21 Venues Offer Arts Experiences During First Fridays of the Valley August 1

HARRISONBURG, VA – Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) is delighted to share its August First Fridays of the Valley lineup, kicking off the month with arts fun at 21 venues throughout the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County! A list of venues, online map, and additional information about Aug 1 events are available at valleyarts.org/first-fridays-of-the-valley/.

Thanks to Kathy Moran Wealth Group, Exclusive Sponsor for the 2025 First Fridays of the Valley program.

The following First Fridays of the Valley venues plan to offer arts experiences Friday, Aug 1. Unless otherwise noted, events are scheduled 5-7 pm.

• Arts Incarnate (75 N Mason St) features mixed media artwork by Grace Little and Cassie Martin; refreshments will be available. artsincarnate.com
• Asbury United Methodist Church (205 S Main St) introduces Created Things by Tiffany Knupp. Explore the exhibition of photography, meet the artist, and enjoy refreshments during the reception. asburydowntown.org
• City of Harrisonburg (409 S Main St) displays glass mosaic panels created by Barbara Camph in Newtown before Urban Renewal. Check out the exhibition and chat with the artist. harrisonburgva.gov/first-fridays
• Court Square Theater (41-F Court Square) showcases the improvisational prowess of Rocktown Improv - a group of local actors and improv artists who craft unscripted scenes through games and audience suggestions - with a live performance at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm). A $5 donation at the door is appreciated. courtsquaretheater.org/event/rocktown-improv
• Explore More Discovery Museum (150 S Main St) offers Sun Art, a free mixed media art activity for children. iexploremore.com
• Friendly City Clay & Art Center (1157 High St) invites you to discover detailed stoneware and raku creations by the center’s Clay Mosaic and Raku Quilts classes in Uncommon Clay: Ceramic Quilts and Clay Mosaics. Stop by the open house to spend time with the artists, admire the artwork, participate in creative activities, explore the space, and have some snacks! facebook.com/events/600121319447310
• Friendly City Food Co-op (150 Wolfe St) welcomes your visit to the opening reception for Rachel Naomi Designs, with intricate pen and ink works by Rachel Bryan. Learn more about the artist and enjoy light refreshments from the Co-op. friendlycity.coop/event/first-friday-rachel-naomi-designs-by-rachel-bryan
• Gaines Group Architects (141 W Bruce St, Suite 201) debuts ICONS, an exhibition of digital and film photography by Derrick Chirinos; meet the artist and partake of light refreshments at this opening reception. thegainesgroup.com/first-friday-harrisonburg-10
• Hess Financial (380 E Market St) celebrates collaboration with an exhibition by Doris Martin, Donna Detrich, Martha Merz: Three Friends. This group show includes acrylic, watercolor, and batik works expressing love for nature. Stop by the opening reception to meet the artists and sample refreshments. facebook.com/events/1745005229735633
• Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center (710 S Main St) shares Vision in Watercolors, an exhibition of original watercolor paintings by The Joyful Painters (Krista Gisler, Tracy Hakala, Georgi Kiser, Arnita Taliaferro, Judi Coleman). Get to know the artists and peruse their works from 5 to 7 pm in the mezzanine gallery; enjoy live music by guitarist singer-songwriter Gina Bretz, who will be playing songs from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s in the hotel lobby from 6 to 8 pm. Food and beverages are available for purchase at Quills lobby bar and Monty’s Restaurant. hotelmadison.com
• JMU @ Harrisonburg Innovation Hub (25 N Liberty St) highlights mixed media works by Behnaz Ghasempour in The Invisible Threads. Refreshments will be available. facebook.com/events/529507930249282
• Look West Gallery @ The Mark-It (125 W Water St) opens Les objects oniriques – entre rêve et réalité by Lara Ressler. Swing by the reception to enjoy this photomontage exhibition and converse with the artist. facebook.com/events/2509644696060967
• Mashita (105 N Liberty St) announces August’s featured artist: Levi Stables, exhibiting relief and intaglio prints as well as charcoal drawings in Soldiers and Saints. eatmashita.com
• North Wing Gallery at Sage Bird Ciderworks (325 N Liberty St) invites you to experience the Wonder Takeover, led by Elliott Downs & Levi Ryman of Wonder Records. Peruse a showcase of paintings and screenprinted skate decks; enjoy live music from DJBOONBOX; partake of refreshments; and check out the skateboarding in the parking lot! facebook.com/events/1242250343793865
• OASIS Fine Art & Craft (103 S Main St) opens a brand new show by Mike Reisenberg, As Luck Would Have It; the 5-7 pm reception includes snacks, live music from Trio Jazz, and an artist talk at 6 pm. facebook.com/events/1104417788231434
• Pale Fire Brewing Co (217 S Liberty St, Ste 105) hosts artist Ben Trumbo’s exhibition of photographs - made using beer can pinhole cameras - and you’re invited to the opening reception! Check out Pin Can Alley and enjoy an evening of exciting art and camaraderie. palefirebrewing.com/
• Park Gables Gallery at VMRC (1491 Virginia Ave) exhibits Munro Family Dolls by Leslie Barham; chat with the artist, view her collection of textile works, and enjoy light refreshments in the gallery. vmrc.org/events/munro-family-dolls
• Rebecca’s Well Gift Shop (405 N Main St – Bridgewater) features The Quilted Garden Shop and The Cottage Crafts for an upbeat evening in the shop! Join artists Lisa Hensley and Judy Galang from 5 to 8 pm as you peruse their works and enjoy live music from Carole Sease. Refreshments will be available. facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550652462412
• Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions (86 W Gay St) displays Places That Breathe, an exhibition of oil paintings by John Zecchini. Meet the artist, delight in his peaceful works; and enjoy a free wine & pie tasting during the opening reception. facebook.com/events/996218929119588
• Smith House Galleries (311 S Main St) celebrates the opening of two new exhibitions: Take a Walk on the Wild Side highlights oil paintings by Agnieszka Elliott; Ouroboros, by E. Leary, features paintings and pyrography. Stop by the opening reception to explore the artwork; meet the artists; partake of light refreshments; and enjoy live music by Jane Cox. valleyarts.org/smith-house-galleries-current-exhibition
• Ten Thousand Villages (181 S Main St) invites you to meet Andrea King and peruse Clean Candles, a showcase of this creator’s hand-poured, soy-based candles in a variety of scents. tenthousandvillages.com

Other 2025 First Fridays of the Valley participating venues are: Aristocat Cafe, BeFi, Bridgewater Retirement Community (Bridgewater), Chestnut Ridge Coffee Roasters, Creative Art Studio and Event Center (Bridgewater), Draime Fine Art Studio School, Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art, Fairfield Mediation Center, The Frame Factory & Gallery, Friendly City Real Estate Services, Furious Flower Poetry Center, Gift & Thrift, The Golden Pony, Harrisonburg Baptist Church, Horizon Gifts and Board Games, Northwestern Mutual, Stoney Run Artisans & Highland Designs (McGaheysville), Three Notch’d Valley Collab House, and The Wing Gallery at The Perch.

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 multi-faceted 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 (awarding more than $518,300 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, 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.