Free events in Waynesboro, VA

The Farmers Market at Ix is Charlottesville’s largest independent market where only producers sell directly. The focus is on farms and locally grown food, and the vendor lineup changes each week. SNAP is accepted, and shoppers using SNAP receive added buying power for fresh fruits and vegetables through Virginia Fresh Match. The market is run by the nonprofit Market Central.

Charlottesville City Market celebrates its 53rd season as a lively place to find fresh, local food and connect with the community. Visitors can explore seasonal produce, locally raised meats, baked treats, handmade goods, and a range of prepared dishes from area vendors. Sunrise Tostada makes its debut in Charlottesville with fresh flavors and a new twist on classic breakfast favorites, and complimentary samples of their Cheesecake Tostadas will be offered while supplies last.

Disciples Kitchen serves people who are homeless and hungry. It provides a meal for those in need.

Creativity and community come together at The Foundry at Basic City Beer Co. as the Craft Sublime Artisan Fair presents a curated marketplace of handmade goods and edible specialties. Explore vendors offering jewelry, pottery, textiles, woodwork, original art, prints, photography, gourmet treats, specialty foods, and other distinctive finds from local and regional artisans. Meet the makers, support small businesses, and discover one-of-a-kind gifts, including unique items for the holiday season. Admission is free and the event is family friendly. Food options and Basic City craft beer are available on site, and the surrounding campus offers more to enjoy while you shop.

A family harvest party at St. Paul's features carnival-style games, a cake walk, candy, hayrides, and a photo station. Admission is free. The event is geared toward children from birth through fifth grade, and costumes are encouraged.

Celebrate the season at the first Fall Festival and trunk-or-treat featuring mini pumpkin painting, trunk-or-treating for the kids, a bounce house, lively music, food trucks, and after hours shopping. Costumes are welcome, with a family friendly guideline to avoid anything scary. Admission is free, with more fun planned beyond these highlights.

An in-person reading at New Dominion Bookshop features Chelyen Davis and Jody Hobbs Hesler sharing selections from New Stories from the South 2026. Presented in collaboration with WriterHouse, there is no admission fee and all are welcome. Early arrival is suggested to secure a preferred seat. New Stories from the South 2026 revives a renowned anthology of Southern short fiction, bringing together distinguished and emerging voices with an introduction by Appalachian writer Silas House. The collection marks the return of an annual tradition, gathering standout stories by writers from the South or centered on the American South. Nominations came from editors of literary journals and magazines, publishers of short story collections, and prominent Southern writers who served as contributing editors. Chelyen Davis has worked as a political reporter and as a speechwriter for governors and education leaders. Her fiction, essays, and poetry have appeared in Appalachian Review, Still: The Journal, the Anthology of Appalachian Writers, Untelling, and with Brown Hound Press. She is from Southwest Virginia and lives in Richmond. Her debut story collection, Cannonball, is forthcoming from the University Press of Kentucky. Jody Hobbs Hesler is the author of the novel Without You Here, which received the Independent Press Award for Literary Fiction, and the story collection What Makes You Think You’re Supposed to Feel Better. Her short fiction, essays, reviews, and interviews have appeared in TriQuarterly, Swing, South Dakota Review, The Pinch, The Rumpus, Electric Literature, Pithead Chapel, CRAFT, North American Review, The Georgia Review, and elsewhere. She teaches at WriterHouse in Charlottesville and serves as assistant fiction editor at The Los Angeles Review.

Starr Hill Market is making a comeback soon. Add it to your calendar so it does not slip by.

Settle in for live music with the Michael Elswick Gathering, paired with 100 percent estate grown wine and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The group moves through Jazz, Blues, Latin, Swing, ballads, and Cambodian Surf Rock, featuring Michael Elswick on saxes, Royce Campbell on guitar, Tom Harbeck on bass, and David Drubin on drums. Wine is available by the glass and bottle. There is no admission charge. For questions, email info@chisholmvineyards.com or text 833-340-0086. Outside alcohol is not permitted under VA ABC law. Children and dogs are welcome and must remain with their group.

A spirited weekly old-time jam fills The Shop at Queen City Music Studios, welcoming both musicians and listeners for a free community gathering. The session is supported by volunteer staff, family, and friends. Contributions are appreciated on a sliding scale of 10 to 20 dollars, with all proceeds helping the studio continue its mission of nurturing music makers. Queen City Music Studios serves as a school, shop, and special events hub, offering lessons and group classes for all ages and styles, workshops, rehearsal space, and house concerts. Founded by Molly Rose Murphy in 2015 with an emphasis on learning by ear, it now engages more than twenty professional musicians and instructors and also provides booking, event management, and production services. The shop operates a full-service music store with quality new and used instruments, accessories, and repairs. Early childhood learning is supported through Molly's Musikgarten, a licensed and certified program featuring family music classes.

Farmers in the Park brings together local growers, food makers, and artisans in a lively marketplace where all sellers are the producers themselves. Pick up peak-season fruits and vegetables, enjoy ready-to-eat dishes, and find handmade items while supporting the local community. Turn a quick shopping stop into a full afternoon in the park, with a playground, batting cage, and tennis courts nearby, plus a chance to work on your swing at the Meadowcreek Golf Course driving range. Whether stocking up on groceries, grabbing dinner, or taking in the atmosphere, this market offers a relaxed midweek outing.

Downtown Waynesboro hosts a community trick-or-treat with local merchants. The Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro presents a costume contest organized by age, with categories for families, infants to age 2, ages 3 to 5, and students in grades K through 1, 2 through 3, and 4 through 5. This event is free and is supported by the Kiwanis Club of Waynesboro and Waynesboro Downtown Merchants.

Big City Band brings its country-meets-rock energy to Pro Re Nata Brewpub & Music Hall for a free show. Formed in 2017, this six piece outfit blends gritty lead vocals with smooth family harmonies, drawing inspiration from Merle Haggard and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Rooted in Grottoes in the Blue Ridge foothills, the group has cultivated a devoted fan community known as the BCB Strangers and is recognized across Virginia as a go-to party band. Expect a high-energy set that spans genres along with original songs built for dancing. Consider arriving early to secure a seat and grab dinner from PRN’s Taproom Table. Support for live music at Pro Re Nata is provided by Rod Phillips of Dogwood Realty Group, with PRN Music & Media by Brian Combs and Gaslight BC Media.