May 22, Wednesday

BLOCK PARTY: LEGO GATHERING!
JMRL - Gordon Avenue Library.
Do you want to get together with LEGO-minded people to build great things? All you need to bring is your creativity and natural engineering ability; we will have the building blocks to your next great creation. Ages 5 and up. No registration required. Gordon Avenue Library.  Directions: 1500 Gordon Ave.  4pm.  $Free.  Email: gordon@jmrl.org. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 296-5544. 

May 22, Wednesday

MEET THE BACKPACKING ADVENTURER, ANDREW SKURKA
Monticello Boy Scout District.
Andrew Skurka is an accomplished adventure athlete, speaker, guide and writer. He is the author of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide and has been named Adventurer of the Year by both Outside and National Geographic Adventure magazines, as well as Person of the Year by Backpacker Magazine. The 31-year-old is most well known for his solo long-distance backpacking trips. The Moose Lodge.  Directions: 3656 Richmond Rd., Keswick. Located of of Route 250, east of I-64.  7-8:30pm.  $10 general public; $5 for scouts and scouters in uniform.  Recommended for ages 10 to 100.  Contact: Jeff Monroe.  Email: monroejeff@gmail.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 962-1808. 

May 23, Thursday

FAMILY HISTORY UNTOLD
WriterHouse.
Family stories often rattle around in our minds for years or even decades before we are ready to bring them to life in our writing. Virginia Pye, author of River of Dust (Unbridled Books, 2013) talks with Clifford Garstang, author of What the Zhang Boys Know (Press 53, 2012), about how to determine which stories are worth exploring and using family facts as inspiration for new and surprising creations. WriterHouse.  Directions: 508 Dale Avenue (behind the Preston Ave. Bodo's).  7pm.  $Free.  Contact: Rachel Unkefer.  Email: events@writerhouse.org. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 296-1922. 

April 18-May 23, Thursdays

MONKEY BUSINESS! A PRESCHOOL STORYTIME
JMRL - Gordon Avenue Library.
Come monkey around for this 30-minute program of exciting stories, fingerplays, silly songs, and flannel stories. designed for independent 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds, but accompanying adults welcome. Registration begins March 26. Gordon Avenue Library.  Directions: 1500 Gordon Ave.  10:30am.  $Free.  Email: gordon@jmrl.org. Reservations are required.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 296-5544. 

May 23, Thursday

WESTERN BYPASS OF U.S. 29 PUBLIC MEETING
Virginia Department of Transportation.
The public can review three design alternatives for the southern interchange of the proposed Western Bypass of U.S. 29. The bypass will connect to the Route 250 Bypass between Old Ivy Road and Barracks Road, in the vicinity of Leonard Sandridge Road. The meeting will be held in an open-house format and no formal presentation will be given. Written and oral comments at the meeting will be accepted, or you may send comments by June 3 to 29bypassinterchange@vdot.virginia.gov or Mr. Hal Jones, PE, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701. Holiday Inn, 1901 Emmet St..  5-7:30pm.  For details, please click this link. 

May 25, Saturday

BUDDING BOTANISTS
Amazement Square.
What do chloroplasts and cupcakes have in common? Learn about what makes plants work in this innovative and yummy program! Amazement Square.  Directions: 27 Ninth Street, Lynchburg.  1pm.  All ages welcome.  Email: visitus@amazementsquare.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 845-1888. 

January 5-May 25, Saturdays

DROP-IN STORYTIME
JMRL - Gordon Avenue Library.
Thirty minutes of stories, songs, rhymes and fun. No registration is required. Gordon Avenue Library.  Directions: 1500 Gordon Avenue .  11am.  $Free.  All ages welcome.  Email: gordon@jmrl.org. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 296-5544. 

October-May, Saturdays

ROLLER SKATING
Albemarle County Parks and Recreation.
Greenwood Community Center is open every Saturday night for roller skating. Disco light, too! Greenwood Community Center.  Directions: 865 Greenwood Road, Crozet. From Charlottesville: Take 64 West to Crozet, Exit 107 250 West, take a right onto Rt. 690, take a right Rt. 691 - Jarmans Gap Road. The center is on the right.  6-9pm.  $skate rental $3, bring your own skates $2, entrance fee for non-skaters $2.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 296-5844. 

