Highland

Stream Sampling Demonstration
2023-05-21 11:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
If you love aquatic creatures and science, we have an exciting opportunity to share. Highland will host the Rivanna Conservation Alliance (RCA) on Sunday, May 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. as they conduct a benthic macroinvertebrate sampling demonstration along Massey Creek, which flows adjacent to a portion of the South Pasture Loop of the Highland Rustic Trails. Representatives from RCA will be conducting a biological sample, looking for the different types of macroinvertebrates that call this stream home. This will be a drop-in event and anyone is welcome to attend, ask questions, and see how RCA uses these animals to assess stream health. This event is free, appropriate for all ages, and open to the public.

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2023-05-28 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, May 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 May 28, from 9:30 am-4:30 pm, only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

Family Watershed Walk
2023-06-03 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on Saturday, June 3, at 10:00 a.m. as we explore the watershed along the Highland Rustic Trails with representatives from the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District. We’ll hike to a small stream and identify the plants and animals we see in and around the water. We will get wet and dirty, so dress for an outdoor adventure! Please wear close-toed shoes and bring insect repellent and a water bottle. The Highland Rustic Trails are not ideal for strollers.
This program FREE, open to the public, and is recommended for families with children aged 8 to 11 years old. Registration is required. Please email education@highland.org to register.

2023 Descendants Day at Highland
2023-06-10 11:00 - 16:00 (America/Halifax) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on Saturday, June 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for a Descendants Day at Highland. The Highland Council of Descendant Advisors welcomes anyone working on or interested in the histories of slavery, the shared work of making our present and future more equitable based on historical knowledge, and collaboration in research. Plan to share information, resources, and encouragement with others journeying on the same path. Guests will enjoy refreshments, music, resources, and stories. Space is available to display your community’s resources and stories. This event is free and open to the public. Click on the link below to register:
Register Now

2023 Descendants Day Schedule of Events
All events located in the Hilltop Pavilion at Highland.
11:00 – 11:30 AM

Registration and Community Tables Open

11:30 – 11:50 AM

Music from the Jones Family Singers
Welcome to the 2023 Descendants Day at Highland

11:50 – 12:30 PM

Film Screening followed by Q&A with participants

12:30 – 1:15 PM

Lunch Provided by Ada’s Kitchen on Wheels
Music from the Horace Scruggs Group

1:15 – 2 PM

Recognition of Visitors
Keynote by Brent Leggs, Executive Director, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and
Senior Vice President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

2:00 – 2:30 PM

Visit community tables
Enjoy music
View Highland exhibits

2:30 – 3:15 PM

Reparations Breakout facilitated by Ramona Chapman, member of Highland Council of Descendant Advisors and
Frank Dukes, Distinguished Institute Fellow at UVA’s Institute for Engagement + Negotiation

OR

View Highland exhibits

3:15 PM

Calling of Names

3:30 PM

Music from Joyce Barbour
Reflection on the 2023 Descendants Day at Highland

3:45 PM

Closing Remarks
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” with the Horace Scruggs Group

Hiking at Highland
2023-06-17 09:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Saturday, June 17, from 9:00-11:30 a.m., join Highland staff member, Carla Anderson, 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. This free event is limited to 20 hikers. Registration is requested using the link below:
Register Now

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2023-06-25 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, June 25, 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 25, from 9:30 am-4:30 pm, only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

Spotted Lanternfly and Tree of Heaven Identification Walk
2023-06-30 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Friday, June 30, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., we will be joined by experts from the Albemarle County/Charlottesville Virginia Cooperative Extension for a walk along the Highland Trails to learn about the invasive Spotted Lanternfly and how to kill its favorite host, the “Tree of Heaven,” Ailanthus altissima. This event is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to assemble in front of the Highland Museum Shop for the event. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for hiking. Insect repellent, sunscreen, and a water bottle are recommended for the hike.

Family Watershed Walk
2023-07-01 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on Saturday, July 1, at 10:00 a.m. as we explore the watershed along the Highland Rustic Trails with representatives from the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conversation District. We’ll hike to a small stream and identify the plants and animals we see in and around the water. We will get wet and dirty, so dress for an outdoor adventure! Please wear close-toed shoes and bring insect repellent and a water bottle. The Highland Rustic Trails are not ideal for strollers.
This program FREE, open to the public, and is recommended for families with children aged 8 to 11 years old. Registration is required. Please email education@highland.org to register.

