Hop aboard the Downtown Express and take a spin around the Mall! Rides will be offered starting in Central Place on Saturdays starting May 2nd. The train is weather dependent and will not run in inclement weather conditions. The Downtown Cville website will be updated as well as @downtowncville on Instagram if such cancellations occur. [...]
Ages 5-7 years. Registration required. Unearth a new, dino-mite reading buddy! Come use tools like on a dinosaur dig to hatch a surprise dinosaur friend from a mystery egg.
Ages 7+. Haley Gannon is currently a GIS Specialist for the Virginia State Geological Survey, but in her previous life she was a field assistant for Elevation Science Institute on fossil dig [...]
Ages 8 to adult. No registration required. Bring any handwork project you’re working on and join this fun group for a time of handcrafting and sharing.
VA250 Mobile Museum Experience is coming back to Charlottesville July 3 - 4 ! The VA250 Mobile Museum is coming back to downtown Charlottesville just in time for the Downtown [...]
Join us on the Fourth of July for Revolutionary Printing—a free, family-friendly UVA250 celebration of the materials, crafts, and stories of the founding era. Print your own copy of the Declaration of Independence, and view demonstrations of handmaking paper and mixing iron gall ink. Sign a giant copy of the Declaration, hear music of the [...]
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The Tony Award-winning musical, Disney’s Newsies tells the tale of young Jack Kelly, who rallies his fellow turn-of-the-century New York “newsies” to strike back against the leading media moguls of the day to protest unfair conditions and to fight for what is right. This inspiring underdog tale urges us all to “Seize the Day” and features [...]
Parents, enjoy a night off while your kids have fun at the Y. Kids will spend the evening with pizza, crafts, a bounce house, and games in a safe, supervised [...]
You are cordially invited to join for a Royal Tea at The Jefferson Hotel. Several well-known princesses will be in attendance for photo opportunities and activities. When: Sunday, July 12, 2026 Sunday, July 26, 2026 Sunday, September 13, 2026 Where: The Grand Ballroom Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm Attire: Royal attire is encouraged but not required! [...]
July 13–18, Educators and their families will receive free daily admission to the Virginia Discovery Museum! This appreciation week is just a small way for staff to say thank you [...]
Peak peach season calls for a celebration, Carter Mountain-style! Join us for a weekend of orchard fun, with games, activities, live music, and tasty peach-inspired menus on Saturday and Sunday, July 25–26. More details to be announced as the Jam-Boree approaches. Stay tuned! Ready for summertime adventures? Check out our guide to summer festivals [...]
You are cordially invited to join for a Royal Tea at The Jefferson Hotel. Several well-known princesses will be in attendance for photo opportunities and activities. When: Sunday, July 12, 2026 Sunday, July 26, 2026 Sunday, September 13, 2026 Where: The Grand Ballroom Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm Attire: Royal attire is encouraged but not required! [...]
Learn & Play at the Orchard Mondays & Tuesdays @ 10:30 AM June 1–August 25, 2026 Cultivating Curiosity is Carter Mountain Orchard’s weekly children’s program, running every Monday and Tuesday during the summer. The program is geared towards ages 3-8, and all ages are welcome. Sessions include storytime, a take-home craft, pick-your-own fruit (in season), [...]
Children 5+ No registration! Explore the stars with StarLab, the Virginia Discovery Museum's inflatable traveling planetarium! Crawl through the tunnel into the dome and let the 360-degree projector transport you through the cosmos. VDM's education staff will introduce you to the different constellations in the night sky and share the stories and mythology surrounding the stars you're [...]
Ages 5-8. Required registration begins August 3. A Monthly STEM Adventure with NRAO Come create, experiment, and dive into the wonder of making! Join the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) for a lively, hands-on program designed for early learners who love to build, test, and imagine. Whether they're designing mini-machines, exploring motion with playful challenges, or [...]
Learn & Play at the Orchard Mondays & Tuesdays @ 10:30 AM June 1–August 25, 2026 Cultivating Curiosity is Carter Mountain Orchard’s weekly children’s program, running every Monday and Tuesday during the summer. The program is geared towards ages 3-8, and all ages are welcome. Sessions include storytime, a take-home craft, pick-your-own fruit (in season), [...]
Ages 7-10 For young dancers who love ballet and are ready for more individual attention. Small-group classical ballet training for Charlottesville-area homeschool dancers. FREE Trial Class Limited to 8 dancers for individualized attention and focused classical training. Led by former Hamburg Ballet dancer Anna Finan, with over nine years of teaching experience in Charlottesville.
Parents, need a Friday night out? Let the Virginia Discovery Museum watch the kids at Date Night Drop-Off while you enjoy some much-deserved time to yourselves! Children will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on crafts, games, and activities and enjoy plenty of playtime in our exhibit galleries, all while interacting with other kids in a safe setting. Due [...]