16 Venues Offer Arts Experiences During First Fridays of the Valley January 2

HARRISONBURG, VA – Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) announces the start of a new year of First Fridays of the Valley programming on January 2, 2026. The January lineup features arts programming from 16 venues around Harrisonburg, including three new locations: Dart Resale and Trade, Harrisonburg Dance Cooperative, and Rhythm & Vinyl. Find a list of venues, online map, and additional information about Jan 2 events at valleyarts.org/first-fridays-of-the-valley/.

We thank Kathy Moran Wealth Group, 2026 First Fridays of the Valley Exclusive Sponsor.

The following First Fridays of the Valley venues plan to offer arts experiences Friday, Jan 2. Unless otherwise noted, events are scheduled 5–7 pm.

• Being Financial (328 S Main St, Ste 101) hosts Master Meyer’s Woodwork, an exhibition of wood wall hanging and sculpture by Dennis Meyer. Stop by the reception from 5 to 7 pm to admire the works and enjoy refreshments. being-financial.com
• Dart Resale and Trade (205 S Liberty St, Ste E) opens small stitch by Candace Christy; pop into the opening reception to view this exhibition of mixed media works and partake of light refreshments. dartresaleandtrade.com
• Explore More Discovery Museum (150 S Main St) encourages creativity with a one-night-only children’s art activity. Stop by with your little ones and join in the artmaking fun with Keep Cozy. iexploremore.com
• Frame Factory & Gallery (139 N Liberty St, Ste 101) kicks off the new year with two new exhibitions: Fleeting, with photography by Macson McGuigan, and hold me at the fray, with paintings by Evelyn Caldwell. Partake of refreshments and spend some time with the exhibiting artists at this opening reception. facebook.com/events/2932544780285050

• Friendly City Food Co-op (150 E Wolfe St) celebrates the opening of Winter Dreaming by Noemi Salome. Admire folk-style watercolor paintings, meet the artist, and sample light refreshments from the store in the café gallery. friendlycity.coop/event/first-friday-winter-dreaming/

• Harrisonburg City Hall (409 S Main St) debuts The Art of Travel Part 1: A Kaleidoscope of Kilts and Cliffs, an exhibition of colorful Scotland-based photography by CeCe Dodd. Explore the works in the lobby and meet the exhibiting artist during your City Hall visit.
• Harrisonburg Dance Cooperative (2 N Main St) hosts an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for The Mundane Revisited, a new exhibition of photography by Pop(ke) Art. From 5:30 to 6:30 pm, visitors can also enjoy a behind-the-scenes opportunity to observe an open dance rehearsal. Improv Night begins at 6:30 pm and runs until 7:30 pm; at least two Harrisonburg Dance Cooperative dancers, along with members of the public who would like to join, will engage in organic movement set to a curated selection of music. Visitors who would rather watch than dance are welcome to spectate. hburgdancecoop.org/
• Horizon Gifts and Board Games (60 W Market St) opens a brand new exhibition of photography by Cassidy Walker with a reception. Visit to explore the artwork, meet the artist, and enjoy light refreshments. horizongiftsandgames.square.site
• Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center (710 S Main St) invites you to an opening reception for I Still Have A Dream, an exhibition of oil paintings by Ver Ikeseh. Connect with the artist and his new works in the mezzanine gallery from 5 to 7 pm. Enjoy a live performance from 6 to 8 pm in the hotel lobby from Kimberly Aikens, who will play a range of songs from ’80s hits to tunes by contemporary artists. Food and beverages are available for purchase at Quills lobby bar and Monty’s Restaurant. hotelmadison.com/

• North Wing Gallery at Sage Bird (325 N Liberty St) continues its second Greetings from Harrisonburg group art show, featuring works in a variety of media by 18 artists celebrating the Friendly City. Stop by to enjoy the works before Sage Bird’s next exhibition, The Audio/Visual Show, opens the following Friday, Jan 9. facebook.com/share/1Buym3ChcD/

• OASIS Fine Art & Craft (103 S Main St) shares Winter in the Valley, highlighting works by the Shenandoah Valley Watercolor Society. Enjoy an opening reception with the artists featuring live music from Cousin Jimmy's Stringband as well as father-daughter duo Eric and Lydia Brubaker. facebook.com/events/1411989610346233/
• Pale Fire Brewing Co. (217 S Liberty St, Ste 105) showcases acrylic paintings by Brenna Garner in Their Benevolence, My Becoming. Visit the opening reception to meet the artist and enjoy refreshments from 5 to 7 pm. At 7 pm, catch a live performance by musician Nate Hadley. facebook.com/events/25061522456802670
• Rhythm & Vinyl (76 W Gay St) welcomes your visit to a reception for Noelia Nuñez at The Liberty St. Mercantile. Head to the basement of the Mercantile to check out paintings by Noelia Nuñez and meet the artist. instagram.com/rhythmandvinylva/

• Smith House Galleries (311 S Main St) celebrates beginnings with two new exhibitions: Liminal Aesthetics and Hyperwave Exploration by Adam Wirdzek, and Art for Mutual Aid by 27 local artists, including a special silent art auction with net proceeds benefiting Open Doors and Arts Council of the Valley. Visit the opening reception to view artwork in a variety of media, chat with the artists, bid on your favorite silent auction works, and enjoy light refreshments. valleyarts.org/smith-house-galleries-current-exhibition
• Ten Thousand Villages (181 S Main St) features a First Friday-exclusive in the shop: an evening of original poetry by Linda Ankrah-Dove. Meet the poet and peruse her published works. tenthousandvillages.com/harrisonburg
• Walkabout Outfitter (90 N Main St) fills the store with tunes, hosting Live Music with Blake Cramer. Enjoy this musician’s performance of acoustic guitar and vocals throughout the evening. walkaboutoutfitter.com

Other 2026 First Fridays of the Valley venues are: 131 W. Grace Street, 150 Franklin Street Gallery, Asbury United Methodist Church, Bridgewater Retirement Community (Bridgewater), Broad Porch Coffee Co., Draime Fine Art Studio School, Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art, Friendly City Clay & Art Center, Furious Flower Poetry Center, Gaines Group Architects at the Depot, Gift & Thrift, Harrisonburg Baptist Church, Hess Financial, JMU Collabratory at the Harrisonburg Innovation Hub, Larson Wealth Management, Look West Gallery @ The Mark-It, Northwestern Mutual, Park Gables Gallery, and Rebecca’s Well Gift Shop (Bridgewater)

Arts Council of the Valley is located at 311 South Main Street in Downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia. Programs are supported in part by ACV 25th Anniversary Presenting Sponsor Kathy Moran Wealth Group and 25th Anniversary Visionary Sponsor Riner Rentals

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ACV is dedicated to cultivating the arts, creating experiences, and connecting communities throughout the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Since it was established in 2000, ACV has grown into a multifaceted community organization that fosters innovative partnerships among area businesses, civic organizations, schools, and artists. Today, ACV manages Court Square Theater and Smith House Galleries, funds local art projects through its Advancing the Arts grant program, supports public art initiatives, and coordinates monthly First Fridays of the Valley community gatherings.

ACV is supported in part by the City of Harrisonburg, the Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. To learn more, visit valleyarts.org.

This press release was provided by Martha Hemingway at Arts Council of the Valley.