AGP Executive Report

Arts & Agritourism: Native Roots Farm in Pittsylvania County is being developed as a family-run farm and visitor destination, with an opening planned for next summer. Its owners hope to share local farming traditions through educational and recreational experiences. Live Entertainment: Elkton’s Blood & Suds festival promises a lively community outing, while bluegrass artist Becky Buller is set to perform at Christiansburg High School. A family musical is also coming to Craig County High School. Music & Culture: Afro-Cuban All Stars brought Havana nightclub energy to the Center for the Arts. Southwest Virginia’s Valle Country Fair put Appalachian traditions in the spotlight, and an art auction is planned to support river-cleanup work. Local Talent: A Prince George County singer impressed judges on “The Voice,” putting a Virginia performer before a national audience.

Southwest Virginia Arts: The Three Rivers Art Auction comes to Sweetbay Brewing in Abingdon on Oct. 24, with proceeds supporting river cleanup. Open Studios: Botetourt County artists open their studios to visitors this weekend. Theatre: Barter Theatre is staging the story of Southwest Virginia soldiers who marched south during the Revolution. New Works: The Renaissance Emerging Artists Festival is expanding with black-box productions of original plays. On Screen: A Prince George County singer impressed the judges on “The Voice.” Richmond Entertainment: The Flying Squirrels earned Minor League Baseball’s 2026 Organization of the Year award after drawing a record crowd to new CarMax Park.

Virginia Literature: Pulitzer winner Barbara Kingsolver says her farm near Abingdon remains a creative anchor as she considers what comes after Demon Copperhead. Live Arts: Barter Theatre is staging the story of Southwest Virginia soldiers who marched south during the Revolution. Richmond Festival: The Folk Festival is returning to Brown’s Island amid a $30 million renovation. Arts & Community: Loudoun Cares is bringing local artists together for its “Art with a Heart” auction. Virginia Wine: October is Virginia Wine Month, with wineries offering a seasonal reason to explore the state’s wine country.

Live Music: Winchester’s Taylor Pavilion will receive a $44,000 state grant for upgrades, building on a year of concerts and community events at the outdoor venue. Virginia Talent: Prince George County singer Kyle Davis earned a four-chair turn on “The Voice” and chose Team Kelly Clarkson; the 61-year-old is returning to music after stepping away to focus on family and real estate. Arts & Culture: Richmond’s Folk Festival featured a Cherokee singer keeping the language alive, while Manassas Ballet Theatre opened its new season with “Jazz in Motion.” Onstage: The Virginia Dance Company is shifting its focus from competition to community, bringing a fresh emphasis to local dance.

Virginia Arts: The Eastern Shore Public Library and Railway Museum have opened Give Me Liberty, an exhibition exploring Virginia’s role in the American Revolution. It runs through Nov. 22. Books & Appalachia: From her home near Abingdon, Barbara Kingsolver discusses her forthcoming novel Partita and the Appalachian landscape that inspires her work. On Screen: Apple TV’s upcoming rom-com Prodigies, starring Ayo Edebiri, follows former child prodigies on a journey that includes Virginia; it premieres Feb. 10. VA250: Bristol hosts a free, family-friendly celebration of Virginia and U.S. history on Oct. 17, with reenactments, exhibits and activities. Living Heritage: A new look at Powhatan’s birthplace argues that Indigenous sites are not only historic landmarks but places of spiritual significance worth protecting.

Virginia Arts: The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol opens two America 250 exhibits Oct. 13, including a look at Virginia’s role in the nation’s founding and stories of immigrants in the commonwealth. Music & Radio: Roadblock Radio’s Caribbean-focused Island Mix is expanding its reach, with broadcasts now airing in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia alongside major markets including New York and Miami. Dance & Heritage: Manassas Ballet Theatre has opened its season with “Jazz in Motion,” while the Wayne Theatre’s new exhibit celebrates a century of performances in Waynesboro. College Sports: Virginia rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Syracuse 28-25; Virginia Tech fell to Cal, 25-20.

