Activities

Things to Do Around Orange

Winter - January thru March

January thru March: Orange Farmers Market
Saturdays 8 AM - Noon
At the Orange Train Station, East Main Street Downtown Orange 540-672-2540


January 8 (Sun.): James Madison's Montpelier
Winter Big Woods Walk
Explore a winter wonderland at Montpelier. Take in the crisp air on your guided tour of the 200-acre old-growth James Madison Landmark Forest known as the "Big Woods." The forest is designated a National Natural Landmark. The Big Woods Walk will begin at the Montpelier Visitor Center at 2:00 p.m. (540) 672-2728.


January 22-28 (Mon.-Sat.): James Madison's Montpelier
Ceramic Workshop

The Ceramics Workshop is a unique, week-long experience focused on the conservation and restoration of ceramics recovered during the archaeological investigations of Montpelier. For more information visit montpelier.org/archaeologyprograms, call (540) 672-2728 x160 or email mreeves@montpelier.org.


February 1 (Wed.): James Madison's Montpelier
"A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons"
Lecture and Book Signing

Join author Elizabeth Dowling Taylor for the nation's first lecture on her new book "A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons." Hear about the fascinating life of Paul Jennings, who was born a slave at Montpelier, helped rescue George Washington's portrait before the British burned the White House, and served as the enslaved manservant to James Madison. Jennings eventually achieved his freedom through Daniel Webster and worked in the U.S. Pension Office. He became a prominent, property-owning citizen in the newly established nation's capital. Jennings authored the first White House memoirs: "A Colored Man's Reminiscences of James Madison." Taylor will sign copies of her new book after the lecture.

February 18 (Sat.):James Madison's Montpelier
Freedman's Farm and Civil War Camp Site Walking Tour

Tour the Gilmore Farm, home of George Gilmore, born a slave at Montpelier, followed by a walking tour of the 1863-1864 Confederate winter encampment site. 2:00 p.m.
Call (540) 672-2728 for details.

March 16 (Fri.): James Madison's Montpelier
James Madison's 261st Birthday Celebration

Celebrate the 261st birthday of the Father of the Constitution with free admission all day. Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Madison in their home throughout the day. Also, attend a poignant wreath presentation ceremony in the Madison Family Cemetery. Free admission.  Call (540) 672-2728 for details.

March 21 - 25 (Wed. - Sunday) Virginia Festival of the Book
A free, public festival featuring authors and events for readers of all ages! Celebrating its eighteenth anniversary the festival programs are open to the public; with the exception of a few ticketed events, programs are free of charge

Programs range from traditional author readings and book signings to a StoryFest day of children's authors and storybook characters; from a panel on how to publish a novel to a discussion on running a book club; from a workshop on book-binding to a discussion on freelancer's rights. Downtown Charlottesville.

Spring - April thru June

April 28 (Sat.)Garden Club of Virginia Historic Garden Week

Orange County , Mr. Madison's Neighborhood
Tickets on sale at Inn at Westwood Farm

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


May 5 - 6 (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 16 (Sat.) 3rd annual Trashy Ribs & Blues Festival

Downtown Orange
Pick-up trash, enjoy ribs and blues...all in one day!


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 11 (Sat.) edible Food Fest in Orange
11 AM - 5 PM Downtown Orange
The inaugural edible Food Fest , 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 Food Fest’s 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 all natural, pesticide and preservative-free food 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, 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 are educational programs on sustainable agriculture, organic gardening, soil and composting, seed saving, edible landscaping and other means of healthier living.

The edible Food Fest keynote speaker will be  Joel Salatin, who is a third-generation farmer in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. His Polyface farm continues to refine environmentally conscious farming practices. Appearances in Omnivore’s Dilemma, Food Inc., and on the Oprah Winfrey Show have made him an icon of the eat-local movement, and probably the most famous farmer in the country.

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 3 (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.

December 1- 3 (Fri. - Sun.) Candlelight Tour at Montpelier

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