Farmers Market operate all year, connecting residents with local farmers, makers, and artisans.

The Lynchburg region has a genuinely thriving creative community, and it’s easier to find than you might expect. Riverviews Artspace is a nonprofit arts organization in historic downtown Lynchburg that brings artists, audiences, and ideas together to spark contemporary expression, bold experimentation, and community connection — offering gallery and studio space for both established and emerging artists. More than 700 artists have connected with over 150,000 visitors through outreach programs and exhibits at Riverviews since 2003.

James River Arts, a non-profit in the area for over 110 years, also strengthens the Lynchburg region artistic flair with projects like the Lynchburg Film Festival and a Pop-Up Art Crawl.

Seasonal festivals across the region give creators regular opportunities to share their work:

• The Downtown Lynchburg Association’s annual International Festival showcases cultural artists and artisan vendors each spring
• Amherst County Fair’s Competition Exhibit Tent highlights local visual artists and photographers each September.
• The Lynchburg Arts Festival, held annually for more than half a century, draws artists and collectors from across Virginia.
• First Fridays, held the first Friday of every month throughout downtown, turns the whole city into a gallery for an evening.

Much of the region’s live music and event options are concentrated in a walkable downtown district, making it easy to explore several in one evening. Every Friday and Saturday night, The Trading Post Music Hall and Speakeasy hosts live country and rock shows. They also offer a full bar and billiards downstairs, making it one of the region’s hottest spots. The Music Hall at The Academy Center of the Arts hosts live music every Friday night — providing an intimate space where all genres are celebrated, from bluegrass and blues to indie rock and Christian rap.

Looking for something more lowkey? You’ll also find an abundance of breweries and wineries throughout the region that create lively social gatherings. Apocalypse Ale Works hosts live music, trivia nights, and seasonal celebrations. 7 Rooftop Bar offers sweeping skyline views with craft cocktails, while Starr Hill Brewery on Main and 3 Roads Brewing both host live music with a more casual, social atmosphere.

For the night owls, recently opened TBR Bistro and The Vault offers late-night music and sophisticated lounge experiences. And if you want an evening under the stars, Ankida Ridge Vineyards offers a tranquil wining and dining experience amidst the idyllic rolling hills of Amherst County.

Simply put, the Lynchburg region’s nightlife is full of options for every taste.

Absolutely! Our theater scene is rich and diverse, with companies like Endstation Theatre Company committed to producing new works, reinterpretations of classical plays, and original pieces rooted in the history and cultural life of Central Virginia. In 2025, Endstation launched its first annual Central Virginia Fringe Festival, bringing more than 15 companies together for performances.

Wolfbane Productions, based in Appomattox, is a nonprofit professional theater company with a specific mission: to prove that theater is not outdated, unapproachable, or too expensive. The company holds large-scale productions throughout the year in both indoor and outdoor venues, with past shows including The Rocky Horror Show, Xanadu, and Monty Python’s Spamalot.

Liberty University’s Tower Theater has hosted Broadway-caliber productions and includes an orchestra pit and a professional fly tower. Renaissance Theatre Company is the longest running volunteer community theatre in Lynchburg and Opera on the James rounds out the scene with several fully-staged professional opera productions each year.