Virginia Festival of the Book The Painter’s Fire
2026-03-20 16:00 - 17:30 (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 Zara Anishanslin to discuss her book The Painter’s Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution with Sara Bon-Harper, Highland’s Executive Director on Friday, March 20 at 4:00 p.m. Anishanslin’s book tells the stories of Robert Edge Pine, Prince Demah, and Patience Wright, illustrating that art was a powerful tool for revolution and how these artists used their skill and genius to champion liberty. This event is free and open to the public.
Registration is required using the link below:
Secure your spot!

VaBook Reception Registration has Closed
Meet the author! We would like to invite you to a complimentary reception with the author starting at 3:00 p.m. in the upper level of Highland’s event barn.

CANCELLED - Find Your Flow at Highland: A Writing & Yoga Retreat
2026-03-28 09:00 - 2026-03-29 17:00
EVENT CANCELLED
Join us on March 28-29, 2026 for a restorative weekend of creativity and movement on the historic grounds of Highland.
Co-hosted by local author Andi Cumbo and Sterling Howell of Ragged Mountain Yoga, “Breath, Body, and The Page” is designed to help you step away from the noise of daily life and reconnect with your voice.
The weekend alternates between guided writing sessions to spark your creativity and gentle yoga practices to clear your mind—all set against the inspiring backdrop of the Highland landscape.
Please contact Andi Cumbo at andi@andilit.com with questions.

Garden Basics: Great Flowering Native Plants for Beauty and the Bees
2026-04-18 10:00 - 12:00
Join us on Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., as we welcome the Piedmont Master Gardeners for a FREE program on choosing and growing native plants to support pollinators. Flowering native plants add beauty to gardens and provide crucial support for bees and other pollinators facing decline due to habitat loss, pesticide overuse, and climate change. Learn about some tried-and-true flowering natives for your garden and the resources for finding and maintaining them. We’ll also touch on native plant garden design to optimize ecological benefits.
Space is limited. Registration closes at 5 p.m. April 17 or when the class is full. Follow the link below to sign up for this FREE event!
Register Today!

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2026-04-19 09:30 - 16:30
On Sunday, April 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 April 19, 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

Annual Highland Sheep Shearing
2026-04-26 14:00 - 16:00
Highland’s annual sheep shearing will take place on Sunday, April 26 (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
2026-04-28 09:30 - 16:30
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

Plant Swap at Highland
2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:00
Join other gardeners and plant enthusiasts at Highland on Saturday, May 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for the Piedmont Master Gardeners’ Plant Swap. Whether you are a seasoned horticulturist or just starting your plant journey, this Plant Swap will give you the opportunity to expand and share your collection, meet other plant lovers, and learn new tips for successful growing.
Register below to reserve your place in this event. Walk-ins welcome!
Register Today!

Virtual VA250 Program: Thy Will Be Done, George Washington’s Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory
2026-05-14 18:30 - 19:30
RESCHEDULED TO MAY 14
In this virtual VA250 program, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on May 14, historian and author John Garrison Marks explores how generations of Americans have remembered and forgotten George Washington’s involvement with slavery. Thy Will Be Done: George Washington’s Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory dives deep into the ways Americans have viewed Washington’s entanglements with slavery through the lens of their particular cultural and political moments, and in doing so offers a new historical foundation for today’s debates about slavery and the nation’s founding.
This virtual program is free and open to the public. Registration is required at the link below:
Registration

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2026-05-24 09:30 - 16:30
On Sunday, May 24, 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 24, 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

Memorial Day Special Pricing
2026-05-25 09:30 - 16:30
On Memorial Day, May 25, 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

2026 Descendants Day
2026-06-06 10:00 - 16:00
Join us on Saturday, June 6, 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.
Registration

Special thanks Virginia Tent Rental and MS Events for supporting Descendants Day at Highland.

