What’s Happening This Weekend in Charlottesville
Friday, August 7, 2026
- StarLab Planetarium at the Virginia Discovery Museum, 10:00 am
- Virginia Sunflower Festival at Chiswell Farm, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Crozet Summer Concert Series in Crozet Park, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
- Fridays After Five at the Ting Pavilion, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Saturday, August 8, 2026
- Virginia Sunflower Festival at Chiswell Farm, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Butterfly release at the Virginia Sunflower Festival, 11:30 am
- Asian Food & Blooms Festival at Freckled Flower Farm, 12:00 – 6:00 pm
Sunday, August 9, 2026
- Virginia Sunflower Festival at Chiswell Farm, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Back to School Bash for Albemarle County Schools, 12:00 – 4:00 pm
- Sounds of Summer celebration at Forest Hills Park, 12:30 – 3:30 pm
- Back to School Bash for Charlottesville City Schools, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wondering what to do in Charlottesville in August?
School might be starting back up this month, but there’s still plenty of summertime fun for your family to enjoy! Read on for our top recommendations of August events in the Charlottesville area.
Jump to Charlottesville Events in August
1. 2. Library & Bookstore Storytimes
4. Art & Science Events for Families
5. Activities for Teens & Tweens
7. Community Events & Festivals
For more ideas, don’t forget to bookmark the CharlottesvilleFamily calendar and check back throughout the month. Whether you need a weekend adventure for your kids, a creative date night idea, or plans for guests coming into town, there are plenty of fun August events in Charlottesville and Albemarle County!
Musical Events in Charlottesville
Crozet Summer Concert Series
Where: Crozet Park
When: Aug. 7, 2026 • 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Fridays After Five
Where: Ting Pavilion (Charlottesville)
When: Fridays • 5:30 pm
Sounds of Summer
Where: Forest Hills Park (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 9, 2026 • 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm
August Storytimes for Cville Kids
Cultivating Curiosity
Where: Carter Mountain Orchard (Charlottesville)
When: Mondays, Tuesdays • 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Storytime with Hannah
Where: Bluebird & Co. (Crozet)
When: Fridays • 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
All Ages Storytime
Where: New Dominion Bookshop (Charlottesville)
When: Saturdays • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Creation Station Storytime
Where: Virginia Discovery Museum (Charlottesville)
When: Mondays • 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Pajama Party Storytime
Where: Northside Library (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 25, 2026 • 6:30 pm – 7:15 pm
Outdoor August Events in Charlottesville
Virginia Sunflower Festival
Where: Chiswell Farm (Greenwood)
When: Thursdays – Sundays until Aug. 9, 2026 • 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Little Nature Explorers
Where: Botanical Garden of the Piedmont
When: Tuesdays • 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Butterfly Release
Where: Chiswell Farm (Greenwood)
When: Aug. 8, 2026 • 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Little Naturalists
Where: Ivy Creek Natural Area (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 10, 2026 • 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Butterflies of Ivy Creek
Where: Ivy Creek Natural Area (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 29, 2026 • 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Art & Science Events for Charlottesville Families
Child-Led Play Photography Sessions
Where: Shenanigans Toy Store (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 5, 2026 • 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Toddler Movement & Yoga
Where: Virginia Discovery Museum (Charlottesville)
When: Wednesdays • 10:30 am – 11:00 am
StarLab Planetarium
Where: Virginia Discovery Museum (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 7, 2026 • 10:00 am – 11:00 am
DIY-U Kids’ Workshops
Where: Lowe’s (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 15, 2026 • 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Baby Buds
Where: Virginia Discovery Museum (Charlottesville)
When: Thursdays • 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Dino Disco Dance Party
Where: Gordon Avenue Library (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 13, 2026 • 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Family Art Open Studio
Where: Foster Art (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 15, 2026 • 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Fourth Friday Solar Viewing
Where: Ivy Creek Natural Area (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 28, 2026 • 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Cville Bricks: A LEGO Showcase
Where: Carver Rec Center (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 29 – Aug. 30, 2026 • various times
Bumble’s Boredom Busters
Looking for weekend activities for the end of summer? Check out our library of printable activity sheets to download scavenger hunts and seasonal activity sheets for all ages, including word searches, crosswords, silly jokes, riddles, trivia, and more.
It’s just what you need for screen-free fun, even on days when you can’t get the kids outside.
August Events for Teens & Tweens in Charlottesville
Summer Movie Express $1 Movies
Where: Regal Stonefield (Charlottesville)
When: Mondays – Thursdays until Aug. 13, 2026 • 11:00 am
Dungeons & Dragons (& Snacks)
Where: Northside Library (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 6, 2026 • 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Jurassic Park Watch Party
Where: Central Library (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 10, 2026 • 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Teen Night Out: Back to Cool Pool Party
Where: Brooks YMCA (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 15, 2026 • 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Free Roller Skating
Where: Carver Recreation Center
When: Wednesdays, 5:00 pm • Fridays 4:00 pm • Sundays, 12:00 pm & 3:00 pm
Club Air
Where: Get Air Charlottesville
When: Fridays & Saturdays • 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Plan With Me: Planner & Journal Craft Time
Where: Northside Library (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 20, 2026 • 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Explore our favorite places for teens and tweens to hang out in Cville. Or, check out the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library calendar for more activities just for 11-18 year olds.