Dance: Manassas Ballet Theatre opened its new season with Jazz in Motion. Festivals & Folk Arts: Richmond’s Folk Festival returned to Brown’s Island amid a $30 million renovation, with a Cherokee singer sharing music that helps keep their language alive. Theatre: Barter Theatre is staging the story of Southwest Virginia soldiers who marched to South Carolina during the Revolution. Art & History: The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts restored ownership of a work by an enslaved artist to the artist’s descendants, resolving its first claim of this kind. New Collaboration: Virginia Opera, the Denyce Graves Foundation, Norfolk State University and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra launched “Voices Forward.”

Dance: Manassas Ballet Theatre opens its season Oct. 23–25 with “Jazz in Motion,” pairing ballet with live music from the Kim Reynolds Band at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Festivals: Richmond Folk Festival is set to return to Brown’s Island amid a $30 million renovation, bringing a major music event back to the city. Theatre: Barter Theatre is staging the story of Southwest Virginia soldiers who marched to South Carolina during the Revolution. Visual Arts: The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has restored ownership of a work by an enslaved artist to the artist’s descendants. Opera: Virginia Opera, the Denyce Graves Foundation, Norfolk State University and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra have launched “Voices Forward,” a new arts collaboration.

Arts Funding: Gov. Abigail Spanberger awarded $615,000 to 22 downtown revitalization projects across Virginia, with grants aimed at supporting small businesses, tourism and vibrant historic districts. Quilts on Display: A free America 250 quilt exhibit is open at Chestnut Creek School of the Arts in Galax through March 1, showcasing works inspired by quilting traditions and American history. Festival Season: Richmond Folk Festival returns to Brown’s Island amid a $30 million renovation, while Radford’s Highlanders Festival brings Scottish traditions to Southwest Virginia. Virginia History on Stage: Barter Theatre’s new play “Kings Mountain” tells the story of Southwest Virginia militiamen who marched south to a pivotal Revolutionary War battle. Game Day: Virginia Tech visits Cal in Berkeley today, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. on the ACC Network.

Festivals: Radford’s free Highlanders Festival returns Oct. 10 with Celtic music, Scottish games, food and family activities; organizers say past festivals have drawn more than 9,000 visitors. Entertainment Development: Petersburg’s Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia marked a construction milestone and announced new restaurants for the planned gaming, hotel and dining destination. Live Music: Swanky Kitchen Band is among the acts heading to the Richmond Folk Festival. The Crooked Road Ramblers also return to Carter Fold this weekend. Virginia Arts: Waynesboro Heritage Museum is opening “On With The Show,” an exhibit celebrating a century of the Wayne Theatre. Classical Music: Virginia Opera, the Denyce Graves Foundation, Norfolk State University and Virginia Symphony Orchestra launched “Voices Forward,” a new collaboration.

Richmond Folk Festival: Caymanian traditional-music group Swanky Kitchen Band brings its kitchen dance sound to the festival Saturday and Sunday. Filmmaking: Alexandria-based filmmaker Arfat Sheikh has been released on bond after two weeks in ICE detention; deportation proceedings continue. Local Arts: Crozet’s Arts and Crafts Festival returns Oct. 10-11, while the 39th Virginia Film Festival has unveiled its lineup. Live Music: Phish wrapped its Richmond run with a full second-set segue, and Missy Elliott is bringing four HBCU bands together for a Virginia battle of the bands. Folk Roots: A new student-led feature explores how Pulaski banjo player Matokie Slaughter made “Buffalo Gals” her own, with longtime musician Alice Gerrard sharing her memories and musical insights.

