Peaks of Otter Campground Clean Up
2026-05-02 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | The Peaks of Otter Campground, Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 85.9, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Join the National Park Service for a volunteer opportunity at the Peaks of Otter Campground Clean Up! Enjoy the great outdoors and fresh mountain air while helping prepare the campground for the 2026 season. Volunteers will assist with removing winter storm debris, picking up sticks, raking leaves, and cleaning grills and picnic tables. Participants should bring work gloves, a rake, water, a snack, and a friend, and are encouraged to wear closed-toed shoes, long pants, and weather-appropriate clothing. The Peaks of Otter Campground is located at milepost 85.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Big Island, Virginia. For more information or to register, contact Wayne Bersch at philip_bersch@nps.gov or 540-745-9664.

New London Academy Anniversary Celebration
2026-05-02 10:00 - 14:00 | New London Acadamy, 12400 E Salem Turnpike, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Come to New London Academy to celebrate 230 years of excellence in education!
There will be food trucks, games & activities, tours of the school, birthday celebration with cake and more!

Living History with The Fincastle Company
2026-05-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Moneta Library, 13641 Moneta Rd
Come to the Moneta library to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Independence! Enjoy a living historic performance presented by the Fincastle Company.
Fincastle Company is a group of dedicated living historians who portray both military and civilian roles during the time of the American War of Independence. They conduct extensive research and documentation on all the clothing and equipment used by them in order to be as accurate to the period as possible.
The group performs living history displays at various historical sites in the mid-Atlantic region. They specifically portray the Fincastle/Montgomery County Militia, which was an actual unit from Southwestern Virginia that served in the American Revolution.
No registration is required. Drop in anytime between 10 and 4 PM to interact with the historians.

The Bloom & Gather Market at Woods Goods & Mercantile
2026-05-02 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Woods Goods & Mercantile, 2770 W Lynchburg Salem Tpke, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Join Woods Goods & Mercantile for their Bloom & Gather Market, a garden-inspired shopping experience filled with fresh finds, thoughtful gifts, and beautiful moments to share.

America’s 250th Anniversary Exhibit
2026-05-02 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-04 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-05 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-06 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-07 10:00 - 18:00 | Moneta Library, 13641 Moneta Rd
America’s 250th Anniversary Exhibit in the MOarts Gallery and Display Case
250 years ago, the founding fathers of the United States of America met in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence beginning the American Nation as we know it. Come to the Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library to view our history as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through a photo exhibit of historical documents and portraits related to the American Revolution and a display case of Revolutionary items that have been in use since that time.
The photos featured in this exhibit are curated from the Library of Congress and the Library of Virginia.
The exhibit may be viewed during regular library hours, April 1, 2026, through May 30, 2026.

Big Otter Mill Spring Festival
2026-05-02 11:00 - 15:00 | Big Otter Mill, 3533 Big Island Highway, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Enjoy springtime in Bedford at the historic Big Otter Mill!
Live music, BBQ by the Virginia Masonic District 24 Master Masons Association, vendors, and self-guided tours of the Mill!
Free admission and family friendly!
Dogs okay, must be on a leash.

BCPS Middle & High School Art Show
2026-05-02 11:00 - 15:00 | Bower Center for the Arts, 309 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA, United States
The Bower Center for the Arts has partnered with the Bedford County Public Schools System to showcase the amazing artistic abilities of the youth in our community. Gallery admission is free.
Middle School Reception- Thursday April 16th 5-6:30PM
High School Reception- Friday May 1st 5-6:30pm

BBQ Battle at Portside Grill & Bar
2026-05-02 12:00 - 16:00 | Portside Grill and Bar, 3619 Airport Rd., Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Get ready for some smoky competition at the 5th Annual BBQ Battle hosted by Portside Grill & Bar on May 2nd at 12:00 PM. This exciting event will feature delicious barbecue, a lively atmosphere, and live music by Tradition from 12–4 PM. Bring your friends and come hungry—then stick around to enjoy great tunes and good vibes all afternoon. Don’t miss out—get your tickets today by clicking here!

Live Music at Harvest Moon
2026-05-02 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-03 13:00 - 17:00 | Harvest Moon Marketplace, 14917 Moneta Rd, Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Come see live music at Harvest Moon Marketplace! Click here to see who is playing this weekend!

Enjoy beer, wine, meads, ciders, and non-alcoholic drinks, along with delicious food and great shopping at the Marketplace. Free admission and free music!

Live Music & Food Truck at Fables & Feathers
2026-05-02 14:00 - 17:00 | Fables & Feathers Winery, 2117 Bruno Dr., Goodview, VA, 24095
Come to Fables and Feathers Winery for live music, great wine and beautiful views! Some days there will also be food trucks on site. Click here to see who is playing and which food truck will be on site!