Roller Skating Night
Where: Greenwood Community Center, Crozet
When: Saturdays • 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Pokémon League & Learn to Play
Where: The End Games
When: Sundays • 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Queer & Trans Youth Safe Space Hours
Where: Hello Comics Uptown
When: Aug. 21, 2026 • 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
August Date Ideas in Charlottesville
Board Game Night
Where: Central Library (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 6, 2026 • 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Met Live in HD: Aida
Where: The Paramount Theater (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 8, 2026 • 1:00 pm
Tiny Tiers Mini Cake Decorating Workshop
Where: Cake Bloom (Charlottesville)
When: Wednesdays • sessions start at 1:00 pm
Ice Cream (& Cake!) Social
Where: Cake Bloom (Charlottesville)
When: Fridays • 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Eastwood After Dark
Where: Eastwood Winery
When: Saturdays • 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Second Fridays Under the Stars
Where: Ivy Creek Natural Area (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 14, 2026 • 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Date Night Drop-Off
Where: Virginia Discovery Museum
When: Aug. 14, 2026 • 4:30 – 7:30 pm
Kids’ Night Out
Where: Foster Art (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 15, 2026 • 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Author Talk: Rachel Beanland w/ Bruce Holsinger
Where: New Dominion Bookshop (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 28, 2026 • 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
August Community Events & Festivals for Cville Families
Asian Food & Blooms Festival
Where: Freckled Flower Farm (Montpelier)
When: Aug. 8, 2026 • 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Summer Soiree Family Dance
Where: Brooks YMCA (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 8, 2026 • 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
ACPS Back to School Bash
Where: Fashion Square Mall (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 9, 2026 • 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
CCS Back to School Bash
Where: Penn Park (Charlottesville)
When: Aug. 9, 2026 • 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Virginia is full of county fairs in the summer!, Celebrate community, culture, music, and food at the county fairs happening in Central Virginia this month.
Soul of Cville
Where: Charlottesville, various locations
When: Aug. 10 – 15, 2026 • various times
FAQs: August Events in Charlottesville
What free events are happening in Charlottesville in August?
Free events Charlottesville in August include the Crozet Summer Concert Series (8/7), Friday After Five at the Ting Pavilion (Fridays all month), Sounds of Summer at Forest Hills Park (8/9), the Moms Lit Society book club (8/25), and multiple roller skating events in both Crozet and Charlottesville.
There are also free storytimes and county fairs throughout the month.
The Soul of Cville celebration at Ix Art Park (8/15) is a free family-friendly day of performances, fashion, food and art. Entry to the Asian Food & Blooms Festival (8/8) is also free, though purchases from food trucks and other vendors are not.
Library events throughout the month are free, though some require advance registration.
What can I do with toddlers in Charlottesville this month?
In August, Charlottesville events for toddlers include free storytimes at Bluebird & Co. bookstore in Crozet, New Dominion Bookshop in Charlottesville, Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, and many library locations.
The Virginia Discovery Museum hosts regular weekly events for toddlers and their caregivers, including yoga (Wednesdays) and the Baby Buds play group (Thursdays). Family art studio time at Foster Art (8/15) welcomes kids of all ages, including toddlers.
The Dino Disco Dance Party at Gordon Avenue Library (8/13) is open to kids ages 2-5 years. And Little Nature Explorers is a weekly program at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont for toddlers and preschoolers ages 3-5 years.
Where can teens do in Charlottesville in August?
In August, teens can see select movies at Regal Stonefield for only $1 until August 13th. The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library system hosts many free events for teens and tweens throughout the month, including Dungeons & Dragons games, movie nights, craft events, and book clubs.
Both Carver Rec Center in Charlottesville and Greenwood Community Center in Crozet have weekly roller skating events in August. And Get Air Trampoline Park has jump times just for teens on Friday and Saturday evenings this month.
What are back to school events happening in Charlottesville in August?
Both Albemarle County Public Schools and Charlottesville City Schools are hosting Back to School Bashes on Saturday, August 8th. These are separate events happening at different times, but both are open to the community. The first day of school for both ACPS and CCS is Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
Cville families are enjoying the last of summer, even as the school year begins! Take a trip to the best water parks in Virginia. Cool off at the best pools and spray grounds around Charlottesville, or enjoy the outdoors with kayaking, lakes, and swimming holes. Plus, get ready for fall by learning all about Charlottesville schools.
For fresh ideas all year long, sign up for our free CharlottesvilleFamily newsletter. And be sure to learn more about our valued partners who serve local families.
CharlottesvilleFamily Editors are locals who care deeply about family and community. We are almost all parents who serve alongside our readers. We’re in the PTO and band boosters, coach sports teams, help with the school fun fair, and more. Our insider perspective, combined with great research and expert input from our wonderful CharlottesvilleFamily Advisory Panel, helps us to provide you with trustworthy advice as you raise the next generation of brilliant and compassionate kids.