Community Journaling on the Highland Trails
2025-05-29 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 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

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2025-10-19 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, October 19, 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

Fall Feast
2025-11-01 11:00 - 15:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us on Saturday, November 1, for Fall Feast, a celebration of African American food, farming, history, and health. Discussions and health information starting at 11:00 a.m., followed by a traditional Thanksgiving meal at 2:00 p.m. This event is hosted by Highland’s Council of Descendant Advisors.
Fall Feast is a free community event with registration required. The afternoon Thanksgiving meal is booked to capacity. Attendees may register for the 11:00 a.m. programming without the afternoon meal or register for the 11:00 a.m. program and be added to the waitlist for the Thanksgiving meal. We expect there to be extra spaces and we hope you will come! Click on one the links below to register:
Register for 11:00 a.m. Program ONLY
Register for Program plus WAITLIST Thanksgiving Meal

Give Me Liberty Traveling Exhibition at Highland
2025-11-03 - 2025-12-15 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Highland is pleased to host the VA250 traveling exhibition, Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation, from November 3 through December 15, 2025. The Give Me Liberty traveling exhibition explores the unique and essential Virginia people, events, and sites that helped bring liberty and democracy to a nation. Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this exhibit highlights the complex, diverse, and inspiring Virginia history which is, in fact, America’s story.
The Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation exhibition will be accessible during Highland’s open hours and will be displayed in the upper level of the Highland Event Barn. Access to the exhibition is included with museum admission. Follow the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase Tickets

Give Me Liberty: Virginia and the Forging of a Nation is the signature exhibition of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. It was organized in partnership by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Veterans Day Special Pricing
2025-11-11 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
In commemoration of Veterans Day, Highland general admission tickets for museum visits on November 11 are only $10 per person (kids six and under are free). Follow the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase General Admission Tickets

Veterans Day at Highland
2025-11-11 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2025, we invite visitors to Highland for a day of learning in honor of military veterans. Throughout the day, guests can:

Explore the commemorative VA250 traveling exhibition, Give Me Liberty: Virginia and the Forging of a Nation, in the upper level of Highland’s event barn
Meet Highland’s original veteran, James Monroe!
Decode messages at the code breaking and cryptography station
Learn about military medicine and its influence on civilian medicine with living history interpreter Bob Talbott (and friends), who will share a rich collection of historic arms, armaments, and medical tools (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

A moment of silence and a military volley will be observed at 11:00 a.m. Admission is free for active U.S. military members and veterans. All other visitors may purchase $10 discounted General Admission tickets using the link below. Children six and under and Farm Friends members receive free admission.
Purchase Tickets

Give Me Liberty: Virginia and the Forging of a Nation is the signature exhibition of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. It was organized in partnership by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Feeding the People: What does Food have to do with Heritage? (Virtual Presentation)
2025-11-13 19:00 - 20:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Are you ready to think about food and culture? Join us at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, for the virtual presentation Feeding the People: What does Food have to do with Heritage. Collaborations with Highland’s Council of Descendant Advisors have explored many aspects of food traditions, including gardening with grandparents, the connection between food, health and wellness, and the role of innovation in Black food traditions. Highland’s public historian, Dr. Lisa Armstrong, herself a member of Highland’s descendant community, together with a team of William & Mary students, leads a discussion of food and heritage in this free virtual presentation. Follow the link below to sign up:

Registration

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2025-11-16 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
On Sunday, November 16, 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

Musical guest Timothy Seaman to perform at Highland
2025-11-29 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, November 29, 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. Visitors will also enjoy a 15% discount in the Museum Shop from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (excluding Artisan goods and donations).
Check out Timothy’s musical magic in the video below:

Winter Open House
2025-12-06 10:00 - 12:00 | VA
You are invited to a FREE Winter Open House at Highland on Saturday, December 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Guests can explore Highland’s core exhibition Window to a New America amid festive holiday touches and hear an introductory history walk at 10:15. Special musical guests the Cville Cinco Woodwind Quintet will present historic selections and holiday classics in a seated performance at 11:00, and local bagpiper Cooper Wamsley will perform outdoors to complete the celebration of a Highland holiday. Enjoy a warm beverage and a 15% holiday discount in the museum shop (except consignment and donation items) and celebrate the season with us!
This is the last weekend to see the traveling exhibition, Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation in the upper level of Highland’s event barn, so don’t miss this commemorative VA 250 experience.
Access to this special open house is FREE for all participants. Please use the link below and select the 10:00 a.m. reservation time on December 6th and plan to attend any or all of the events:
Register Today!

Give Me Liberty: Virginia and the Forging of a Nation is the signature exhibition of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. It was organized in partnership by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Green Gathering Book Club: Entangled Life
2025-12-07 10:00 - 12:00 | VA
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.

Who would have guessed that tiny organisms beneath the surface of the soil are crucial to the survival of life on this planet? This month we’ll take inspiration from Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life and talk all about fungi, the strange and amazing life forms that continue to fascinate and inspire researchers.

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.

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

Holly Days at Highland
2025-12-13 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
It’s back! Highland and the Virginia Cooperative Extension invite you to Holly Days at Highland, a morning of children’s crafts and holiday cheer on December 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Participants will enjoy warm beverages and a festive, family-oriented atmosphere. At this holiday-themed event, participants are invited to learn about native Virginia plants while creating a holiday craft with the Piedmont Master Gardeners, enjoy holiday reading and coloring activities, and more!
Admission for adults and children is $6 per person. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register using the link below:

Register Today!

Martin Luther King Day Special Pricing
2026-01-19 11:00 - 16:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, Highland general admission tickets on January 19th are only $10 per person (kids six and under are free). Follow the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase General Admission Tickets

Starting Plants from Seed (Plus a Seed Swap!)
2026-02-07 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Rescheduled to February 7
Join us on Saturday, February 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., as we welcome the Piedmont Master Gardeners for a FREE program on starting plants from seed. Starting flowers and vegetables from seed is inexpensive and satisfying, but a lot can go wrong. In this Garden Basics session, you will improve your success rates by learning basic seed-starting techniques and the special needs of some seeds. Bring seeds (packaged and labeled with species info) for our Seed Swap. You will share seeds with others and take home seeds to try out your new skills.
Follow the link below to sign up for this FREE event!
Register Today!
