Prepping and Planning Your Vegetable Garden
2025-03-30 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on March 30, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., as we welcome the Piedmont Master Gardeners for a spring gardening workshop on “Prepping and Planning Your Vegetable Garden.” Participants will learn the basics of garden planning, including soil testing and seed starting, then apply these skills with a hands-on project in Highland’s exhibition garden.
This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Please register below to reserve your place in the class. Registration closes at 5 p.m. March 29 or when the workshop is full.

Registration

Backpacking 101
2025-04-05 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Curious about backpacking but don’t know where to start? Join Highland trail guru Carla Anderson on Saturday, April 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a beginner-friendly backpacking class where you’ll learn essential skills, gear basics, and how to confidently hit the trail. Whether you’re planning your first overnight or just want to feel more prepared, this class will set you up for success!
The Backpacking 101 event will be held at Highland’s Hilltop Pavilion. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited to 15 individuals. Please sign up using the link below:
Registration
Promptly after the backpacking class, participants who are interested are invited to join Carla for a group hike on the Highland Rustic Trails. This 4 mile hike will take you on the Mountain Trail (red loop) and will include some of the newest sections of trail. Expect a little bit of elevation gain as we hike the gentle slopes of Highland’s “backyard.” This hike is for moderately experienced hikers. Participants are asked to wear appropriate hiking attire, including sturdy footwear, and bring a water bottle, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2025-04-06 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, April 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., we invite you and your four legged friends out on the Highland Rustic Trails for a day of doggone good fun!
The Highland Rustic Trails are free and open to the public. All dogs must be leashed. Dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals. Please keep our trails clean so everyone can enjoy their experience on the Highland Rustic Trails.
*Please note that while dogs will be allowed on the Highland Rustic Trails on April 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

Metro Journaling on the Highland Trails
2025-04-19 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join Highland Hiker, trail guru, and nature fanatic Carla Anderson for a creative journaling experience on the Blue Trail on Saturday, April 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If you’re looking to slow down and practice a different way of engaging with nature, this walk is for you!

In “metro poetry,” writers compose one line of text at each metro stop, using the time in between to look, listen, and reflect. We’ll let that idea guide us as we stop at set points during the walk to record a line of thought or an observation we have made in a portable trail journal.
The cost of this guided journaling hike is $5 per person. Participants must purchase tickets in advance using the link below. This walk is designed for participants aged 12 and up and is limited to fifteen individuals. Appropriate hiking shoes, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen are a must. Journaling materials will be provided!

Please note that pets are not allowed on the trails except on designated Highland Rustic Trails Dog Days (visit https://highland.org/events/ for upcoming events). Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are always permitted.
Registration

Annual Highland Sheep Shearing
2025-04-27 14:00 - 16:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Highland’s annual sheep shearing will take place on Sunday, April 27 (rain or shine), at 2:00 p.m. Tom Stanley will demonstrate the New Zealand sheep shearing method at this educational, agricultural event. We will also have traditional wool carding and spinning demonstrations for the family from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds.
Admission to the sheep shearing event is $6 per person. Children under 6 are admitted free. Monroe’s Farm Friends members are admitted FREE OF CHARGE (email info@highland.org to make a reservation)!
Purchase Tickets
About Tom Stanley
Tom Stanley has worked with sheep his entire life, starting with an orphaned lamb when he was 9 years old. He started shearing his own sheep when he was 14 years old. Today, Tom is employed by Virginia Tech as an Agriculture Extension Agent based in Rockbridge County and keeps a small flock of 40 breeding sheep that lamb each April.

James Monroe's Birthday Special Pricing
2025-04-28 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
In celebration of James Monroe’s Birthday, Highland general admission tickets for museum visits on April 28 are only $10 per person (kids six and under are free)! Follow the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase General Admission Tickets

William & Mary’s Highland: Rediscovering the Past, Shaping the Future (Virtual Presentation)
2025-04-28 19:00 - 20:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
As the inaugural event in the celebration of William & Mary’s 50 years of stewardship of Highland, Executive Director Sara Bon-Harper will speak about the historic house’s incredible story of rediscovery, the direction and ethos of initiatives at the site, and rich collaborations with the university community. Highland’s academic collaborations will be explored further in a series of virtual and in-person talks in September, October, and November 2025.
All are welcome at this April 28 program and future installations in the 50th anniversary series planned and hosted by the William & Mary Charlottesville-Highland Alumni Chapter. Please register to attend this free virtual talk:
Registration