Live Music: Phish wrapped its Richmond run with a seamless second-set segue, giving Virginia fans a standout close to the band’s visit. HBCU Spotlight: Virginia native Missy Elliott is bringing four marching bands to Norfolk State on Oct. 18 for a Battle of the Bands celebrating her Virginia roots and HBCU culture. Arts & Community: The Virginia Dance Company is shifting its focus from competition to community, while the Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival returns Oct. 10–11 with regional artists and makers. Film: The Virginia Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for its 39th edition, putting the annual Charlottesville event on fall arts calendars.

Dance: The student-run Virginia Dance Company is shifting its focus from competition to community. The University of Virginia group now has 52 members, including 18 new dancers this semester. Folk Arts: Fredericksburg’s festival connections spotlight Puerto Rican bomba, go-go and a Starling, while the Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival returns Oct. 10–11. Museums: The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has restored ownership of a work by an enslaved artist to the artist’s descendants, a significant step in addressing the history behind its collection. Stage and Screen: Virginia Opera, the Denyce Graves Foundation, Norfolk State University and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra have launched “Voices Forward.” The Virginia Film Festival has also unveiled its lineup for its 39th year. Public Art: Norfolk Arts will mark 20 years of its public art program on Oct. 15, and the Muscarelle Museum of Art is welcoming visitors for October’s first Friday with festivities and gallery tours.

Community Festivals: Front Royal’s 54th annual Festival of Leaves returns Saturday, with four stages of entertainment, more than 225 vendors, food, a car show and activities for kids. Live Music & Events: Big Otter Mill’s free harvest festival is also set for Saturday, Oct. 10, with live music, local vendors and traditional demonstrations. Local Nightlife: Chesapeake’s Eagles Nest plans to reopen after restoring its liquor license, turning its former club space into a sports bar while keeping its country-western side and line dancing. Film & Music: The Virginia Film Festival has unveiled its lineup for its 39th edition, while Missy Elliott is bringing four HBCU bands together for a Virginia battle of the bands.

Anti-Trans Legislation: A VCU study finds anti-trans laws are linked to heightened psychological distress, with transgender people viewing the policies as an “existential threat,” following Richmond-area moves to end gender-affirming care for under-19s. Local Transit: Richmond’s public transit ranking slid from 4th (2024) to 26th, even as it stays strong on affordability thanks to GRTC’s zero-fare program—while riders still flag accessibility and safety gaps. ICE Detention of Filmmaker: Kashmiri director Arfat Sheikh, held in Virginia after an ICE arrest at Dulles, awaits a bond hearing as supporters press for release. Rare Earths & Tech in Virginia: Aclara expands its rare-earth separation demo at Virginia Tech’s corporate research center to include yttrium, gadolinium and samarium. Fire Safety: Virginia fire officials warn that lithium-ion battery fires are rising, urging people to unplug devices after charging and avoid overnight charging. Arts & Culture: Chanel’s Spring 2027 show opened with Nicole Kidman reading Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, tying fashion to Virginia literary roots.

Data Center Fight in Strasburg: A new anti-data-center group, Protect Shenandoah, is organizing local pushback as a $4.5B campus proposal moves through town, with residents like Sara Santmier bringing community concerns to elected officials. Gaming Update: Insomniac finally lets Marvel’s Wolverine players toggle visible scent trails (plus other guidance) on or off, responding to months of player complaints. Virginia Tech & Penn State Leadership: Penn State’s new regional chancellor Menah Pratt lays out growth plans for Hazleton and Scranton while navigating Wilkes-Barre’s closure timeline. Arts & Culture in Virginia: Virginia Opera launches “Voices Forward,” a Norfolk-area vocal residency with Norfolk State and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra running Oct. 30–Nov. 1. Local Entertainment Picks: A new yacht rock cover band, Three Hour Tour, is bringing ’70s/’80s vibes to Williamsburg stages. Community & Education: Fairfax County rolls out a Chrome extension to hide AI “overviews” on school-issued laptops. Tourism: Virginia City’s “Hauntober” returns with ghost tours and Halloween events throughout October.