Independence Day Concert and Celebration
2023-07-04 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Tuesday, July 4th, 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.
While we will have seating available underneath of the Hilltop Pavilion, we recommend guests bring blankets and lawn chairs to maximize social distancing in our grassy, Pavilion Yard. This area is also perfect for a picnic!
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

Historic Tree Walk at Highland: Summer 2023
2023-07-08 09:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on Saturday, July 8 from 9:30-10:30 a.m., for the summer Historic Tree Walk with Highland guide, Sharon Hiner. View the seasonal changes of Highland’s majestic mature trees during this hour-long walk. Highlights include a towering white oak and hemlock that date back to Monroe’s time. Participants will walk among the property’s large maples, ashes, black walnuts and other native trees that grace the historic grounds. Learn how trees influenced Highland’s naming in the past and how tree-ring dating contributed to new discoveries and its historical interpretation.
Admission to this Historic Tree Walk at Highland is $12 per participant. Each tree walk is limited to 20 guests. Participants are expected to comply with all COVID-19 precautions while at Highland. Refunds will only be issued if the tree walk is canceled due to dangerous weather (thunderstorms, high winds, etc).
Purchase Tickets

Film Screening: Daniel Chester French: American Sculptor
2023-07-08 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us at Highland on Saturday, July 8, from 1-3 p.m. for a screening of Daniel Chester French: American Sculptor, a documentary film by Eduardo Montes-Bradley. The film explores the life and work of one of America’s most renowned sculptors, best known for creating the statue of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial. The film also highlights the role of Attilio Piccirilli, the Italian-American sculptor who carved the marble statue 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 an introduction to The Italian Factor, a documentary project by Montes-Bradley about the Piccirilli Brothers and their contributions to the American Renaissance. The filmmaker will also answer questions from the audience. Please register for this event by emailing info@highland.org.

Albemarle County Fair
2023-07-27 16:00 - 2023-07-29 21:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
The Albemarle County Fair is scheduled from Thursday, July 27 through Saturday, July 29 on the grounds of Highland. Fair hours will be 4:00 to 9:00 pm on Thursday, July 27, and 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, July 28 and 29. Tickets are $5 per person and free for children under 6 years of age. This fun and festive “Old-Time Country Fair” will be a three-day agricultural celebration, complete with exhibits, baked goods, crafts, family entertainment, events, livestock, and grand old-time country fun. Fair goers will also enjoy a number of demonstrations of historic and cultural significance, including wool spinners and a blacksmith.
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 thanks the community for their interest and continued support and looks forward to sharing and celebrating the best of our rich and lively agricultural community at this year’s fair at James Monroe’s Highland.
Learn More
We are pleased to announce that you can now submit your Home Arts entry paperwork electronically using the link below:

Home Arts Registration
Please note that Highland does not permit pets on the property. Leashed service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted.

Livestock Schedule

Thursday 7/27

Thursday, July 27
Show Starts at 4:30 pm
POULTRY CLASSES:
801–Senior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 14–19)
802–Junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 9–13)
803–Novice Fitting & Showmanship (no prior experience)
804–Pre-junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 5–8)
805–Open Poultry
806–Market Chicken
807–Market Turkey
808–Chicken
809–Turkey
810–Duck
811–Guinea
RABBIT CLASSES:
901–Senior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 14–19)
902–Junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 9–13)
903–Novice Fitting & Showmanship (no prior experience)
904–Pre-junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 5–8)
905–Open Rabbit
906–Market Rabbit
908–Breed Rabbit (Doe or Buck)

Friday 7/28

Friday, July 28
Show starts at 3:00 pm
MEAT GOAT CLASSES:
601–Senior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 14–19)
602–Junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 9–13)
603–Novice Fitting & Showmanship (no prior experience)
604–Pre-junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 5–8)
605–Open Goat
606–Feeder Goat (under 50 lbs)
607–Market Goat (over 50 lbs)
608–Breed Meat Goat Doe
DAIRY GOAT CLASSES:
700–Dairy Goats
SHEEP CLASSES:
401–Senior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 14–19)
402–Junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 9–13)
403–Novice Fitting & Showmanship (no prior experience)
404–Pre-junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 5–8)
405–Open Lamb
407–Market Lamb (over 85 lbs)
408–Breed Ewe