CANCELLED: Color Wheel Trail Walk
2025-05-03 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
CANCELLED
Explore nature’s palette through journaling and the color wheel on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with this mindful 2-mile trail walk along the Blue Pasture Trail. Highland trail guru Carla Anderson will guide participants through observations of how colors shift with light, texture, and season, inviting the chance to slow down and tune in to the senses. No artistic experience is needed—just a sense of curiosity and a willingness to see nature in a new way!
The cost of this guided walk is $5 per person. Participants must purchase tickets in advance using the link below. This walk is designed for participants aged 12 and up and is limited to fifteen individuals. Appropriate hiking shoes, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen are a must. Color wheels will be provided; participants are encouraged to bring their own journals.
Please note that pets are not allowed on the trails except on designated Highland Rustic Trails Dog Days (visit https://highland.org/events/ for upcoming events). Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are always permitted.

Musical guest Timothy Seaman to perform at Highland
2025-05-03 14:00 - 16:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, for a special performance in the Highland Museum Shop by featured musical guest Timothy Seaman. Enjoy the soothing sound of the hammered dulcimer while browsing our selection of locally made crafts in the Highland Artisan Room. Timothy will be signing CDs at this free, public event.
Check out Timothy’s musical magic in the video below:

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2025-05-04 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, May 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., we invite you and your four legged friends out on the Highland Rustic Trails for a day of doggone good fun!
The Highland Rustic Trails are free and open to the public. All dogs must be leashed. Dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals. Please keep our trails clean so everyone can enjoy their experience on the Highland Rustic Trails.
*Please note that while dogs will be allowed on the Highland Rustic Trails on May 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

Film Screening: The Piccirilli Factor
2025-05-10 13:00 - 15:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us at Highland on Saturday, May 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. for a free screening of The Piccirilli Factor, a documentary by Eduardo Montes-Bradley. This film explores the lives and contributions of the Piccirilli family, Italian sculptors who, after settling in New York City in 1888, founded the largest and most prolific marble carving studio in America. The film highlights the role of Attilio Piccirilli, who carved the marble sculpture of James Monroe that stands at Highland.
The screening is free and open to the public. It will be held in the lower level of the Highland Event Barn, followed by a discussion with Mr. Montes-Bradley. Follow the link below to register for this free event.
Register for Free

Native Plant Swap
2025-05-18 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Highland welcomes you to native plant swap with the Piedmont Master Gardeners on Sunday, May 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is a free “bring-a-plant, take-a-plant” swap. Attendees can exchange pest-free plants for a variety of other plants for summer gardens. Seeds, non-native/non-invasive plants and vegetables, pots, and garden implements may also be swapped. While supplies last, there will be extra plants available for swappers to take home. Attendees can stop by the Master Gardener help desk for tips on native alternatives to non-native plants, and to learn how to identify and remove invasive plants from their gardens.
The Native Plant Swap will be held in the Highland visitor parking lot. This event is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary.
Remember, pests are a part of gardening life: please inspect your plants before sharing and swap at your own risk!

Memorial Day Special Pricing
2025-05-26 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, Highland general admission tickets are only $10 per person (kids six and under are free)! Follow the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase General Admission Tickets

Community Journaling on the Highland Trails
2025-05-29 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join Highland Hiker, trail guru, and nature fanatic Carla Anderson for a creative journaling experience on the Blue Trail on Thursday, May 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If you’re looking to slow down and practice a different way of engaging with nature, this walk is for you!

In “metro poetry,” writers compose one line of text at each metro stop, using the time in between to look, listen, and reflect. We’ll let that idea guide us as we each record a line of observation at set stops on the trail. At the end of our hike, we’ll assemble these observations into booklets to be posted at one of the sign stations along the trail. Your observations will be available for future Highland hikers.
The cost of this guided journaling hike is $5 per person. Participants must purchase tickets in advance using the link below. This walk is designed for participants aged 12 and up and is limited to fifteen individuals. Appropriate hiking shoes, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen are a must. Journaling materials will be provided!

