HARRISONBURG, VA – Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) shares its First Fridays of the Valley lineup, featuring a variety of visual and performing arts experiences at 20 venues throughout the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County on Oct 2! Check out the full list of participating venues, interactive map, and additional details about Oct 2 events at valleyarts.org/first-fridays-of-the-valley/.
Thank you to 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, Oct 2. Unless otherwise noted, events are free of charge and scheduled 5-7 pm.
The Arts at 131 W Grace (131 W Grace St) hosts a one-night-only popup exhibition coordinated by Feixue Mei: 传/Chuán & Boundless Bound Publishing: Dialogues Across Heritage, Publishing, and Practice, with artist books, zines, experimental publications, printed matter, and other publication-based works. Refreshments will be available. facebook.com/events/1983767518977241
Asbury United Methodist Church (205 S Main St) features Pop for a Cause, an installation of acrylic works by Derek Jackson; meet the artist, enjoy live music, and sample light refreshments as you explore the exhibited works. asburydowntown.org
Being Financial (328 S Main St) debuts Paintings by Kyra, with works by Kyra Nashay Allen on display during an opening reception. Pop in to check out the show and enjoy refreshments; learn more about the artist at instagram.com/_ms.kyra_/.
Community Counseling Center (96 Campbell St) showcases a new group exhibition in October, with works made by various local artists. Celebrate community and creativity during this opening reception. hbccc.org
Court Square Theater (41-F Court Square) hosts Rocktown Improv for a live, unscripted performance of improvisational theatre. Enjoy an evening of laughs and talent at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm). Performance recommended for ages 13 and up; $5 donation at the door is appreciated. actonetheaterco.org/
Dart Resale and Trade (205 S Liberty St, Ste E) celebrates the opening of Cursed Dirt by Julia (JB) Koehler; make your visit during the First Friday reception to catch live painting by the artist, peruse the featured works, and enjoy a Halloween popup by Metal Moon Salvage. dartresaleandtrade.com
Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art (800 S Main St) offers extended gallery hours to connect with the current exhibition - Sick Days by Pato Hebert - before the show closes Oct 9. Discover prints, sculptures, and installation works when you stop by. jmu.edu/dukehallgallery/exhibitions/index.shtml
Explore More Discovery Museum (150 S Main St) shares a festive artmaking activity for children to kick off the autumn month: Fall into Art. Bring the young art-enthusiasts you know for an evening of playful crafting. iexploremore.com
Friendly City Food Co-op (150 E Wolfe St) debuts Absens Animo, showcasing acrylic, watercolor, and marker on canvas and reclaimed paper in the café gallery. Admire Jeff Minnich's works - each of which was intentionally created while engaging with something else, with a "wandering mind." Meet the artist and enjoy a selection of refreshments from the store. friendlycity.coop/harrisonburg-events-classes/
Harrisonburg City Hall (409 S Main St) opens Many Pieces, One Community, an exhibition of paper patchwork "quilts" by City employees and their families. Spend some time with this collaborative work reflecting the myriad experiences and backgrounds that connect the City employee community. harrisonburgva.gov/first-fridays
Harrisonburg Dance Cooperative (2 N Main St) hosts a First Friday-exclusive evening of dance 5:30-8 pm. From 5:30 to 6:30 pm, an HDC choreographer will lead an open rehearsal of their current work in progress. Seats will be available; visitors are invited to observe, and may enter and exit freely. From 6:30 to 8 pm, enjoy a free class featuring a variety of folk dances from around the world. All ages are welcome, with no prior dance experience needed. Parental consent is required for participants under 18; parents of young dancers are encouraged to stay and participate or watch. Walk-ins are welcome, but advanced registration is encouraged. hburgdancecoop.org/adult-dance-classes-harrisonburg-va
Horizon Gifts and Board Games (60 W Market St) invites you to an opening reception for a showcase of mixed media works by artist Nokwon; chat with the artist and partake of light refreshments throughout the evening. horizongiftsandgames.square.site
Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center (710 S Main St) continues The Flag Show, an exhibition of drawings, paintings, and collage works by Robert Bersson. Swing by to have a look around the works in the mezzanine gallery and, from 6 to 8 pm, enjoy live country and blues music by singer-songwriter Brooke Lutwin in the hotel lobby. Food and beverages are available for purchase at Quills lobby bar and Monty's Restaurant. hotelmadison.com/
JMU Collabratory at the Harrisonburg Innovation Hub (25 N Liberty St, Room 102) welcomes all to the opening reception for Still Here, Still Becoming: a eulogy for my former self by Clients of Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley (BICSV). The exhibition of cyanotype and collage works explore the transformative experience from the 'before' to the 'after' of brain injury. Spend time with these works and with BICSV staff members, who will be on site during the reception; refreshments will be available. facebook.com/events/1565059608998881/
Larson Wealth Management (124 Newman Ave, Ste 101) highlights the beauty of sharing a creative life with the opening of The Marriage of Oil and Water: Two Artists. Two Mediums. One Life Together. This exhibition of watercolor and oil paintings by Cathy and John Zecchini gets started with a reception during First Friday; meet the dynamic duo behind the artwork and enjoy refreshments when you visit. facebook.com/events/1098438446172669/
North Wing Gallery at Sage Bird (325 N Liberty St) features fresh artwork in October! Visit the newly-renovated North Wing from 5 to 8 pm to enjoy the opening reception camaraderie and celebrate local artistic passion. facebook.com/events/951684273956379/
OASIS Fine Art & Craft (103 S Main St) showcases visual, literary, and performing arts during the opening reception for Kindred: The Wonder of Connection. Artist Elaine Dunaway's paintings, paired with author Janis Norton's written words, celebrate friendship and collaboration - and all the possibilities that arise from embracing wonder. Meet the artists, see their work, enjoy light refreshments, and hear live music from Trio Jazz. facebook.com/events/2087668068528446/
Pale Fire Brewing Co. (217 S Liberty St, Ste 105) commemorates the impact and care of loved ones who have passed in Dia de los Muertos, a group exhibition featuring artwork made by local artists honoring their deceased loved ones through creative works. Hear from some of the exhibiting artists and connect with their heartfelt pieces. Refreshments will be available. palefirebrewing.com/event/dia-de-los-muertos/
Rootstock Wine Bar & Provisions (86 W Gay St) exhibits Varnam: The Color and Form of Letters by Zenab Bastawala. Explore and admire this collection of letterpress and calligraphy; consider the roles of letters within language and as visual works; converse with the artist; and enjoy a complimentary wine tasting during the First Friday opening reception. facebook.com/events/1020929187432832
Smith House Galleries (311 S Main St) shares the debut of Likeness, an exhibition of fibers, sculpture, photography, and mixed media works by Corinne Diop, Nieko McDaniel, and R. Mertens. The exhibition, supported by The School of Art, Design and Art History at James Madison University, opens with a reception featuring time with the artists, their new works, and complimentary refreshments. facebook.com/events/4655179871475016/
Other 2026 First Fridays of the Valley venues are: 150 Franklin Street Gallery, Bridgewater Retirement community (Bridgewater), Broad Porch Coffee Co., Draime Fine Art Studio School, Frame Factory & Gallery, Friendly City Clay & Art Center, Furious Flower Poetry Center, Gift & Thrift, Gaines Group Architects at the Depot, Harrisonburg Baptist Church, Hess Financial, Look West Gallery @ The Mark-It, Northwestern Mutual, Park Gables Gallery, Rebecca's Well Gift Shop (Bridgewater), Rhythm & Vinyl, Ten Thousand Villages, and Walkabout Outfitter.
Arts Council of the Valley is located at 311 South Main Street in Downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia. Programs are supported in part by 2026 ACV Strategic Partners Kathy Moran Wealth Group, Riner Rentals, and Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC).
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 multi-faceted community organization that fosters innovative partnerships among area businesses, civic organizations, schools, and artists. Today, ACV manages Smith House Galleries, funds local art projects through its Advancing the Arts grant program (awarding more than $532,300 since 2001), supports public art initiatives, and coordinates monthly First Fridays of the Valley community gatherings.
ACV is supported in part by the City of Harrisonburg and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly. To learn more, visit valleyarts.org.
This press release was provided by Martha Hemingway at Arts Council of the Valley.