FIBER ANIMAL CLASSES:
500–Fiber Sheep
BEEF CLASSES:
102–Junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 9–13)
103–Novice Fitting & Showmanship (no prior experience)
105-Open Steer
106–Feeder Steer (min 400 lbs, max 999 lbs)
107–Market Steer (min 1000 lbs, max 1400 lbs)
108-109–Beef Heifer
DAIRY CATTLE CLASSES:
202-Junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 9–13)
203–Novice Fitting & Showmanship (no prior experience)
207–Dairy Heifer Calf
SWINE CLASSES:
301–Senior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 14–19)
302–Junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 9–13)
303–Novice Fitting & Showmanship (no prior experience)
304–Pre-junior Fitting & Showmanship (ages 5–8)
305–Open Hog
306–Feeder Hog (under 200 lbs)
307–Market Hog (min 200 lbs, max 300 lbs)
308–Breed Gilt

Saturday 7/29

Saturday, July 29

OLD TIMER’S SHOW: 10:30 am
BUYER’S LUNCH: 12:30 pm
MARKET ANIMAL AUCTION: 2:00 pm

Entertainment Schedule

Thursday 7/27

Thursday, July 27

Baby Jo’s
6:30-8:30 pm
New Orleans Jazz

Friday 7/28

Friday, July 28

Dark Hollow
6:00-9:00 pm
Bluegrass

Saturday 7/29

Saturday, July 29

Virginia Rain
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Bluegrass

Charles Frazier & The Virginia Ramblers
4:30 – 8:30 pm
Bluegrass

Family Watershed Walk
2023-08-05 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on Saturday, August 5, at 10:00 a.m. as we explore the watershed along the Highland Rustic Trails with representatives from the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conversation District. We’ll hike to a small stream and identify the plants and animals we see in and around the water. We will get wet and dirty, so dress for an outdoor adventure! Please wear close-toed shoes and bring insect repellent and a water bottle. The Highland Rustic Trails are not ideal for strollers.
This program FREE, open to the public, and is recommended for families with children aged 8 to 11 years old. Registration is required. Please email education@highland.org to register.

Deer Processing Workshop
2023-10-14 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
*** THIS PROGRAM IS FULL ***

Join us on Saturday, October 14, from 8 a.m. to noon, as we host the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for a Deer Processing Workshop. Participants will learn about field dressing, butchering techniques, food safety, and contaminant concerns in this free, hands-on class.
The Deer Processing Workshop will be held at the Highland Pavilion and is limited to twelve guests. Registration is required to participate.

CANCELLED: Historic Tree Walk at Highland: Fall 2023
2023-10-14 09:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
*** Due to unexpected staffing issues, the October Tree Walk at Highland has been cancelled ***
Join us on Saturday, October 14, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., for the fall Historic Tree Walk with Highland guide, Sharon Hiner. View the seasonal changes of Highland’s majestic mature trees during this hour-long walk. Highlights include a towering white oak and hemlock that date back to Monroe’s time. Participants will walk among the property’s large maples, ashes, black walnuts and other native trees that grace the historic grounds. Learn how trees influenced Highland’s naming in the past and how tree-ring dating contributed to new discoveries and its historical interpretation.
Admission to this Historic Tree Walk at Highland is $12 per participant. Each tree walk is limited to 20 guests. Participants are expected to comply with all COVID-19 precautions while at Highland. Refunds will only be issued if the tree walk is canceled due to dangerous weather (thunderstorms, high winds, etc).

Highland Trails Walk and Talk: The Bear Necessities
2023-10-20 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
*** THIS PROGRAM IS FULL ***
Come out to Highland on October 20, from 10 a.m. to noon, for a black bear “Talk and Walk.” Highland staff member and Rivanna Master Naturalist, Carla Anderson, will share info on living and hiking with black bears in our area. This FREE informative program will begin with a 30-minute presentation in the lower level of the Highland Event barn, followed by a hike on the Highland Rustic Trails (red trail) where we will look for evidence of bear activity.
All program participants are asked to dress adequately for outdoor exploration, including shoes or boots appropriate for hiking. Water, bug spray, and sunscreen is also recommended.