Please note that pets are not allowed on the trails except on designated Highland Rustic Trails Dog Days (visit https://highland.org/events/ for upcoming events). Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are always permitted.
Purchase Tickets

Green Gathering Book Club: The Hidden Life of Trees
2025-06-08 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Calling all tree huggers, forest friends, and book worms! If you are interested in connecting with fellow nature-lovers over a good book, join us for Highland’s Green Gathering Book Club.

Did you know that trees communicate within a family structure and support each other as they grow? Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees explores new research into how trees share information with each other regarding their surroundings. Come find out why “a happy forest is a healthy forest” according to the author and how eco-friendly practices can contribute not only to a healthier planet but a happier planet for all.

This event is free and open to the public. Designed for participants aged 12 and up. Participants will meet at the Highland Museum Shop and walk as a group to our comfy conference room for the book club meeting.

Registration
Promptly after the book discussion, participants who are interested are invited to join Carla for a group hike on the Highland Rustic Trails. This 4 mile hike will take you on the Mountain Trail (red loop) and will include some of the newest sections of trail. Expect a little bit of elevation gain as we hike the gentle slopes of Highland’s “backyard.” This hike is for moderately experienced hikers. Participants are asked to wear appropriate hiking attire, including sturdy footwear, and bring a water bottle, bug spray, and sunscreen.

The Hidden Life of Trees can be purchased through your local bookstore or via Amazon. Want to be extra green? Check out the book from your local library branch!

2025 Descendants Day
2025-06-14 10:00 - 16:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for Descendants Day at Highland. The Highland Council of Descendant Advisors welcomes all attendees, whether descendants or not. Plan to take part in the day’s music, food, and presentations, and be ready to learn about the activities of many community groups.
This event is free and open to the public. Follow the link below to register:
Registration

Descendants Day 2025 Schedule of Events
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Community Partnerships
Exhibitor Tent – Explore, connect, and learn
11:00 a.m.
Opening Program
The Jones Family Singers
Spotlight on Descendants
Dr. Lisa Armstrong: Family History is American History

12:00 p.m.
Grace and Invitation to Lunch
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Lunchtime Programming
Lunch provided for all attendees
Community Partnerships in Exhibitor Tent
Historic Highland Exploration
Public Archaeology Viewing
Networking
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Genealogy Share and Inspire Stations (in Highland Event Barn)
with community members and experts in family history
for researchers at all stages of their journey
Breakout Conversations hosted by:
Elizabeth Drembus
Calvin Jefferson
Dr. Shelley Murphy
Francis W. Scott
2:00 p.m.
Historical Performance
by Sheila Arnold
3:00 p.m.
Musical Selections
Ronee Martin
Horace Scruggs
3:40 p.m.
Calling of the Names
4:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks

Featured Performer, Sheila Arnold
Sheila Arnold has a talent for storytelling, a passion for history, and compassion for people. She provides Storytelling, Historic Character Presentations, Christian Monologues, and Professional Development for schools, festivals, churches, and organizations nationally and internationally. She is co-founder and Artistic Director of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST) a source of inspiration, strength and action in the storytelling and artists world. Sheila has been honored as a 2021 MacDowell Artist Fellow, a 2020 Mt. Vernon Research Fellow and a 2019 Hewnoaks Artist Colony summer residence Noted Artist. Sheila lives in Hampton, VA near her son, grandsons, and parents.

Special thanks to the Mortimer & Ruth Caplin Foundation, the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, Virginia Tent Rental, and MS Events for supporting Descendants Day at Highland.

Juneteenth Special Pricing
2025-06-19 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
In honor of Juneteenth, Highland general admission tickets on June 19th are only $10 per person (kids six and under are free). Follow the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase General Admission Tickets

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2025-06-22 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, June 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., we invite you and your four legged friends out on the Highland Rustic Trails for a day of doggone good fun!
The Highland Rustic Trails are free and open to the public. All dogs must be leashed. Dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals. Please keep our trails clean so everyone can enjoy their experience on the Highland Rustic Trails.
*Please note that while dogs will be allowed on the Highland Rustic Trails on June 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

Shadow & Light Trail Walk
2025-06-26 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
***We are sorry that this event is postponed due to the forecast of extreme heat on Thursday, June 26. A new date will be announced when available.***

Explore the contrast of shadows and light on this slow, intentional morning walk in nature. Highland’s Carla Anderson will lead a contemplative walk on Highland’s Rustic Trails on Thursday, June 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., observing how light transforms the landscape and pausing to journal and sketch pattern and contrast. Through guided prompts, participants will consider the interplay of darkness and brightness—not just in nature, but in our own lives.