Live Music at Portside
2026-05-02 16:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-03 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Portside Grill and Bar, 3619 Airport Rd., Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Come to Portside Grill & Bar right on Smith Mountain Lake, for great food and live music! Click here to see who is playing!

Derby Day at Historic Avenel
2026-05-02 16:30 - 20:00 | Historic Avenel, 413 Avenel Avenue, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
13th Annual Henry Walton Memorial Derby Day at Historic Avenel!
Tickets can be purchased at the Bedford Area Welcome Center, Arthur’s Jewelry, Scott & Bond Insurance, or from Any Board Member.

LES MISÉRABLES
2026-05-02 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-03 15:00 - 17:00 | Jefferson Forest Auditorium, 1 Cavalier Circle, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
The epic musical Les Misérables will be performed by Jefferson Forest High School theatre students! Show dates are April 30 – May 3.
Get your tickets at the door (while they last!) or reserve yours now at cavaliertheatre.com!

Little Shop of Horrors
2026-05-02 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-03 15:00 - 17:00 | Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center, 600 Edmund St., Bedford, Virginia, 24523
Liberty High School Performing Arts will perform Little Shop of Horrors!
The show will be held at Susie G Gibson Auditorium while Liberty’s new auditorium is still under construction.
Tickets at the door or in advance by clicking here.

Live Music at New London Ruritan Club
2026-05-02 19:00 - 22:00 | New London Ruritan, 12411 East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
This is a family friendly community dance with live entertainers!! $10/adult, doors open at 6:30pm, music 7-10pm. Please bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Supported by Ruritan volunteers. Click here to see who is playing each week.

Music with a Mission
2026-05-03 13:00 - 18:00 | Mitchell’s Point Marina, 3553 Trading Post Road, Huddleston, VA, 24104, United States
Come to Mitchell’s Point Marina to enjoy great live music and great food, all while supporting a great cause.
Music is from 1-6. Click here to see who is playing!

Live Music @ Beacon Seafood Pub
2026-05-03 14:00 - 16:00 | Beacon Seafood Pub at The Virginia Dare Marina, 3619 Airport Rd., Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Come to Beacon Seafood Pub located at the Virginia Dare Marina at Smith Mountain Lake, and enjoy great food, drinks and live music! Click here to see who is playing each week!

National Travel & Tourism Week Event
2026-05-06 11:00 - 14:00 | Bedford Area Welcome Center, 816 Burks Hill Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Destination Bedford (Bedford County Tourism) is proud to celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week May 3–9, 2026 — recognizing the impact of travel in supporting local businesses, jobs, and our community.
Join us for a special event on Wednesday, May 6, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Bedford Area Welcome Center.
Enjoy giveaways, learn about upcoming local America 250/VA250 events, and explore local tourism offerings. Porter House BBQ will be on-site with lunch available for purchase, and the picnic area will be open. A limited selection of VA250 merchandise will be available in the gift shop.
Don’t miss the “Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation” traveling exhibition—on display as part of this special celebration. This is the signature exhibition of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission and organized in partnership by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. It will be on display through June 8!
Come out and experience what makes Bedford a great place to visit!

The Life and Art of Charles M. Schulz Exhibition
2026-05-07 13:00 - 18:00 | Bower Center for the Arts, 309 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA, United States
Legendary cartoonist Charles M. Schulz’s legacy is one of cultural influence through his beloved Peanuts comic strip and of humble service in World War II. His wartime experience left a lasting impression on him, so much so that he became the Capital Campaign Chair of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation from 1998 until his passing in 2000.
The National D-Day Memorial is proud to bring The Life and Art of Charles M. Schulz to the Bower Center for the Arts in Bedford, Virginia. The traveling exhibition, curated by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California, U.S.A., explores Schulz’s personal history and his role as the sole inspiration and artistic talent behind the most successful comic strip in history.
Gallery admission is free.

Jefferson's Curiosities
2026-05-07 18:30 - 20:00 | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
About the Series: Thomas Jefferson was a man of many varied interests. Join us at Jefferson’s “best dwelling house in the state” as we delve into topics he found particularly fascinating from travel to culinary, leadership to religion. Each talk in the series includes a wine and cheese reception following the presentation.
Tickets are $25/each or $100 for all five Curiosities Series talks
2026 Jefferson’s Curiosities Series Events:

Jefferson’s Travel through the Germanies (Travis McDonald): February 19, 2026 6:30 p.m.

What Made Jefferson a Great Leader? (Dr. John Ragosta): March 26, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson and Trist’s Wild Mississippi Scheme (Karen Chase): May 7, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson’s Curiosities: Hearth Cooking (Rachel Deddens): June 11, 2026 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson & Religion (Nathan Taylor): September 24, 2026 6:30 p.m.
