August has a funny duality to it. It’s still the season of sprinkler afternoons, porch evenings, and slower mornings curled up on the couch, but it’s also the season of school supply lists, new backpacks, and that quiet mix of excitement and nerves that comes with the start of a new school year.
So, as we wind down summer and ramp up back-to-school, here are some things to do, helpful resources, local news info, and more for August in the Charlottesville area.
Drop us a line if you think of any back-to-school content you think we should cover as we head into fall!
Top August Events in the Charlottesville Area
Looking for family-friendly things to do in Charlottesville this August? Here are the events we’re most excited about — from free festivals to farm & orchard fun and concerts.
VA SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL BUTTERFLY RELEASES – August 1& 8 at Chiswell Farm
Take part in a meaningful hands-on moment with a Painted Lady butterfly release in the sunflower field.
ACPS BACK TO SCHOOL BASH – August 9 at Fashion Square Mall
Students and families can join for an afternoon focused on school readiness and well-being, and community celebration. Receive backpacks filled with essential school supplies and connect with local community partners, plus enjoy music, food, games, and activities.
CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY BACK TO SCHOOL BASH – August 9 at Penn Park
Everyone is welcome at this free community event. Enjoy entertainment, food, games & family fun, giveaways, free school supplies and more.
STARLAB – August 7 at Virginia Discovery Museum
Explore the stars in an inflatable traveling planetarium! Crawl through the tunnel into the dome and let the 360-degree projector transport you through the cosmos.
ASIAN FOOD & BLOOMS FESTIVAL – August 8 at Freckled Flower Farm
A vibrant fusion of flavor and florals— an unforgettable celebration of Asian-inspired cuisine, blooming beauty, and music. Wander the farm, sip, savor, and soak in the sights as culture and color come together in the most delicious way.
SOUL OF CVILLE – August 15 at IX Art Park
This multi-day celebration of black culture, community, and excellence kicks off with a legacy run and celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Jefferson School, with events happening across Charlottesville August 10–15, ending with a free family-friendly day of performances, fashion, food and art.
CVILLE BRICKS: A LEGO SHOWCASE – August 29 at Carver Recreation Center
A hands-on LEGO experience for builders of all ages! Compete in timed building challenges, create your own masterpiece on the art wall, race your creations, and see incredible builds from the Cville Bricks Downtown Mall Design Contest finalists.
RESCUE EXHIBIT – Now–January 17 at Science Museum of Virginia
From air to sea to land, discover ways first responders help those in distress. Do you have what it takes to be a hero? Dive into a high-intensity experience where science meets real-life heroics. Find out at over a dozen immersive zones.
COUNTY FAIRS
Rides, entertainment, animals and more – our extensive round-up of central Virginia county fairs to visit this summer.
Don’t miss a thing — check our full Family Events Calendar → updated daily.
News Fresh From CharlottesvilleFamily.com
Summer’s winding down, and back-to-school season is here. This month, we’re covering everything from annual physicals to homework survival tips, tick prevention, and the best family events happening around Charlottesville. Plus, a peek into Bumble’s Free Little Library for even more fun.
ANNUAL KIDS PHYSICALS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – Charlottesville pediatrician shares tips and advice for back-to-school.
TIPS ON BEING A GREAT HOMEWORK PARENT – Advice from a local teacher on how to best help your students this school year.
TIPS TO PREVENT TICK BITES – Outdoor medicine expert and emergency physician from Virginia Tech shares advice and practical steps for tick prevention.
THE IMPORTANCE OF COOKING WITH KIDS – How the entire family benefits when kids learn to cook and families share meals together.
AUGUST EVENTS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE – Top family-friendly events in the area including festivals, exhibits, back-to-school fun, story times, and events ideas for mom and dad.
BUMBLE’S FREE LITTLE LIBRARY – Exclusive resources for CharlottesvilleFamily readers, including printable scavenger hunts, activity pages and more.