The cost of this guided walk is $5 per person. Participants must purchase tickets in advance using the link below. This walk is designed for participants aged 12 and up and is limited to fifteen individuals. Appropriate hiking shoes, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen are a must. Participants are encouraged to bring their own journals.

Please note that pets are not allowed on the trails except on designated Highland Rustic Trails Dog Days (visit https://highland.org/events/ for upcoming events). Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are always permitted.
Purchase Tickets

Independence Day Special Pricing
2025-07-04 09:30 - 16:30 | VA
In honor of Independence Day, Highland general admission tickets on July 4th are only $10 per person (kids six and under are free). Follow the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase General Admission Tickets

Anthems from America & Abroad - A Heifetz Holiday Celebration
2025-07-05 14:00 - 16:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Saturday, July 5th, Highland will host the Heifetz International Music Institute for a free concert from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. A classically-inspired ensemble from Heifetz will bring a uniquely innovative and expressive concert that will appeal to all ages.
Seating will be available under the ceiling fans in the Hilltop Pavilion. Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs. Picnics are also welcome in the grassy Pavilion Yard!
Concert admission is free!
Please note that James Monroe’s Highland does not permit pets on the property. Leashed service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted.

*Images courtesy of Gene Runion

VA250 Mobile Museum Experience
2025-07-31 09:30 - 2025-08-02 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Highland will host the VA250 Mobile Museum from Thursday, July 31, through Saturday, August 2. A hands-on, interactive, and immersive “museum on wheels,” the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience titled “Out of Many, One” is housed in a quad-expandable tractor trailer that is traveling throughout Virginia and beyond. The mobile museum brings key stories of Virginia’s rich history to schools, museums, local events, fairs, and more, highlighting every region of the state.

There is no fee to access the VA250 Mobile Experience. The mobile museum will be positioned in the main Highland parking lot and will be free and accessible to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Thursday, July 31, through Saturday, August 2.
The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience at Highland is made possible by the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. A special thanks to The Draftsman hotel for providing overnight accommodations for the VA250 Mobile Museum team.

Albemarle County Fair
2025-07-31 16:00 - 2025-08-02 21:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
The Albemarle County Fair is scheduled from Thursday, July 31 through Saturday, August 2 on the grounds of Highland. Fair hours are 4:00 to 9:00 pm on Thursday, July 31, and 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, August 1 and 2. Tickets can be purchased at the door (cash or card) and are $5 per person and free for children under 6 years of age. This fun and festive three-day agricultural celebration will be complete with exhibits, home arts, family entertainment, live music, livestock, and fun and learning for all ages. Fair goers will also enjoy demonstrations of historic and cultural significance, including wool spinning and blacksmithing, and the opportunity to have photographic silhouettes made. This year’s fair will feature an expanded lineup of fair exhibitors, in partnership with dozens of local and regional community organizations.
Livestock Schedule Entertainment Schedule
The Albemarle County Fair is proud to display a wide variety of home arts and agricultural wares from Central Virginia. During your visit to the fair, stop by the Barn to view the winners! Interested in submitting your own home-made creations? Adults and youth are enthusiastically encouraged to enter their submission for home arts and agricultural judging! Follow the link below for details about how residents of Albemarle and surrounding counties can enter their work at the fair:
Enter Your Home Arts Submission

