It's a huge one: Lynchburg's 240th-anniversary Batteau Festival launches its historic flatboats down the James, the city marks Juneteenth at Miller Park and the riverfront, the Central Virginia Fringe Festival closes with a world premiere, Sweet Honey in the Rock plays the Academy, Lynchburg FC hosts a playoff semi-final, and it's Father's Day Sunday. Bonus: scroll to the bottom for a head start on planning 4th of July weekend. Here's everything going on:

Times and details can change after this is sent — for the latest, view this post on the web (the "view in browser" link up top). I post corrections there.

Fri Jun 19 (Juneteenth)

Sat Jun 20

Sun Jun 21 (Father's Day)

Running all weekend

  • Central Virginia Fringe Festival · through Sat Jun 20 · Endstation Theatre at Randolph College, 2500 Rivermont Ave · 18 live-theater productions over 7 days, closing this weekend with the world premiere of Good Birth — full lineup & showtimes at lynchburgtickets.com/endstation

  • Wolfbane's Grease (live musical, PG-13) · this week: Thu 6/18, Fri 6/19 & Sat 6/20 7:30pm (doors 6:30), Sat 6/20 & Sun 6/21 2:30pm matinee (doors 1:30) · The Wolf Den Downtown, 723 Jefferson St · ticketed — runs through Jun 28

  • Riverside Sprayground · daily 10:00am-7:00pm · Riverside Park · free · [Parks&Rec] — open through Sept 7

  • Ivy Creek Park: Canoe & Kayak Rentals · Sat & Sun 10:00am-5:00pm (through Aug 30) · Ivy Creek Park, 118 Clemmons Lake Pl · canoes $10/hr, kayaks $8/hr · [Parks&Rec]

  • Academy Center galleries · free — on view: Becoming (Sarah Faith Strait) and Histories (Meredith Peverill)

🚗 Worth the Drive

A few standout day-trips within about an hour of Lynchburg this weekend:

  • Maury River Fiddler's Convention · Fri Jun 19 6:00pm – Sat Jun 20 9:00pm · Glen Maury Park, Buena Vista (~40 min) · old-time & bluegrass fiddle convention (191 interested)

  • Steve Earle: 51 Years of Songs & Stories · Fri Jun 19, 5:00pm · 301 Ivy Lane, Union Hall (Smith Mountain Lake, ~50 min) · ticketed — the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, solo acoustic

  • Farmville Fridays · Fri Jun 19, 5:00-8:00pm · Riverside Park, Farmville (~60 min) · downtown Friday block party — music, food & vendors

  • Leesville Lake Marina — Fish Fry Weekend · Fri Jun 19: Ray Eanes live + Jodie Davis Open Mic · Leesville Lake Marina (~35-40 min S) · food & music by the lake (two nights)

  • Lakeside Local Market · Sat Jun 20, 10:00am-1:00pm · 16483 Moneta Rd, Moneta (Smith Mountain Lake, ~45 min) · makers & local-vendor market by the lake

  • Starfire Live @ Bonfire Burgers & Bourbon · Sat Jun 20, 6:00-8:00pm, no cover · 188 S Main St, Amherst (~15 min) · classic rock, pop & country

  • 9th Annual Ellie Buck Memorial Bull Bash (True Grit Rodeo) · Sat Jun 20, gates 6:00pm / show 8:00pm · Lucky L Arena, Hurt (~25-30 min S) · GA $16 advance / $20 gate, kids 8 & under free

  • Cousins Maine Lobster @ Halcyon Days Cider Co · Sat Jun 20, 1:00-7:00pm · Natural Bridge (~35 min) · lobster rolls, cidery & an orchard labyrinth

  • Nelson 151 wine & cider trail · live music all weekend along Rt 151 (~60 min): Devils Backbone (Brisk, full-band show, Sat 12-3pm) · Bold Rock Hard Cider (live music Fri/Sat/Sun) · Afton Mountain Vineyards (The Broken Hearts, Sun 1-4pm) — make a day of the brewery/winery loop

  • Red Wing Roots Music Festival · Jun 19-21 · Natural Chimneys, Mount Solon (~1.5 hrs) · 50 bands across 5 stages — a destination weekend, further than usual but worth knowing

🗓️ Coming up next week

A taste of what's ahead — the full list lands in Tuesday's email:

  • Lynchburg's Got Talent — Preliminary Round 2 · Sun Jun 28, 6:00-9:00pm · Raven Lounge

  • Emo Night Karaoke · Fri Jun 26, 7:00pm · Three Roads Brewing - BURG

  • Super Rad Arcade Bar · Seneca Burns + Trash Rocket (Fri Jun 26) · Kevin Devine: An Intimate Evening (Sat Jun 27)

  • Hill City FC home match · Sat Jun 27 · tailgate 3:00pm / kickoff 7:00pm · City Stadium

  • 1776: The Musical · Jun 25-27 · Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest

  • MasterWorks Festival orchestra concerts continue (Week 2) · Liberty University · free

  • 🚗 Worth the drive: Doc McCabe Bluegrass Festival · Jun 25-27 · The Sedalia Center, Big Island (~25-30 min)

🎆 July 4th weekend

A lot of you are already asking about fireworks - here's what's shaping up for the holiday weekend (details firm up closer to the date, and we'll have the full lineup in early-July issues):

In Lynchburg

  • Independence Day Fireworks (presented by Drain Rangers) · Sat Jul 4, 6:30pm · Bank of the James Stadium (City Stadium), 3180 Fort Ave — the city's big fireworks night

  • Fireworks on the Riverfront · Fri Jul 3 evening · downtown riverfront — a second night of fireworks (time TBA)

  • Freedom Fest 2026: Celebrating 250 Years · Fri Jul 3, 6:00pm · 828 Main St (8th-floor rooftop) — downtown party with a skyline view

  • Lynchburg Flag Walk · Sat Jul 4, 11:00am

Worth the drive

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