Why Is “Doing History” Important?: A Conversation with Christina Shutt
2026-06-11 17:30 - 20:00
How can history help us better understand ourselves and each other? Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Christina Shutt reflects on the power of history to connect human stories and enact change in the present. Highland invites you to this lively conversation on Thursday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Highland event barn. This VA250 book series event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested:
Registration
Ms. Shutt is co-author of Lincoln: The Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation in 100 Objects. Her book will be available for purchase with an opportunity to be signed by the author after the talk.

Meet the author!
We would like to invite you to a complimentary reception with the author starting at 5:30 p.m. Admission to the reception is free and included with registration to the book talk.

Juneteenth Special Pricing
2026-06-19 09:30 - 16:30
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
2026-06-21 09:30 - 16:30
On Sunday, June 21, 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 21, 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

Garden Basics: Herb Gardening
2026-06-27 10:00 - 12:00
Join us on Saturday, June 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., as we welcome the Piedmont Master Gardeners for the FREE program on the history and magic of culinary and medicinal herbs. Growing an herb garden provides easy access to herbs that can be eaten fresh or stored for later use. We will explore the current culinary use of herbs, as well as their historic use in medicine and cooking in Virginia. Participants will gain skills for planning and planting an herb garden in ground or in a container and learn how to harvest and dry. Participants will take home herbs to dry and make into a tea or spice mix.
Space is limited. Registration closes at 5 p.m. May 15 or when the class is full. Please register below to reserve your place in the class.
Register Today!

Independence Day Special Pricing
2026-07-04 09:30 - 16:30
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

VA250 Mobile Museum Experience
2026-07-30 09:30 - 2026-08-01 16:30
Highland will host the VA250 Mobile Museum from Thursday, July 30, through Saturday, August 1. 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 30, through Saturday, August 1.
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 Residence Inn by Marriott Charlottesville Downtown for providing overnight accommodations for the VA250 Mobile Museum team.

Albemarle County Fair
2026-07-30 16:00 - 2026-08-01 21:00
The Albemarle County Fair is scheduled from Thursday, July 30 through Saturday, August 1 on the grounds of Highland. Fair hours are 4:00 to 9:00 pm on Thursday, July 30, and 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1. 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.

VA250 Mobile Museum: The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience will be at Highland from 9:30 am to 4:30pm from Thursday, July 30, through Saturday, August 1. 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! Stay tuned as we finalize the list of community partners.

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

Labor Day Special Pricing
2026-09-07 09:30 - 16:30
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 7th are only $10 per person (kids six and under are free)! Follow the link below to purchase tickets:

Purchase General Admission Tickets

Garden Basics: Planting Out Cool Weather Crops
2026-09-19 10:00 - 12:00
Join us on Saturday, September 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., as we welcome the Piedmont Master Gardeners for the FREE program about planting cool weather crops and extending your garden harvest. Cool weather crops are essential for gardeners aiming to extend their growing season and make the most of early spring and fall. We will delve into the specifics of selecting the right crops, preparing the garden bed, and managing the unique challenges that come with cool weather gardening. We’ll cover key techniques and timing for planting out cool weather crops, ensuring strong starts and robust harvests.
Space is limited. Please register below to reserve your place in the class. Registration closes at 5 p.m. September 18 or when the class is full.
Register Today!

Veterans Day Special Pricing
2026-11-11 09:30 - 16:30
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

Garden Basics: Is that a good bug or a bad bug on my vegetable plants?
2026-11-21 10:00 - 12:00
Join us on Saturday, November 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., as we welcome the Piedmont Master Gardeners for the FREE program about garden insect identification and pest control. We’ll dive into the latest integrated pest management (IPM) process to learn practical approaches to controlling pests while promoting ecological balance and sustainability. We will give attendees the opportunity to practice pest management steps they can use in their own gardens.
Space is limited. Please register below to reserve a place in the class. Registration closes at 5 p.m. November 20 or when the class is full.
Register Today!
