Stories & Guides

What's happening across Rappahannock County and Virginia wine country.

A group of people standing in front of a barn

Trending·May 22, 2026

Sperryville Gallery: Art Shows & Free Workshops May 2026

Sam Grantham's 'The Spirit Moved Me' and a new free monthly workshop series bring fresh creative energy to the River District this spring and summer

Local artist Sam Grantham's vibrant solo exhibition 'The Spirit Moved Me' is on view through June 2026 at The Confluence Gallery inside The Marketplace in Sperryville — and starting in June, a new free monthly workshop series opens the gallery to hands-on creative participation every Second Saturday.

a group of people standing around a building

Trending·May 22, 2026

Season 6 of Sperryville's Summer Concerts: What the Venue Change Reveals

When the kickoff show moved indoors to Copper Fox Distillery, it showed just how flexible — and charming — this free Thursday series really is

Season 6 of the Sperryville Summer Concert Series opened on May 21 with Rebecca Porter Music performing honky-tonk and Shenandoah roots fusion — and when the weather turned cool and damp, the show simply moved indoors to Copper Fox Distillery at 9 River Lane. Free admission, food trucks from 5pm.

Trending·May 22, 2026

Free Art Workshops at Sperryville's Confluence Gallery This Summer

The Marketplace's new Collective Canvas series brings hands-on creative sessions every second Saturday — plus Sam Grantham's solo show still on view

The Confluence Gallery inside Sperryville's River District Marketplace is launching a free monthly workshop series every Second Saturday from June through November 2026 — and Sam Grantham's vibrant solo show 'The Spirit Moved Me' is still on view through June.

A mountain with a grassy field in front of it

Guide·May 21, 2026

Sperryville This Summer: Concerts, Wine & Blue Ridge Escapes

From Thursday evening concerts at Copper Fox to vineyard tastings near Old Rag — here's how to build the perfect Rappahannock County summer weekend

The Sperryville Summer Concert Series is in its sixth season, with free Thursday evening shows running through summer — and the surrounding Rappahannock County countryside offers wineries, pottery studios, and farm stops worth building an entire weekend around.

Guide·May 21, 2026

Virginia Hunt Country & Wine: A Summer 2026 Weekend

From Upperville stables to Rappahannock vineyard tasting rooms — how to build the perfect Blue Ridge escape this season

Virginia's horse country and wine country have always been neighbors — this summer, they're the perfect pairing. Here's how to combine the pastoral grandeur of Upperville and Middleburg with a relaxed winery and farm itinerary in Rappahannock County.

This Week·May 21, 2026

Sperryville Concerts + Blue Ridge Art: A May Weekend Plan

Combine the free Sperryville Summer Concert Series with a gallery stop in Charlottesville for a full Blue Ridge weekend

The Sperryville Summer Concert Series is back for Season 6, kicking off free Thursday evenings at Copper Fox Distillery — pair that with a gallery visit in Charlottesville and you have a full Blue Ridge weekend itinerary.

Trending·May 21, 2026

Dean Dass 'Passenger' on View at LYDM Gallery This Spring

After Asa Jackson's sold-out solo run closes May 24, this intricate mixed-media work anchors the Charlottesville gallery's continuing season

Dean Dass's layered 2024 work 'Passenger' — built from pencil and inks on paper prepared with gouache and acrylic — is currently on view and available for purchase at Les Yeux du Monde in Charlottesville, through at least early June 2026.

Vineyard landscape with rolling hills and trees

Guide·May 20, 2026

Rappahannock County Summer 2026: Wine, Art & Outdoors

A practical weekend itinerary combining Shenandoah wildflowers, Blue Ridge wineries, and regional art — with honest notes on what to verify before you go

Spring ephemerals are blooming now at Shenandoah National Park — Great White Trillium is especially prominent along Upper Hawksbill Trail — and the Blue Ridge wine country around Rappahannock County is as scenic as ever. Here's how to build a full summer weekend in the region.

Guide·May 19, 2026

Shenandoah in May: Wildflowers, Bears & What to Know

Great White Trillium is blooming now on Hawksbill Trail — and so are the bears. Here's how to plan a safe, spectacular spring hike.

Great White Trillium is blooming now along Upper Hawksbill Trail at Shenandoah National Park — but the window is short, and so is your window to spot the park's active black bears before the crowds of summer arrive.