May 11-27

GREEN VALLEY BOOK FAIR
Green Valley Book Fair.
Encourage your child to read by expanding his or her home library at prices you won't believe! Huge selection of children's books at 60%-90% off retail prices on new, over-run or irregular books. 2192 Green Valley Ln., Mt. Crawford (in Shenandoah Valley btwn Harrisonburg and Staunton).  Directions: take I-64 west to I-81 north, exit 240 on Rt 682, go east, following signs.  10am-5pm Monday-Thursday; 10am-6pm Friday & Saturday; 12-5pm Sunday.  $Free admission.  All ages welcome.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 800-385-0099. 

May 24-27, Friday-Monday

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATION
Wintergreen Resort.
Welcome summer with a fun-filled weekend in the mountains. Catch blues music, an arts & crafts fair, a micro-brew festival, a wine festival, a block party for kids and a day at the Lake - Lake Monocan opens for the season! Wintergreen Resort.  Directions: Route 664, Wintergreen.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@wintergreenresort.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 325-8180. 

May 29, Wednesday

PATRICK HENRY'S 277TH BIRTHDAY
Red Hill.
Celebrate Patrick Henry's birthday by visiting his home and eating complimentary cake! Red Hill - Patrick Henry National Memorial.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 376-2044. 

May 30, Thursday

MINDS IN MOTION PERFORMANCE
Charlottesville City Schools & Richmond Ballet.
Come see all 4th (and some 5th and 6th) grade students from Charlottesville City Public Schools dance on stage. The event is part of the Richmond Ballet's Minds in Motion program. MLK Performing Arts Center.  7pm.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 245-2400. 

May 31, Friday

AFRICAN CHILDREN'S CHOIR
First Baptist Church.
The choir performs worldwide to support the African Children's Choir Programs and raise awareness for destitute and orphaned children in Africa. First Baptist Church.  Directions: 632 West Main Street.  7pm.  Contact: Pastor Hodari.  Email: pastorhodari@gmail.com. For more info call: 979-0952. 

Now through May 31

BUS LINES POETRY CONTEST: DOORS
Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) & Bus Lines.
Tell a story or weave a rhyme, and it could show up on a CAT bus! This round's theme - which can be used in a literal or symbolic sense - is "doors." Create a ten line poem or 100 word piece of flash fiction. Winners will have their work featured on a CAT bus and will have the opportunity to read their piece at an event during Try Transit Week in September. Entries must be received by 5pm.  $Free.  All ages welcome.  Email: buslines@gmail.com. For details, please click this link. 

Fridays in May

FRIDAYS AFTER FIVE: MAY LINE-UP
nTelos Wireless Pavilion.
These free Friday concerts feature primarily local and regional artists performing from rock and blues to salsa and reggae. May 3-Grove Train with Bluestep; May 10-William Walter & Company with Special Guest CJ Williams with Tara Mill & Yankee Dixie; May 17 Abbey Road with The Currys; May 24-Beleza with Morrow Azul Samba School; May 31-Turnpike Troubadors with Carl Anderson. nTelos Wireless Pavilion.  Directions: east end of the mall.  5:30-8:30pm.  $Free.  All ages welcome.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 245-4910. 

May, Thursdays & Saturdays

HISTORIC COURT SQUARE WALKING TOUR
Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society.
Take a one-hour tour around Court Square to learn some of Charlottesville's rich history and revisit the time of Thomas Jefferson. Tour leaves from Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society.  Directions: McIntire Building, 200 Second St NE across from Lee Park.  Thursdays 5:30pm; Saturdays 10am.  $5/person suggested donation.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@albemarlehistory.org. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 434-296-1492. 

June 1, Saturday

25TH ANNUAL SAVE THE BAY DAY
Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Cigarette butts, plastic bottles and bags, tires, paper, furniture, bikes, and construction materials, are just a sample of the types of debris that pollute our shorelines and waterways, kill marine and other wildlife, and degrade our communities and the water quality of the Bay. Be a part of this annual state-wide effort to clean our bay! Charlottesville/Rivanna Watershed.  9am-12pm.  $Free.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: ctbd@cbf.org. 