Charlottesville/Albemarle School News
NEW SCHOOL OPENING – Mountain View Upper Elementary held its ribbon cutting ceremony, marking the opening of the facility.
SCHOOL BUILDING NEW FACILITY – The Field School held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new location off Barracks Road.
BOARD CHAIR TO RESIGN – Allison Spillman, vice chair of the Albemarle County School Board, announced she will step down this month.
NO TAX WEEKEND – Virginia’s tax free holiday is August 7–9, and covers eligible clothing, school supplies, emergency items, and energy-efficient products.
Local Love: Women’s Mental Health Collective
Three Charlottesville therapists have teamed up to launch the Women’s Mental Health Collective (WMHC), a new local practice built to support women and couples through some of the biggest challenges and transitions in a woman’s life—pregnancy, birth, postpartum, infertility and (peri)menopause.
Founders Alexis Azzam, Kristin Morgan, and Jennifer Senator each spent years working one-on-one with women through these life stages, and kept running into the same gap: not enough accessible, specialized support for moments that can feel isolating even though they’re incredibly common. The Collective was born out of a desire to offer more than individual therapy—workshops, groups, and community resources that meet women where they are.
More From the CharlottesvilleFamily Fam
VirginiaSummerCamp.com — We hope you’ve had an excellent summer camp season!
VIRGINIA RIVER TUBING & KAYAKING: A Family Outfitter Guide – A good outfitter takes all the work out of it: they supply the tubes, kayaks, life jackets, and the shuttle. Basically, all you have to do is show up with the fam and float.
TURTLE RESCUE: How to Help Turtles Safely – What to do when your family finds a turtle crossing the road.
VIRGINIA RAILS-TO-TRAILS: THE BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY BIKE & WALKING PATHS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH – One of our all-time favorite summer activity lists — featuring the most scenic, family-friendly rail trails across Virginia.
SOON…. RoanokeFamily will launch its digital magazine. Meanwhile, follow along on Instagram.
Ready to Read
Our Relocation Guide flipbook is here! This trusted resource is designed to help families, professionals, and newcomers make a smooth transition to life in the area. Whether you’re moving across the country or just across the Blue Ridge, this guide offers info about neighborhoods, schools, and family life in one easy-to-browse digital publication.
The Ultimate Relocation Guide: Where to live, learn & play in Charlottesville
Our Special Summer Edition of Bloom Magazine is out now. This special Choose-Your-Own Adventure Guide is just what you need to plan a memorable summer with your family and friends. Here’s why:
150+ DAY TRIPS & FESTIVALS
The most extensive guide to day trip adventures and local summer festivals.
SUMMER FUN ROUND-UPS
Local round-ups including swimming spots, ice cream places, farmers markets & more.
HIDDEN GEMS & LOCAL FAVORITES
Places you may not even know about, plus popular favorites that always bring the fun.
INDOOR FUN & SENSORY-FRIENDLY OPTIONS
Beat the heat with numerous indoor places to play and learn + sensory-friendly fun for all.
AT HOME ADVENTURE IDEAS
No need to leave the house with these tried and true at home activities.
THE BEST SUMMER EVENTS
Through August, all curated, all local. Your calendar just got a whole lot more fun.
This is the guide Charlottesville families will use all summer. Grab it now and start planning!
On Our Minds
From the editors:
Here’s something we’ve been thinking about as we settle into August: summer break is on its final stretch, and that means we are simultaneously soaking up whatever’s left of the lazy days, and feeling the first flutter of back-to-school energy creeping in.
So this month, we’re doing both. Soaking up whatever summer days remain while easing gently into the routines to come. Sometimes the best thing we can do for our families is simply meet the season where it is.
Coming Up for Parents
Next, be on the lookout for our back-to-school fall/winter issue. Homework tips, after school activities guide, local stories, fall festival info, holiday season happenings and so much more.
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The Cville Buzz is published monthly by CharlottesvilleFamily, Central Virginia’s trusted family resource since 1998.
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