Activities

Things to Do Around Orange


Spring - April thru June

April 13 - 14, 2013 (Sat. & Sunday) James Madison Museum - Annual Plant & Bake Sale

The event will be in the Hall of Agriculture and Transportation at 129 Caroline Street Orange (Entrance W. Church Street).

Presenting a fine selection of herbs, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, annuals, perennials, and baked goods.  Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions.

April 20,2013 (Sat.)Garden Club of Virginia Historic Garden Week

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“Where Tradition Meets Today” is the theme of this pastoral and picturesque 2013 house and garden tour. Since the 18th century, the rolling countryside with gentle blue mountains in Virginia's Piedmont has attracted the establishment of impressive estates. Three of these historic mansions with their beautiful gardens will be on view -- Annandale, Frascati and Rocklands. In addition, the tour will include a visit to Grelen Nursery, one of the largest retail nurseries in Virginia.

For more information, contact Mary Beth Wells at marybethwells@hughes.net or 540-832-0741

Tickets: $30 per person on tour day.

April 20 (Sat.) James Madison's Montpelier
Civil War Trail & Gilmore Farm Walking Tour

Celebrate Historic Garden Week with a tour of Montpelier's Annie duPont Formal Garden, featuring formal walkways, sweeping beds, an herb garden, and magnificent marble lions and urns. Established in Madison's time, the Garden was renovated by Annie duPont in the early 1900s. (540) 672-2728

May - October: Orange Farmers Market
Saturdays 8 AM - Noon
Faulconer's Shopping Center, Route 15/James Madison Hwy, Orange 540-672-2540


May 4 - 5 (Sat. & Sun) Montpelier Wine Festival

On the grounds of James Madison's Montpelier
Enjoy wine tasting from over 25 of Virginia Vineyards and culinary exhibitions all weekend long. Stay at Inn at Westwood Farm and walk to Montpelier to enjoy this wonderful event at a gorgeous time of the year in Central Virginia. For reservations call Inn at Westwood Farm at 888.661.1293.

June 15 (Sat.) The 4th annual Trashy Ribs & Blues Festival

Downtown Orange
Dash for Trash Town Litter Clean-up then enjoy Ribs & Blues Festival.

Summer - July thru September


July - September: Orange Farmers Market
Saturdays 8 AM - Noon
Faulconer's Shopping Center, Route 13/James Madison Hwy, Orange 540-672-2540

August 10, 2013 (Sat.) Second annual edible Food Fest in Orange
11 AM - 5 PM Downtown Orange
The edible FOOD FEST in Orange , hosted by the Orange Downtown Alliance and edible Blue Ridge Magazine, is a family-oriented educational event, dedicated to strengthening relationships between small-scale producers and consumers.

Children’s activities, workshops for adults, tastings, and music are all part of the edible FOOLD FEST goals to increase awareness of today’s most topical food issues. One of the most popular “ingredients” of the festival will be cooking demonstrations by some of the area’s most admired culinary masters in the Edna Lewis Dining Court

No discussion about the origins of the currently commonplace culinary terms “grow local, eat local;” “go organic,” and “earth to table;” is complete without mention of Edna Lewis. She is responsible for planting the seeds that resulted in the Earth to Table movement in this country. Her seminal cookbook, The Taste of Country Cooking, published in 1976, put American regional cuisine on the international culinary map for the first time.

In 2006, local writer, Philip Audibert wrote an “Insider Article“ for the Orange County Review about Edna Lewis. Click here to read that article.

At the heart of the edible FOOD FEST is the Chat Room, where there are educational programs on sustainable agriculture, organic gardening, soil and composting, seed saving, edible landscaping and other means of healthier living.

September 1 (Sat.) Taste of the Mountains
This Madison County heritage festival celebrates the Mountain and Traditional cultures of the 18th & 19th century America as reflected in the customs and history of the Blue Ridge Mountains region. The entire family can enjoy the day, browsing, shopping, enjoying the games, riding ponies, listening to great music, eating and taking pleasure in the vast array of entertainment.

Fall - October thru December

October: Orange Famers Market

Saturdays 8 AM - Noon
Faulconer's Shopping Center, Route 13/James Madison Hwy, Orange 540-672-2540


October 31 (Wed): Halloween Trick or Treating
Downtown Orange


November 6 - 8 (Thurs, Fri, Saturday) Virginia Film Festival
Located in downtown Charlottesville.

November 8 (Sat.) Montpelier Hunt Races

Located on the grounds of James Madison's Montpelier

Spend the weekend at Inn at Westwood Farm and enjoy all the festivities of the this wonderful event. Call 888.661. 1293 to make your reservations.


November 8 - 9 (Sat - Sun) The 19th Annual Artisans Studio Tour
The Artisans Studio Tour was founded in 1994 by a group of Charlottesville area artisans to enhance the community's awareness of professional artisans living and working in the region. This year, artists will again open their studios and collaborate to make a public showing of their work.


December 8  (Sunday) Dolley Madison Garden Club presents The Inns Holiday Tour
Bed & Breakfast and Inns within the Orange - Madison area are decorated for the holidays and on tour to the public for one day.

December 6 - 8 (Friday - Sunday) Candlelight Tour at Montpelier

11 AM - 5 PM James & Dolley Madison's home comes alive with Christmas spirit to host their public.