White fabric draped over windows of a building

Trending·May 19, 2026

See 'Paradise Found' Before It Closes May 24 at LYDM

Asa Jackson's textile exhibition — built from real people's garments — ends its Charlottesville run this weekend

Asa Jackson's solo exhibition 'Paradise Found: Where Heaven and Earth Meet' closes May 24 at Les Yeux du Monde in Charlottesville — and the large-scale textile works are unlike anything else on view in the region this spring.

Autumn hills and forest under a hazy sky

Guide·May 19, 2026

Shenandoah Spring 2026: Wildflowers & Bear Safety Now

Great White Trillium is blooming through June 1 — and black bears are active. Here's what every visitor needs to know this May.

Great White Trillium is peaking now along Upper Hawksbill Trail and the Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail — but the window closes around June 1. Black bears with cubs are also active this week, so brush up on safety before you go.

A crowd of people sitting on top of a lush green field

Guide·May 19, 2026

Sperryville River District: Your Summer 2026 Evening Guide

Free concerts, food trucks, craft spirits, and Blue Ridge air — everything you need for a perfect Thursday night in Sperryville

The Sperryville River District is the place to be on summer Thursday evenings in 2026 — the 6th annual Summer Concert Series runs free every third Thursday through September, with gates and food trucks opening at 5pm and music from 6–8pm.

Guide·May 18, 2026

The Perfect Thursday Evening in Sperryville This Summer

From an afternoon distillery visit to free live music at the River District — a locals-approved itinerary for June through September

Every third Thursday this summer, Sperryville's River District transforms into an outdoor music venue — free concerts run 6–8pm through September, with food trucks, a distillery next door, and galleries worth exploring before the music starts.

brown wooden fence near body of water under white clouds and blue sky during daytime

Guide·May 18, 2026

Sperryville Summer Concerts: June–Sept 2026 Dates & What to Know

Free outdoor music every third Thursday at the River District — food trucks, parking tips, and the full seasonal schedule

The 6th annual Sperryville Summer Concert Series brings free live music to the River District every third Thursday through September — gates open at 5pm, music runs 6–8pm, and parking is free at nearby lots.

landscape photography of green field with fence

Guide·May 18, 2026

Horse Country & Wine: A May Weekend in Virginia's Hunt Country

Pair the Hunt Country Stable Tour with Rappahannock's grassfed farms, craft spirits, and River District concert scene for an unforgettable Blue Ridge weekend

The Hunt Country Stable Tour rolls through Upperville and Middleburg on Saturday, May 23 — and if you're already driving out from DC, adding a night in Rappahannock County turns a single event into a full Blue Ridge weekend.

a dirt road going through a lush green field

Trending·May 18, 2026

Sperryville Dining Spring 2026: New Iberia Kitchen & River District

Louisiana-Spanish comfort food in a 1930s apple shed — what to know before your visit this May

New Iberia Kitchen — a Spanish and Louisiana-inspired restaurant inside a 1930s apple packing shed on Sperryville's River Lane — recently announced the resumption of Sunday Brunch as of April 20, making it a timely stop for spring visitors. Call ahead before you go.

green trees and mountains during daytime

Guide·May 18, 2026

Sperryville Concert Series: A Night-by-Night Spring Guide

Free outdoor music every third Thursday at River District — what to bring, where to park, and who's playing this summer

The 6th annual Sperryville Summer Concert Series launches this spring with free outdoor music every third Thursday from May through September — and the first show features Harrisonburg artist Rebecca Porter blending Appalachian grit with Chamoru heritage.

Trending·May 17, 2026

Dida's Distillery: Rappahannock's Grape-Based Spirits, by Appointment

This Huntly craft distillery is still operating — but you'll need to book ahead for Wednesday or Thursday tastings

Dida's Distillery in Huntly, VA — one of the only 100% grape-based craft distilleries in the Rappahannock region — recently updated its tasting room hours to Wednesday and Thursday by appointment only.

Two plates of chicken and waffles on a table

Trending·May 17, 2026

New Iberia Kitchen: Sunday Brunch Returns to Sperryville

Spanish and Louisiana-inspired comfort food in a historic apple packing shed — but call ahead before you go

New Iberia Kitchen in Sperryville quietly announced the return of Sunday brunch starting April 20 — but with no recent social activity, smart visitors are calling ahead before making the drive.

This Week·May 17, 2026

Rappahannock Spring 2026: Farms, Craft Spirits & Vineyards

From grassfed beef in Flint Hill to grape-based spirits in Huntly — a practical guide to Rappahannock County's most distinctive independent producers this May

Bean Hollow Grassfed in Flint Hill raises certified grassfed beef, lamb, and goat on 15+ acres of regeneratively managed pasture — and it's one of several distinctive Rappahannock County producers worth a call before you make the drive this spring.

