Memorial Day Special Pricing
2026-05-25 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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

Descendants Day 2026 Schedule of Events

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Community Partnerships
Exhibitor Tent – Explore, connect, and learn
11:00 a.m. Opening Program
Musical Selection
Keynote and Q&A with Dr. Lehman Bates II
Panel discussion with Dr. Bates, Alton Coston III, George Monroe Jr., and Rakeem Walker; moderated by Dr. Lisa Armstrong
12:20 p.m. Descendant Video Presentation
12:30 p.m. Grace and Invitation to Lunch
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Lunchtime Programming
Lunch provided for all attendees
Community Partnerships in Exhibitor Tent
Historic Highland Exploration
Networking
2:00 p.m. Historical Performance
by Nathan Richardson
3:00 p.m. Musical Selections, Community Spotlight, and acknowledgments
3:45 p.m. Calling of the Names
4:00 p.m. Closing Remarks

Special thanks to the Mortimer & Ruth Caplin Foundation, Tamara and Cooper Wamsley, the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, the African American Pastors Council, UVA Health, the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Virginia Tent Rental, and MS Events for supporting Descendants Day at Highland. We would also like to thank The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for providing access to FamilySearch.

Why Is “Doing History” Important?: A Conversation with Christina Shutt
2026-06-11 17:30 - 19:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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 | 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
2026-06-21 09:30 - 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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

Independence Day Concert
2026-07-04 18:00 - 21:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
*** SOLD OUT ***
On Saturday, July 4th, Highland welcomes the public to a FREE Independence Day Concert! From 6:00 to 7:00 pm guests are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy on the grounds at Highland. Beginning at 7:00 pm the Heifetz International Music Institute will perform a classically-inspired ensemble that will appeal to all ages. Following the performance, at 9:00 pm, guests will have a view of the fireworks show beside Carter Mountain from the Highland Pavilion Yard!
Seating is available underneath of the Hilltop Pavilion and guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy our grassy Pavilion Yard. Wine from Blenheim Vineyards and Eastwood Farm and Winery, and beer from Fine Creek Brewing will be available to purchase. To maintain compliance with Virginia ABC laws, no outside alcohol is allowed.
Please note that James Monroe’s Highland does not permit pets on the property. Leashed service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted.

VA250 Mobile Museum Experience
2026-07-30 09:30 - 2026-08-01 16:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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. 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 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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 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

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. 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
Charlottesville Camera Club
Albemarle County Police Department
Albemarle County Fire Rescue
Central Virginia Beekeepers Association
Central Virginia Fiber Arts Guild
American Legion, Post 74
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards
Camp Fuzzy Nuzzles Animal Shelter
Finally Home Animal Haven
Lifewise
VA250 Mobile Museum
Virginia Rugby Football Club
Tandem Friends School
Charlottesville Albemarle SCPA
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Charlottesville Tree Stewards
FRIDAY
NSDAR, Jack Jouett 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
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards
JMRL Bookmobile (10am-7pm)
Rivanna Conservation Alliance (2-6pm)
Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District
Camp Fuzzy Nuzzles Animal Shelter
Bright Achievements
Lifewise
VA250 Mobile Museum
Virginia Rugby Football Club (2-6pm)
Tandem Friends School
Community Climate Collaborative (10am-2pm)
Charlottesville Albemarle SCPA (2-6pm)
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (2-6pm)
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Charlottesville Tree Stewards
SATURDAY
NSDAR, Jack Jouett 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 (10am-4pm)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Blue Ridge (10am-6pm)
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards
Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District
Camp Fuzzy Nuzzles Animal Shelter
Finally Home Animal Haven
Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Blue Ridge
Lifewise
VA250 Mobile Museum
Mediation Center of Charlottesville (10am-2pm)
RegionTen Community Services Board
On Our Own
Virginia Rugby Football Club (2-6pm)
Tandem Friends School
Charlottesville Albemarle SCPA (2-6pm)
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Charlottesville Tree Stewards

If you are a non-profit or government agency and you would like to exhibit at the fair, please send an email to jwoodle@highland.org.

Visit with the Piedmont Master Gardeners
The Piedmont Master Gardeners Mobile Helpdesk will be present in the Home Arts and AG Barn throughout the Fair. Join them to learn more about gardening in the face of climate change and learn lots about water conservation. There will be lots of fun kids activities.
Saturday, August 1: Join the Piedmont Master Gardeners in the educational vegetable garden on Saturday. They will be answering questions about what’s growing, the experiments they’re trying, and the vegetable trials they are participating in. Visitors will also enjoy presentations at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM on antique garden tools and how they were used during their time.

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

The Center at Belvedere: New History at James Monroe’s Highland
2026-08-27 15:00 - 16:30 | The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
Join us on Thursday, August 27, at 3:00 PM, at The Center at Belvedere for a program featuring Sara Bon-Harper, Highland’s Executive Director. Dr. Bon-Harper will share the arc of new initiatives at the home of 5th U.S. President James Monroe. Be prepared for a historical detective story and compelling images of a remarkable property.
Sara Bon-Harper, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of James Monroe’s Highland in Albemarle County. Research she initiated at Highland uncovered the archaeological remains of the Monroes’ main house, opening a new chapter of site interpretation grounded in accurate physical history and inclusive narratives co-created with descendant collaborators. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and faculty affiliations at William & Mary.
This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited and registration is requested at the link below:
Register Today!

Labor Day Special Pricing
2026-09-07 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 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 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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!

VA250 Book Series: The American Revolution at 250
2026-09-23 16:30 - 17:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
What does 1776 mean to us in 2026? That’s the question historians Frank Cogliano, Nadine Zimmerli, and Nick Guyatt discuss in Highland’s final 250 Book Series program on September 23rd from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. You won’t want to miss perspectives on some of the pressing issues that these and other contributors address in the essay collection The American Revolution at 250: Twenty-Four Historians Reflect on the Founding. This program is free and open to the public, and registration is requested using the link below:
Registration

VA250 Book Talk: Magic Changes and Immense Difficulties: Lafayette's Return and the Revolution in Reflection
2026-10-28 16:30 - 17:30 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
What did the Revolution look like in the rear-view mirror for the founding generation? And what did the future hold for the young nation? Author Ryan L. Cole joins us on October 28 from 4:30 to 5:30 PM in conversation about his book The Last Adieu, which recounts the summer of 1824, when the aging Marquis de Lafayette returned to America for the first time in forty years. Once a young general in the Revolution, he now found a vastly changed nation—twenty-four states strong, thriving yet divided, and facing new political storms.
Experience this moment of transition through the eyes of Lafayette–and of ordinary Americans–as they witnessed elderly founding fathers, rising politicians, and reformers shaping the nation’s future.
Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase The Last Adieu and have their copy signed by the author after the program. This event is free and open to the public as part of Highland’s celebration of America’s 250th. Registration is requested at the link below:
Register Today!

Veterans Day Special Pricing
2026-11-11 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

Garden Basics: Is that a good bug or a bad bug on my vegetable plants?
2026-11-21 10:00 - 12:00 | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
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!