New for 2025!
VA250 Mobile Museum: The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience will be at Highland from 9:30 am to 4:30pm from Thursday, July 31, through Saturday, August 2. A hands-on, interactive, and immersive “museum on wheels,” the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience titled “Out of Many, One” is housed in a quad-expandable tractor trailer that is traveling throughout Virginia and beyond. The mobile museum brings key stories of Virginia’s rich history to schools, museums, local events, fairs, and more, highlighting every region of the state. Fairgoers are welcome to explore the mobile museum for free.
Fair Exhibitors: Highland and the Albemarle County Fair Board are pleased to announce an expanded lineup of fair exhibitors! The following local and regional community partners will exhibit their offerings at the fair:
THURSDAY
NSDAR, Jack Jouett Chapter
NSDAR, Albemarle Chapter
Virginia Master Naturalists, Rivanna Chapter
Charlottesville Camera Club
Albemarle County Police Department
Albemarle County Fire Rescue
Oratorio Society of Virginia
Central Virginia Beekeepers Association
Central Virginia Fiber Arts Guild
Yancey Community Center
American Legion, Post 74
Camp Holiday Trails
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards
FRIDAY
NSDAR, Jack Jouett Chapter
NSDAR, Albemarle Chapter
Charlottesville Camera Club
Albemarle County Fire Rescue
Central Virginia Beekeepers Association
Central Virginia Fiber Arts Guild
American Legion, Post 74
Morven Sustainability Lab
Camp Holiday Trails
Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society
Service Dogs of Virginia
Unlocked History Escape Rooms
CACVB Mobile Visitor Center (noon-4pm)
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA (10am-2pm)
Albemarle County Community Engagement (10am-3pm)
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards
SATURDAY
NSDAR, Jack Jouett Chapter
NSDAR, Albemarle Chapter
Charlottesville Camera Club
Albemarle County Fire Rescue
Central Virginia Beekeepers Association
Central Virginia Fiber Arts Guild
American Legion, Post 74
Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society
Unlocked History Escape Rooms
CACVB Mobile Visitor Center (noon-4pm)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Blue Ridge
IX Art Park Foundation
RegionTen Community Services Board
Charlottesville Alliance Sports Club
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards

Classes by Extension Master Gardeners in the Highlands Vegetable Garden
Saturday, August 2: (15- to 30-minute sessions)
Late Summer in the Vegetable Garden

11am session in the garden: Weeds in the Home Vegetable Garden, by Tonya Moon
1pm session in the garden: Pests in the Vegetable Garden, Integrated Pest Management for Vegetable Gardens, Squash Bug in Virginia Home Gardens, by Linda Blum
3pm session in the garden: Common Diseases of tomatoes in the Vegetable Garden, by Linda Blum
5pm session in the garden: Planting the Vegetable Garden for Fall: Garlic, and Shallots, greens, cabbage. Seed saving tips. By Fern Campbell

If you are looking for a unique gift or keepsake, Margo Hamilton and Ron Evans of Studio Zero Photography will be onsite with their modern take on the silhouette. Sittings are available for couples, individuals, and children, no appointment is necessary, and the cost will vary depending on print size.

The Albemarle County Fair Board, a private nonprofit entity separate from Albemarle County government, thanks the community for their interest and continued support and looks forward to celebrating the best of our rich and lively agricultural traditions at James Monroe’s Highland.
Please note that Highland does not permit pets on the property. Leashed service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted.

Visit the Albemarle County Fair Website

Gabriel: A Sneak Preview
2025-08-10 13:30 - 15:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us at Highland on Sunday, August 10, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., for a behind the scenes look at Gabriel, a soaring new musical production by Richmonders Jerold Solomon, Foster Solomon and Ron Klipp. Learn about the creation process of Gabriel from performers, production team members, and historical partners, and enjoy a preview performance of songs from the musical. Gabriel is produced by ATLAS Partnership and will be playing September 26 – November 9 at Historic Hanover Tavern. Don’t miss this chance to learn more about the making of this American story! Attendees will receive a special ticket discount for the upcoming show.
Gabriel: A Sneak Preview will be held in the lower level of the Highland Event Barn. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited so please pre-register to reserve your spot!
Registration

Gabriel tells the story of Gabriel’s Rebellion, one of the most important uprisings of enslaved people in Virginia and American History. Born in 1776, Gabriel, an enslaved Henrico County blacksmith, became a powerful force for justice and social conscience. While Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Patrick Henry fought for independence, Gabriel grew up witnessing the promises of liberty denied to over 300,000 enslaved Black Virginians. His plot hinged on the successful capture of then-Governor James Monroe for the purpose of negotiating an end to slavery. In 1800, Gabriel risked—and ultimately sacrificed—his life for freedom.

Monroe and Lafayette: A Reunion
2025-08-16 13:30 - 16:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on Saturday, August 16, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., for a special afternoon of public programming on the Marquis de Lafayette’s friendship with James Monroe as Highland commemorates the final leg of Lafayette’s 1825 return tour to the United States. Guests will enjoy a live conversation between the two Revolutionary war veterans and afterwards can explore specially selected Monroe objects and documents, historic archaeology, and participate (or experience) dramatic readings of Monroe and Lafayette correspondences. Don’t miss this historic reunion!
Attendees may join us for any or all of these exciting offerings:
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Monroe and Lafayette reminisce (lower level of the event barn)
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Dramatic reading of historical letters (lower level of the event barn)
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Free exploration of interpretation stations (upper level of the event barn) including:

Monroe collections items
Historic correspondence and documents
Learning about historic archaeology
and, of course, MEET MONROE AND LAFAYETTE!

