Events
June boasts a busy slate of events from Pride Month celebrations to Juneteenth festivities to a statewide Spirits Expo. See our events calendar for a full list of all the great concerts and festivities this month or take a look at some highlights below.
Food, Drink, & Festivities
Saturday, June 3rd & Sunday, June 4th – Pride Bar Crawl and Brunch Party
Kick off Pride Month with the Charlottesville Pride Bar Crawl and Brunch Party on Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th. Visit favorite breweries, bars, and restaurants along the crawl like Starr Hill, Random Row, Umma’s, Lucky Blues, and Citizen Burger Bar. A ticket to the crawl includes $5 off admission to the Drag Bonanza show at The Southern Café and Music Hall and waives your cover for the afterparty at Zocalo! Keep the festivities going into Sunday with the following day’s Brunch Party. Choose from five different venues along the Downtown Mall including Botanical Plant-Based Fare, Tilman’s Wine Bar, Tonic, Passiflora, and Citizen Burger Bar! After you’ve fueled up with delicious fare, make your way to Umma’s for the Out & About Charlottesville Tea dance from 1 PM – 6 PM.
Local tip: Visit these LGBTQ+-owned and queer-friendly businesses all month long!
Saturday, June 3rd - Virginia Spirits Expo
Charlottesville and Albemarle County are known for our stunning wineries and impressive craft beer scene but did you know we have craft distilleries, too? Sample spirits from local distilleries like Vitae Spirits and Ragged Branch at the Virginia Spirits Expo at Ix Art Park on Saturday, June 3rd!
A full-access sampling ticket gets you a free sampling glass and access to 150 spirits from more than 23 Virginia distilleries, plus access to live music, great food, and more.
Saturday, June 10th – 231 Fest at Castle Hill Cider
Spend a Saturday exploring Virginia’s premier craft beverage scene at 231 Fest hosted on the stunning grounds of Castle Hill Cider. Enjoy wine, beer, and cider tastings along with delicious food trucks, live music, local artisans, and activities for the kids. Tickets can be purchased here.
Saturday, June 17 – Woolly Bully Beer Festival
Take part in a celebration of Virginia craft beer at the inaugural Woolly Bully Beer Festival! The festival will be hosted by Charlottesville’s Selvedge Brewing at the historic Wool Factory located on the banks of the Rivanna River. A festival ticket includes unlimited three-ounce pours from 10+ breweries, plus fun swag and access to live music.
Live Outdoor Music
June’s beautiful weather provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy music underneath the summer sky. Many of Charlottesville and Albemarle County’s wineries, cideries, and orchards offer live music in the evenings including the Thursday evening Sunset Series at Carter Mountain Orchard, live music events on Fridays and Saturdays at Potter’s Craft Cider, and weekly Saturday music at Hark Vineyards.
Don’t miss Fridays After Five, the weekly free concert at Ting Pavilion located right on Charlottesville’s historic pedestrian Downtown Mall! Enjoy a different local band each Friday evening starting at 5:30 PM. Attendance is free, with drink tickets and food truck fare available to purchase. When the concert wraps up, keep your Friday night going at one of the many restaurants and bars along the Downtown Mall.
Ting Pavilion will welcome other big names for outdoor shows this June including Trombone Shorty, Charlie Puth, Noah Kahan, and the Wood Brothers!
Looking for a concert indoors? Three incredible venues can be found along the Downtown Mall. Check out the Jefferson Theater, Paramount Theater, and the Southern Café and Music Hall for concerts and events almost every night of the week.
Celebrate Great Outdoors Month
If you haven’t explored the outdoors in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, June is the perfect month to do so.
Explore Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway
This month is a great time to explore the 500+ miles of hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park. The weather is mild, and the park is filled with beautiful wildflowers and scenic vistas. Alternatively, consider a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. In just 30 minutes from Downtown Charlottesville, you can be at the point where Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive meets up with the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Just a short drive away from Charlottesville and Albemarle County, nestled among the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, visitors will find the Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Learn MoreKayak or Canoe on the James and Rivanna Rivers
The waters of our area’s rivers are typically warm in June and perfect for a refreshing paddle. Read our blog to plan your paddling adventure or book a guided paddle from James River Runners, James Reeling and Rafting, or Rivanna River Company. Don’t miss the chance to take a tour or cruise on a historic batteau from James River Batteau Co.
James River Batteau Company offers one-of-a kind river experiences that get you out on the water in style! Take a step back in time, as you are invited aboard their 18th century replica James River Batteau for a River Tour…
Learn MoreWatch a Round of Polo at King Family Vineyards
Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of polo season at King Family Vineyards! Every Sunday in the summer (weather permitting), bring your lawn chair and umbrella and watch a free game of polo on their gorgeous grounds. Get there early to snag a spot, and keep your eyes peeled for golf carts that drive the grounds with bottles of chilled rose for purchase.
King Family Vineyards is a family owned and operated vineyard and boutique winery located in Crozet, Virginia, 15 minutes west of Charlottesville, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We are conveniently located to Rt. 250, the Blue Ridge…
Learn MorePlay Golf at One of the Local Courses
Take in a round (or four) of golf at one of the four public courses in the area. All are beautiful, including the Old Trail Golf Club in Crozet which offers stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and was named one of the best public courses in Virginia.
Take in History While You Hike
Did you know three former Presidents had residences in the greater Charlottesville area? The former homes of President James Monroe, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison are not only open to the public, they have their own unique trail systems!
Take in history and the outdoors when you explore Highland Rustic Trails, the Saunders-Monticello Trail, and the Montpelier Loop Trail.
Outdoor Recreation Events
Saturday, June 3rd: Monroe Hill Family Watershed Walk
Join the Highland team on Saturday, June 3, at 10:00 a.m. as they explore the watershed along the Highland Rustic Trails with representatives from the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District. This free hike will make its way to a small stream where you will identify the plants and animals. Registration is required. Please email education@highland.org to register.
June 17th – 24th: James River Batteau Festival in Scottsville
The Batteau Festival takes place every year in the Town of Scottsville on the James River, which serves as the approximate half-way point of the event. The festival welcomes in batteau crews with food, music, and more as they make their way on the annual 8-day trek from Lynchburg to Richmond on their flat-bottomed wooden boats. Festival attendees should plan to head to Scottsville mid-week to welcome the boats.
Saturday, June 24th: Habitat Walk in the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont
The Botanical Garden of the Piedmont offers a number of guided events each month, including Garden Site Tours and a Habitat Walk. See their full list of upcoming tours and events here.
Plan Your Stay
Get ready to plan your stay this June! Visit our “Places to Stay” page and choose from a wide range of accommodations. Whether you’d like to be right on the Downtown Mall, tucked away in an inn near our wineries, or somewhere in-between, there’s a place in Charlottesville and Albemarle County for you.