Free events in Harrisonburg, VA

A welcoming circle of Old Time players meets each Monday in the studio’s shop space for a weekly jam. The session is open to musicians and listeners and is free to attend. It is hosted by volunteers from the studio community, including staff, family, and friends. Donations are appreciated on a sliding scale of $10 to $20, with proceeds supporting the studio’s mission to cultivate music makers. Queen City Music Studios is a hub for learning, performance, and gear. It presents community music gatherings, workshops, rehearsal opportunities, and house concerts, and offers lessons and group classes for all ages, styles, and skill levels. Founded by Molly Rose Murphy in 2015 with an emphasis on learning by ear, the organization now also provides booking, event management, and production services, employs a team of more than twenty professional musicians and instructors, and operates a full-service store for new and used instruments, accessories, and repairs. Molly’s Musikgarten provides early childhood family music classes.

Discover a relaxed midweek market with a smaller roster of vendors, a convenient stop for working professionals picking up lunch or groceries, families with young children, homeschoolers, seniors, and anyone seeking fresh local produce, hot meals, and artisan-made goods. The market operates in all weather. It is producer-only, meaning every product is grown or handcrafted by the vendors themselves. Payments are accepted by cash, card, and SNAP/EBT, and SNAP purchases receive a dollar-for-dollar match up to $30 through Virginia Fresh Match.

Explore options for advanced study at a regional fair featuring graduate and professional programs. Connect with representatives from 100-plus programs nationwide to gather information tailored to your interests. Admission is free. The event takes place at Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center.

This year-long play reading series takes place at Black Sheep Coffee, offering the chance to hear plays read aloud and talk about them together over coffee. Each session features a different title, with selections that include Educating Rita by Willy Russell, Dog Sees God by Bert V. Royal, The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter, True West by Sam Shepard, Stop Kiss by Diana Son, The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe, At Home at the Zoo by Edward Albee, God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire, The Moors by Jen Silverman, and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by John Patrick Shanley. Admission is free and no reservations are required.