June 1, Saturday

4 THE WOUNDED 5K
University of Virginia Foundation/Charlottesville Track Club.
An on and off-road event. One hundred percent of the race's proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life. Kids Fun Run starts at 9am. University of Virginia Research Park.  Directions: Runners & spectators should arrive no later than 7:30am.  8am 5K start.  $30.  Special Needs Accommodation: An all-terrain course with an alternate, paved route for handicap runners  Contact: Katie Murphy.  Email: km9ua@virginia.edu. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 982-4850. 

June 1, Saturday

BLUE RIDGE SOAP BOX CLASSIC
Blue Ridge Soap Box Classic.
Each year, young competitors in the Blue Ridge Soap Box Derby race down Main Street in hopes of winning this exciting race. There are three divisions: Stock cars (normally for beginners), Super Stock (for slightly heavier racers) and Masters (for more experienced racers). Champions from this race go on to compete in Akron, Ohio for the All-American weekend race. Registration due April 3. Eleventh Street and Pine Avenue, Downtown Waynesboro.  $50 if registered before April 3, $60 if registered on April 3.  All ages welcome.  Contact: Anthony Marshall.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 540-649-1507. 

June 1, Saturday

FAMILY FUN DAY
Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and Virginia Discovery Museum.
Kids can try on period costumes, make their own arts and crafts, meet an archaeologist, and lots more all while learning about local history! Pay at the door. All proceeds benefit the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. Rain date June 2 from 1-4pm. McIntire Building.  Directions: 200 2nd St. NE. Located at the corner of 2nd St. NE and East Jefferson St., behind the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, and facing Lee Park.  1-4pm.  $10 per family (up to 2 children), $5 each additional child.  All ages welcome.  Contact: Margaret Freeman.  Email: admin@albemarlehistory.org. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 296-1492. 

May 30-June 1, Thursday-Saturday

GRAVES MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Graves Mountain Lodge.
Horseback riding, fishing, hiking, great food, swimming and live music from The Chocolate Drops, the Steep Canyon Rangers, The Cleverly's, The Darrell Webb Band, Mak & the Boys, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Dark Hollow Bluegrass Band, the US Navy Band Country Current, Jr Sisk and the Ramblers The Honakers and more. Graves Mountain Lodge.  Directions: Syria, VA. 29N to Rt 231 in Madison, go 5 miles to Banco and turn left on rt. 670 and drive 4 miles to the Lodge.  various showtimes.  $30-$95.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@gravesmountain.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 540-923-4231. 

June 1, Saturday

HISTORICAL SOCIETY FUN DAY
Virginia Discovery Museum, Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society.
Join the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society and the Virginia Discovery Museum for an afternoon of family FUNraising. Try on period costumes, make a bark rubbing of the McIntire Ash Tree, meet an archaeologist, learn about local history and more! Rain cancels the event. Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society.  Directions: 200 Second Street NE.  1-4pm.  $10 per family, max 2 children; $5 each additional child.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 296-1492. 

June 1, Saturday

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
Stanardsville United Methodist Church.
Begin your day with the traditional breakfast and then throughout the day, enjoy activities, entertainment, a 5K run/walk, an assortment of local artists and vendors offering treasures for sale, classic cars, lunch, and of course plenty of strawberry treats. Stanardsville United Methodist Church.  7am.  All ages welcome.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 434-985-3888. 

June 1, Saturday

XTREMEFEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE
Waynesboro Parks & Recreation Department.
Explore the region's many adventure sports activities! Climb on the mobile climbing wall, try out a kayak on the South River, take a guided hike, jump on the air bungee trampoline, marvel at the high flying BMX stunt show, register for giveaways and enjoy great food and fun for the whole family. Whether you're a seasoned pro or want to try something new and exciting, this event provides a great opportunity to get families together, outside, exploring activities that promote a healthy, active lifestyle. Constitution Park, Waynesboro.  10am-5pm.  $Free.  All ages welcome.  Contact: Waynesboro Parks & Recreation Department.  Email: parksandrec@ci.waynesboro.va.us. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 540-942-6735.