Virtual Program: "This Sets Our Compass" - The Making of the Monroe Doctrine
2023-11-09 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on Thursday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m., as we welcome Tim McGrath, author of James Monroe: A Life, for a virtual program: “This Sets Our Compass”: The Making of the Monroe Doctrine. Through the lens of biography, McGrath will discuss the personal and political events leading to the 1823 announcement of what became the Monroe Doctrine. This virtual program is free and open to the public.

Register Now!

About Tim McGrath
Tim McGrath is the author of James Monroe: A Life (2020). He is a two-time winner of the Commodore John Barry Book Award, as well as the author of the critically acclaimed biography John Barry: An American Hero in the Age of Sail (2010) and Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America’s Revolution at Sea (2014). A recipient of the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature, he lives outside Philadelphia.

Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony
2023-11-10 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Friday, November 10, at 1:00 p.m., the University of Virginia Army ROTC Cadets, the “Band of Brothers” trumpet quartet from James Madison University, and featured speaker Mary James, director of COVER, will join us for a ceremony in salute to our veterans. This event is FREE and open to the public.
To honor and thank U.S. veterans, all active duty, former, and retired United States military personnel will receive free general admission to James Monroe’s Highland on November 10 and 11 for Veterans Day.

Spheres of Influence: Two Hundred Years of the Monroe Doctrine
2023-11-28 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | VA
Join us on November 28 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., either in-person at The McGowan Theatre at the National Archives or virtually, for Spheres of Influence: Two Hundred Years of the Monroe Doctrine. This program will feature a panel of scholars who will discuss the history as well as the current use of the best-known U.S. policy toward the Western Hemisphere. Highlighted in an otherwise routine annual message delivered to Congress by President James Monroe in December 1823, the doctrine warned European nations that the United States would not tolerate further colonization or puppet monarchs in the Western Hemisphere. Sara Bon-Harper, Executive Director, James Monroe’s Highland and Scott H. Harris, Executive Director, University of Mary Washington Museums, will lead the discussion of the three main elements of the Monroe Doctrine: non- colonization, non-intervention, and separate spheres of influence for the Americas and Europe. This program is presented in partnership with James Monroe Museum and James Monroe’s Highland. For more information and to register for this free event, following the link below:
Registration
*The Birth of the Monroe Doctrine by Clyde O. DeLand. Image Courtesy of The Granger Collection.

Virtual Program: A Latin Americanist's Reading of the Monroe Doctrine, 1823-2023
2023-12-01 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
*Map of America by Juan Downey, image courtesy of MoMA
Join us on Friday, December 1 at 1:00 p.m., as we welcome James Madison University professor Dr. Kristen McCleary, for a FREE virtual program: A Latin Americanist’s Reading of the Monroe Doctrine, 1823-2023. This talk highlights the Monroe Doctrine’s explicit connections to Latin America. In particular, it examines the way the Monroe Doctrine was given meaning through cultural expressions both from the US and Latin America, including Cuban José Marti’s essay Our America (1892), William Dieterle’s film Juárez (1939) and Americo Paredes’ novel George Washington Gómez (1990), among others. Follow the link below to register for this free virtual program:

Register Now!

About Dr. Kristen McCleary
Kristen McCleary is associate professor of Latin American history at James Madison University. Her research explores the intersection between social history and urban culture. She writes about how cultural activities (theater, carnival, film, and music) provide spaces for people to connect and built community, which in turn creates new pathways towards political and social power. She is interested, as well, in the shared cultural heritage of the Americas, arguing that culture flows over borders in powerful and often unseen ways. Her book, “All the City’s a Stage: Theater and Society in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1810-1920,” is forthcoming with University of Pittsburgh Press, Latin American Studies series, (Spring 2024).