This event will take place in the upper and lower levels of Highland’s event barn and is free with admission to James Monroe’s Highland.

Purchase General Admission Tickets

Note: The historical record indicates that while Lafayette and Monroe saw each other in Charlottesville and at Monticello in 1825, the Monroe home that Lafayette spent several days at in August 1825 was Oak Hill, currently a private residence in Loudoun County.

Labor Day Special Pricing
2025-09-01 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Have you made your Labor Day holiday plans? Make sure to add Highland to your itinerary. Highland general admission tickets for museum visits on September 1st are only $10 per person (kids six and under are free)! Follow the link below to purchase tickets:

Purchase General Admission Tickets

Deep History: Geologic Perspectives at Highland
2025-09-06 10:00 - 12:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us at Highland on Saturday, September 6, for the next event in a series celebrating 50 years of William & Mary’s stewardship of Highland. In central Virginia the underlying bedrock is typically concealed beneath the region’s verdant green hills, but at Highland and in the Blue Ridge foothills the bedrock records a long and exciting history that goes back more than a billion years. In the program Deep History: Geologic Perspectives at Highland, W&M Geology Professor Chuck Bailey will explore geological connections to the landscape and human history of Virginia.
The talk will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on September 6 in the lower level of the Highland Event Barn, with an optional hike from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Light refreshments provided. Please bring a water bottle, sunscreen, bug repellent, and sturdy shoes if you plan on joining the hike. Click on the registration link below to sign up for this free program:
Registration

Green Gathering Book Club: How to Love a Forest
2025-09-21 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Calling all tree huggers, forest friends, and book worms! If you are interested in connecting with fellow nature-lovers over a good book, join us for Highland’s Green Gathering Book Club.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion of how to heal rather than harm forest communities with How to Love a Forest by Ethan Trapper. Blending memoir with scientific revelation, Trapper’s book offers a call to action for those who want to love the forest well.

This event is free and open to the public. Designed for participants aged 12 and up. Participants will meet at the Highland Museum Shop and walk as a group to our comfy conference room for the book club meeting.

Registration
Promptly after the book discussion, participants who are interested are invited to join Carla for a group hike on the Highland Rustic Trails. This 4 mile hike will take you on the Mountain Trail (red loop) and will include some of the newest sections of trail. Expect a little bit of elevation gain as we hike the gentle slopes of Highland’s “backyard.” This hike is for moderately experienced hikers. Participants are asked to wear appropriate hiking attire, including sturdy footwear, and bring a water bottle, bug spray, and sunscreen.

How to Love a Forest can be purchased through your local bookstore or via Amazon. Want to be extra green? Check out the book from your local library branch!

It’s Your Historic Place: James Monroe’s Highland, Creating Value by Preserving History
2025-09-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Lane Auditorium, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA, 22902, United States
At 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24 at Lane Auditorium or via Facebook Live, Sara Bon-Harper, Highland’s Executive Director, will discuss initiatives that create meaningful history for Highland’s visitors and other stakeholders. Her presentation will include the research that revealed the forgotten history of the site, and the collaborations that have developed stories that connect to wider communities. The past decade has been a time of great change for Highland, and this talk will connect those changes with larger themes in historic preservation. Join us after the program for light refreshments!
This program is part of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society’s Historic Preservation Lecture Series, created in partnership with Preservation Piedmont, the Albemarle County Historic Preservation Committee, and the City of Charlottesville Historic Resources Committee.
Click on the registration link below to sign up for this free program:
Registration

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2025-09-28 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, September 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., we invite you and your four legged friends out on the Highland Rustic Trails for a day of doggone good fun!
The Highland Rustic Trails are free and open to the public. All dogs must be leashed. Dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals. Please keep our trails clean so everyone can enjoy their experience on the Highland Rustic Trails.
*Please note that while dogs will be allowed on the Highland Rustic Trails on Dog Days, only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails
