Upcoming Events
Follow the link above to check out PEC sponsored events. Or read below for a variety of events sponsored by groups throughout the region.
(Loudoun) PEC's fall meeting will be held at the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and will focus on a "Showcase of Piedmont Initiatives." Come hear staff talk about water quality, local food, land conservation and more.
(Charlottesville) Join Thomas Jefferson's Monticello for a Historic Plants Symposium to learn about Thomas Jefferson's legacy in the garden. Learn about historic plants and gardening traditions, recipes, and cuisine from food historians.
(Loudoun) Reserve your tickets today for this amazing local food dinner held at Ayrshire Farm. Outstanding in the Field is a restaurant without walls traveling all of the world--and is stopping in Loudoun for a delicious local food dinner.
(Charlottesville) Join Rosalind Creasy, pioneering author of "The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping" during a discussion of cooking, gardening, and preparing seasonal fruits & vegetables. A locally grown dinner follows the lecture.
(Rappahannock) Spend the evening enjoying locally grown food & wine at the 13th Annual Taste of Rappahannock dinner. This event is sponsored by the Headwaters Foundation and proceeds go to benefit the children of Rappahannock County.
(Clarke) Join Clarke County Parks & Recreation at Chet Hobert Park for a day of fun for the whole family. Admission is free and there will be something for every generation to enjoy, including live music by Jon Wayne.
(Loudoun) Take a walk through Banshee Reeks nature preserve to see birds with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Friends of Banshee Reeks. The rich and varied habitat in this part of Loudoun is a birding hot spot, so be sure to bring your binoculars.
(Charlottesville) Celebrate local food during this family-oriented, educational festival at Monticello--that highlights organic gardening, preservation or traditional agriculture and regional food, and includes tastings, workshops, and much more.
(Loudoun) Learn how to use the bounty of the garden and ideas, techniques and solutions in using a gardener's bounty. Participants will also learn about cooking with the freshest foods and how to use garden favorites in new ways.
(Greene) Spend the afternoon in Greene County Park exploring the natural world. Learn what lives in local streams, what plants are native to our landscape, how to protect the park from erosion, and much more.
(Loudoun) Reserve your tickets today for this amazing local food dinner held at Potomac Vegetable Farms. Outstanding in the Field is a restaurant without walls traveling all of the world--and is stopping in Loudoun for a delicious local food dinner.
(Rappahannock) Learn the basics of home canning during this "can along" workshop at Laughing Duck Gardens. Each session is 2.5 hours and participants will learn a few recipes and take home a full jar of the summer's bounty-this month: tomatoes.
(Charlottesville) Join Ralph Nadar for a presentation on cost effective & sustainable energy choices for the 21st century--during this event sponsored by the People's Alliance for Clean Energy.
(Clarke) Learn about hardy annuals that you can plant in Fall, and then forget about until Spring--during this workshop presented by Lisa Ziegler at the State Arboretum.
(Orange) This year's conference theme is "Looking Back to a Sustainable Future" and includes field trips and break out sessions on topics such as air & water quality, sustainability, land stewardship, watersheds, native plants and much more.
(Warren) Learn the "Good Green" from the "Bad Green" at this conference and field tour-- that will teach the destructive potential of non-native invasive plant species, both from an economic and biodiversity standpoint.
(Virginia Beach) Join the Virginia Conservation Network for the annual VA Environmental Assembly. Register for the informative conference that will discuss "Clean Energy, Healthy Waters, Green Cities" and feature experts from around the state.
(Madison) Join PEC for one of Shenandoah National Park's most beautiful and most strenuous hikes. Learn some basic flora and fauna, enjoy the views from the summit, hear tales of the families who used to occupy the mountain, and more.
(Rappahannock) Come cycle through beautiful Rappahannock County on this ride to benefit the Fauquier Free Clinic. Courses range from 12 miles to 30 miles--with a variety of terrain including rolling hills and farms to rugged hills and rough roads.
(Fauquier) Dance till your feet hurt at the 8th Annual Barn Dance at Cows-N-Corn in Midland. Enjoy meeting the cows and touring the farm, get lost in the corn maze, see demonstrations and enjoy the old fashioned barn dance and dinner.
(Loudoun) Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a hike along the Appalachian Trail in search of migrating birds. Then meet back in the afternoon to spend a few hours watching hawks at the Snickers Gap Hawk Watch.
(Warrenton) Spend the evening enjoying dinner and dancing under the stars on Main Street in Warrenton. There will be food tastings from over 30 local restaurants and caterers, dancing to Daryl Davis and his band, a silent auction, and more.