A grassy field with mountains in the background

Guide·May 17, 2026

Rappahannock Day Trips: Vineyards, Orchards & Lodges

A practical spring 2026 planning guide to the independent venues that define Virginia's most scenic county — with honest notes on what to verify before you go

From an award-winning vineyard at the foot of Old Rag Mountain to a historic apple orchard with 18 heritage varieties near Washington, VA, Rappahannock County is packed with independent venues worth seeking out — but a quick call ahead can save you a wasted drive this May.

Guide·May 16, 2026

Hunt Country & Wine: A Rappahannock Spring Weekend

From the May 23 Stable Tour in Upperville to vineyard escapes near Washington VA — how to build the perfect Blue Ridge weekend

The Hunt Country Stable Tour on May 23 opens private equestrian estates across Upperville, Middleburg, and The Plains — combine it with a drive through Rappahannock County wine country for one of the region's best spring weekends.

Guide·May 16, 2026

Rappahannock's Independent Makers: A Spring 2026 Discovery Guide

From salt-fired pottery in Sperryville to grassfed farms in Flint Hill — the small venues that define this corner of Virginia

Rappahannock County's most distinctive venues aren't found on highway billboards — they're tucked down gravel lanes and Main Street storefronts. This spring 2026 guide spotlights the independent makers, farm operations, pottery studios, and craft spirits producers that give this region its character, along with honest notes on what to verify before you drive.

Trending·May 16, 2026

Hunt Country Stable Tour May 23: Horse Farm Day Trip

A self-driven tour through Virginia's most storied equestrian estates — one Saturday only

On Saturday, May 23, 2026, the Hunt Country Stable Tour unlocks the gates of private equestrian estates across Upperville, Middleburg, and The Plains — a rare behind-the-scenes look at Virginia horse country you can drive yourself.

Guide·May 15, 2026

Rappahannock County Spring 2026: Ceramics, Orchards & Wine

A practical visitor's guide to artisan studios, historic orchards, and family vineyards near Sperryville and Washington, VA — with honest call-ahead advice

Rappahannock County's spring season brings blooming orchards, open pottery studios, and family-run vineyards — but several beloved venues have gone quiet recently. Here's what to verify before you make the drive from DC.

Guide·May 14, 2026

Rappahannock Valley Independents: Wineries, Inns & Craft Spirits Worth Discovering in Spring 2026

From a grape-based distillery in Huntly to vineyard cottages at the foot of Old Rag, these lesser-known spots reward the curious traveler — but call ahead first

Rappahannock County's independent wine, spirits, and lodging scene is richer than most DC-area visitors realize — but in spring 2026, several beloved venues have gone quiet online. Here's what to know before you make the drive.

Guide·May 14, 2026

Rappahannock's Independent Venues: Spring 2026 Visitor Guide

From a whiskey distillery on River Lane to salt-fired pottery studios and boutique vineyards — what's worth the drive this May

Rappahannock County's most distinctive independent venues — an artisan whiskey distillery, a vineyard at the foot of Old Rag Mountain, and a working pottery studio — make for one of Virginia's best under-the-radar weekend drives. Here's what to know before you go in May 2026.

Guide·May 14, 2026

Sperryville & Washington VA: Artisan Weekend Guide May 2026

Potters, printmakers, distillers, and farm stays — the creative community that makes Rappahannock County worth the drive

From salt-fired stoneware at Juba Mountain Pottery to Wasmund's single malt at Copper Fox Distillery, Sperryville's artisan corridor has long been a reason DC-area visitors make the two-hour drive — but spring 2026 is a good time to call ahead before you go.

This Week·May 13, 2026

Rappahannock's Farms & Artisan Makers: May 2026 Guide

From grassfed beef in Flint Hill to salt-fired pottery in Sperryville, here's what's worth seeking out — and what to verify before you go

Rappahannock County has long drawn visitors for its farms, studios, and craft producers — but in spring 2026, the landscape has shifted. Here's an honest guide to the region's artisan and agricultural scene, including which venues to call before you make the drive.

Guide·May 13, 2026

Rappahannock's Farms & Artisan Spots: May 2026 Visitor Guide

From grassfed beef farms in Flint Hill to salt-fired pottery in Sperryville — what to seek out and what to verify before you go

Rappahannock County's farm and artisan scene is one of the most distinctive in the Blue Ridge — but with so many venues going quiet this spring, savvy visitors in May 2026 need a realistic picture of what's open, what's worth the drive, and what to call ahead about.