Holly Days
2023-12-02 09:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us at Highland on Saturday, December 2, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., as we host the Virginia Discovery Museum for Holly Days, a family holiday program. Holly Days at Highland will feature a merry morning of cozy crafts, activities, and some very special stories from holidays past! Enjoy ornament-making, foliage-foraging, and many more fun crafts. For more information and to purchase tickets, follow the link below:
Purchase Tickets

Cancelled: Meat Preservation Workshop
2023-12-16 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
*** This event has been cancelled ***
Join us on Saturday, December 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as we host the Virginia Cooperative Extension for a Meat Preservation Workshop. Participants will learn the basics of pressure canning and dehydration in this hands-on class.
The Meat Preservation Workshop will be held at the Highland Conference Room and is limited to fifteen guests. The cost is $20 per participant. Registration is required to participate.

Musical guest Timothy Seaman to perform at Highland
2023-12-16 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 16, 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:
Watch Now

After Hours at Highland
2023-12-27 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Experience Highland after hours on Wednesday, December 27, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Participants will enjoy a private viewing of the exhibits in the 1818 Guesthouse and grounds. Highland’s new interpretation weaves the story of Highland’s free and enslaved residents into the same narrative. With a focus on Monroe’s presidential years, the exhibits show how Highland is a lens for understanding early American history and its present-day legacies. Following the visit to the exhibit spaces, guests will enjoy a private concert with Celtic Harpist Elizabeth Fanning.
Participants will enjoy an outdoor guided history walk and Highland’s self-paced exhibits starting at 4:00 pm, followed by hot apple cider and a performance of holiday tunes from around the world by Elizabeth Fanning in the lower level of the Highland Event Barn. This event is limited to forty participants. Tickets are $30 per person and must be purchased online using the link below:
Purchase Tickets

About Elizabeth Fanning
Elizabeth Fanning is a harpist with a repertoire that includes contemporary, classical, and holiday music. She is also a Musician in Residence with the University of Virginia Health System and with the Hospice of the Piedmont as a Certified Musician Practitioner (CMP), for which she provides live, therapeutic and bedside music. Elizabeth performs Celtic and Appalachian-influenced harp music for weddings, memorial services or other special events. For more information visit https://www.elfannharp.com/.

A special thank you to Carter Mountain Orchards for providing delicious apple cider for this event!

Traveling Our Ancestors' Journey: A Descendants' Reunion
2024-02-16 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Halifax) | Piedmont Virginia Community College, 501 College Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22902, United States
Mark your calendars! Join us on February 16 at Piedmont Virginia Community College for the program Traveling Our Ancestors’ Journey: A Descendants’ Reunion, featuring the latest projects from local musician, educator, and filmmaker Horace Scruggs. This event has a focus on Highland, and will feature a discussion with Highland Council of Descendant Advisors members Jennifer Stacy and Francis Scott, along with Highland Executive Director Sara Bon-Harper. Follow the link below for more information:

Learn More

VaBook and Cider Tasting at Highland: Wild, Tamed, Lost, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South
2024-03-24 13:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Highland, in partnership with the Virginia Festival of the Book, will host author Diane Flynt to discuss her book Wild, Tamed, Lost, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South on Sunday, March 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
As a special treat for our Virginia Festival of the Book guests, the book discussion will be paired with a free cider tasting by Albemarle CiderWorks. Select ciders from Albemarle CiderWorks will also be available for purchase.
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Annual Highland Sheep Shearing
2024-04-21 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Highland’s annual sheep shearing will take place on Sunday, April 21 (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.

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2024-04-28 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, April 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 April 28, 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

Guided Nature Walk at Highland
2024-05-11 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Saturday, May 11th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., we invite you to join Nature and Forest Therapy guide-in-training Carla Anderson and Education Programs Manager Lara Musser on a guided observation walk on Highland’s Rustic Trails. What better way to slow down and take in the changing colors, textures, sounds, and scents of our native landscape? Recharge through the restorative practice of nature observation while spending the morning among fresh air and native species. This family-friendly event is $5 for participants (free for children six and under). Planning on bringing the whole family? Purchase a family-pack of tickets for $15 (up to six individuals). Click on the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase Tickets
*Event participants will meet in front of the Highland Museum Shop. Please remember to wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on the trails. Bug spray, sunscreen, and drinking water are strongly recommended. The Highland Rustic Trails are not paved and are inaccessible to strollers that are not designed for off road use.

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2024-05-26 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, May 26, 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 26, 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