(Charlottesville) Spend the evening enjoying fine wine and live music at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Stroll around the gardens after hours and learn about Jefferson's passion for wine and take a tour of the recently restored wine cellar.
(Charlottesville) Join Peter Hatch for a strenuous, 1,000-foot vertical hike up Montalto, Jefferson’s “high mountain.” Walk through a mature forest then break onto pastureland to see unobstructed views of Charlottesville, Albemarle & the Blue Ridge.
(Rappahannock) Find out what your treasured possessions might be worth during the Rappahannock Historical Society's Antique Appraisal & Bakery Boutique in Washington.
(Rappahannock) Get a jump start on your spring garden and learn about soil, sowing and transplanting times, varieties and types of cold-worthy plants and lots more during this workshop at Artemisia Garden.
(Prince William) Come watch wildlife along the Potomac River shoreline at the Featherstone Refuge. This wildlife area is a great place to see waterfowl, wading birds and other residents of the 325 acres of forests and tidal marshes.
(Clarke) Celebrate local food, farming, and history in Berryville at the 2nd Annual Harvfest! There will be local food vendors, wineries, a beer tent, live music, farm exhibits, kids activities and historic house and farm tours for guests to enjoy.
(Virginia) Attend one of the Clean Water Breakfasts around the state to learn more about the pollution diet "Bay TMDL" being proposed by the EPA and Virginia's clean up plan for rivers and streams that drain into the Bay.
(Clarke) Join Jeff Kirwan of Virginia Tech to learn about trees, landscapes & indigenous lifestyles during this workshop sponsored by the Winchester-Clarke Garden Club and State Arboretum.
(Fauquier) Join the Marshall Soil & Water Conservation District for a Twilight Farm Dinner at Gray Horse Farm in Warrenton. Conservation specialists will provide information about agricultural & TMDL programs as well as best management practices.
(Rappahannock) Travel to more than 20 Rappahannock farms, orchards, and wineries during this special weekend-long farm tour. This event is family-friendly and features tours, presentations, demonstrations & a farmers' market.
(Loudoun) Volunteers are needed to help repair & maintain trails, bridges, clearing brush, collecting seed, planting trees, and other activities to beautify the land at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in northwestern Loudoun.
(Loudoun) Explore the beautiful 900-acre preserve near the Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Participants will meet at the visitor center and will then depart on this free walk to look for birds throughout the center.
(Rappahannock) Learn how to use plants, wildflowers, nuts, berries, roots, and vegetables from the garden to make vibrant & organic dyes for silk and wool--at this nature-inspired workshop at Artemisia's Garden in Sperryville.
(Warrenton) Enjoy displays, reenactments, lectures, tours, hands-on demonstrations, and much more during the celebration of 200 years of Warrenton History & 250 years of Fauquier heritage. Events will take place in Old Town & Buckland Farm.
(Charlottesville) Learn the dynamics of seed production—pollination, timing, seed identification, cleaning, and storing—then visit the gardens for a hands-on collecting demonstration, during this two-and-a-half-hour workshop.
(Rappahannock) Learn the basics of home canning during this "can along" workshop at Laughing Duck Gardens. Each session is 2.5 hours and participants will learn a few recipes and take home a full jar of the summer's bounty--this month: apples.
(Rappahannock) Get a head start on your spring garden! Learn everything you need to know to design and build a successful kitchen garden in the fall/winter and plant in the spring.
(Fauquier) Stroll down Main Street Warrenton during the final First Fridays of the season. Enjoy live music and entertainment, art, activities for kids, shopping, outdoor dining and more in Old Town.
(Loudoun) Tour historic homes and see over 150 juried heritage craftspeople selling their wares and demonstrating their art, during this award-winning country fair. There will also be period music, reenactments, and children's activities.
(Culpeper) Enjoy the changing colors of fall as you cycle through the Piedmont countryside on the 3rd Annual Culpeper Cycling Bicycle Ride, to benefit Culpeper Parks & Recreation.
(Fauquier) Come celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Town of The Plains during this annual fall festival. There will be a parade, crafts, face-painting, live music, children's activities puppets, raffle prizes, and more.
(Clarke) Come help celebrate the Town of Boyce's 100th birthday at this special centennial celebration! There will be arts & crafts, food, fun, parade, pageant, antique car show, and much more.
(Charlottesville) Ramble along Henderson Creek in the forests of Tufton Farm with Peggy Cornett and Peter Hatch. They will guide you on a two-hour cross-country walk through an isolated natural woodland pointing out plants along the way.
(Orange) Meet sheep dogs, goats, llama, rabbits and more during the Fall Fiber Festival & Sheep Dog Trials at James Madison's Montpelier. There will be hands-on demonstration of fiber arts, craft vendors, activities for kids, workshops and more.
(Charlottesville) Enjoy the fall weather and all things apple during this Festival at Carter Mountain Orchard. Bring a blanket and enjoy bluegrass music and the finest views around Charlottesville!
(Culpeper) Spend the weekend experiencing life on the farm in beautiful Culpeper County. Visit a variety of farms growing everything from herbs and flowers to cattle and bison. Bring the whole family to enjoy the tour which begins in Downtown Culpeper.
(Clarke) Join the Clarke County Historical Association for their semi-annual "Art at the Mill" show featuring over 270 artists from the Piedmont region and beyond. All kinds of mediums will be on display in the historic gristmill, built in 1785.
(Prince William) Learn about the Manassas Battlefield and how the historic site protects environmental resources and contributes to local and regional biodiversity during this lecture sponsored by the Prince William Conservation Alliance.
(Warren) Listen to live music in the heart of Front Royal's historic district and enjoy Heritage Square, reenactors, living history demonstrations, crafts, apple butter, and much more during this annual festival.
(Clarke & Frederick) Learn about green building and see projects and techniques implemented on this tour of 8 homes in Clarke & Frederick counties. Featured projects include solar, wind, geothermal, on demand hot water, rain collection and more.
(Fauquier) Take a drive in beautiful Fauquier County and tour eight farms--ranging from horses to winery, orchard, sheep, cattle--and more during the annual farm tour. There will be demonstrations, hayrides, food & festival at Sky Meadows State Park.
(Charlottesville) Participants will examine autumn wildflowers, seedpods and nuts, trees, mammals, birds, the skies, fungi, insects, and geology with the historical perspective of the sage of Monticello ever in mind--during this 2-hour trek.
(Rappahannock) Do you want to serve more student-grown foods in your local schools or want to start a Farm to Table program in your area? Find out how to get started at this workshop that includes presentations from statewide panelists, a tour, and more.
(Madison) Come see the stunning fall colors and pick your own apples at Graves' Mountain Lodge's 41st Annual Apple Harvest Festival. See apple butter being made in kettles, listen to live music, shop for arts & crafts, enjoy a hayride and more.
(Albemarle) Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains as you stroll through Crozet Park. This festival is a premier juried event featuring over 100 of the nation's finest artists. There will also be wine tastings, live music & more.
(Clarke) Take guided walks of the arboretum, bird walks, hayrides, and more during the annual Arborfest celebration at Blandy Farm & State Arboretum in Boyce. There will also be vendors selling a variety of plants as well as plants from the farm.
(Fauquier) Learn how to band birds with Environmental Studies on the Piedmont. This 7-day introductory course is designed for both amateur birders and professional biologists and includes both classroom discussion and hands-on experience in the field.
(Culpeper) Sample the very best in local cuisine from the region's unique restaurants and caterers during this annual food event in downtown Culpeper sponsored by Culpeper Renaissance Inc.
(Rappahannock) Learn the basics of home canning during this "can along" workshop at Laughing Duck Gardens. Each session is 2.5 hours and participants will learn a few recipes and take home a full jar of the summer's bounty--this month: pears.
(Charlottesville) Spend the morning savoring delicious apples at this annual event at Monticello. Tom Burford will provide numerous apple varieties for tasting and a discussion of their history and culture during this 2-hour program.
(Loudoun) Learn how to help your local streams and environment during the 9th Annual Family Stream day sponsored by the Loudoun Watershed Watch. Participants can explore a local urban stream, discover smart landscaping, stream monitoring & more.
(Prince William) Bring the family for a fun night time hike through the Bull Run Mountains. A guide will take you on the trail where you will meet native "wildlife" that perform amazing natural history skits.
(Loudoun) Enjoy the fall colors as you explore farms in Loudoun County during this self-guided tour. Chat with farm and winery owners, see sheep and horses in their natural environments, and pick apples, pumpkins, and more along the way.
(Clarke) Come out to the State Arboretum for a movie screening of "Fresh, The Movie." This independent film celebrates small farms, local foods, and the people and businesses that are re-inventing the American food system.
(Charlottesville) Learn how to prepare odd and unusual vegetables during this workshop, with Gabriele Rausse--a chef revered by his colleagues and friends for his ability to simply transform ordinary and unusual garden produce into delicious meals.
(Charlottesville) Join wine-maker and master chef Gabriele Rausse in reviewing the basic principles of vinegar-making, and then learn how to use it in preparing vegetables and meat and in concocting delicious aromatized dressings.
