HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) shared its October First Fridays of the Valley lineup, including a variety of arts experiences at 24 venues throughout the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Find a list of venues, online map, and additional information about October 3 events at valleyarts.org/first-fridays-of-the-valley/.

The following First Fridays of the Valley venues plan to offer arts experiences Friday, October 3. Unless otherwise noted, events are scheduled 5-7 pm.

  • Asbury United Methodist Church (205 S Main St) hosts an opening reception for The Spice of “My Life,” an exhibition of works in acrylic by Doris Martin. Meet the artist and sample light refreshments. asburydowntown.org
  • Being Financial (328 S Main St, Ste 101) features Retrospect 25 by Paul Zdepski; visit the reception 4-7pm to admire the artist’s oil paintings, sculptures, and prints; enjoy refreshments; and celebrate BeFi’s grand opening. facebook.com/events/1785966078956192/
  • City of Harrisonburg (409 S Main St) invites you to check out glass mosaics created by eight City departments, along with other groups providing services to the Harrisonburg community, as part of OASIS Fine Art & Craft’s 25th Anniversary Community Mosaic Project. Stop by the reception to meet the artists and have a look around Oasis Community Mosaic Project – City Edition. harrisonburgva.gov/first-fridays
  • Court Square Theater (41-F Court Square) offers an evening of unscripted fun with Rocktown Improv, talented actors and improv artists who create improvisational scenes through games and audience suggestions! The show begins at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm). A $5 donation at the door is appreciated. courtsquaretheater.org/event/rocktown-improv
  • Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art (820 S Main St) welcomes your visit to the SADAH Faculty Exhibition, with recent artwork and scholarship by the award-winning faculty of the School of Art, Design, and Art History at James Madison University. jmu.edu/dukehallgallery/index.shtml
  • Explore More Discovery Museum (150 S Main St) offers Fall into Art, an artmaking activity for children. iexploremore.com
  • Friendly City Clay & Art Center (1157 S High St) highlights artwork by members and instructors in Playing with Color. Join in creative activities for all ages; enjoy the exhibition; and meet the artists during the opening reception. friendlycityclay.com
  • Furious Flower Poetry Center (500 Cardinal Drive) features Language, Lessons, and Lineage, curated by Richard Morrell, in the Broadside Gallery. Connect with these poetry broadsides, chat with the curator, and sample light refreshments during the reception. jmu.edu/furiousflower/broadside-gallery/current-exhibit.shtml
  • Gaines Group Architects (141 W Bruce St, Suite 201) debuts Intersections by Susan Patrick; check out her acrylic paintings; partake of refreshments and get to know the artist during the opening reception. thegainesgroup.com/october-first-fridays-at-the-depot-featuring-susan-patrick/
  • Harrisonburg Baptist Church (501 S Main St) hosts Stories, Songs, & Colors, an event celebrating music, spoken word, and visual art by members of the congregation and local community. The event kicks off at 7 pm in the church’s basement Fellowship Hall. Light refreshments will be available. facebook.com/hbcalive
  • Horizon Gifts and Board Games (60 W Market St) showcase East meets West Korean traditional brushwork and surreal modern art with works by Eun Soo Han and Will Wilder. Explore modern abstract and traditional Korean watercolor paintings; meet the artists; enjoy live music – featuring Korean traditional instruments – and partake of light refreshments during the opening reception. facebook.com/horizongiftshburg
  • Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center (710 S Main St) displays A Colorful Collection by Wendy Lam in the mezzanine gallery. View the featured acrylic, oil, and watercolor paintings from 5 to 7pm, then head to the hotel lobby for live music by vocalist & guitarist Birdie Pond – who will perform contemporary music as well as classics from the ‘70s and ‘80s – 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) invites you to experience a one-night-only VR Video Projection Dance Performance Pop-Up by students from James Madison University’s School of Theatre and Dance. Catch recurring dance performances and enjoy refreshments from 5 to 7 pm. facebook.com/share/1Vq3B1BP2N/
  • Look West Gallery @ The Mark-It (125 W Water St) continues The Koozie Show: A Good Day to Chill Hard, an exhibition of screenprinted koozies designed by various local artists. facebook.com/events/1182772170326030
  • Mashita (105 N Liberty St) exhibits Art of the (Skate)board in October; check out the collection by Ron Wood during your visit to the restaurant. eatmashita.com
  • Northwestern Mutual (83 S Main St) displays Critter Collective by Brooke Imber, with paintings, drawings, sculpture, and photography on view during an opening reception. northwesternmutual.com/office/va/harrisonburg/86244590/
  • North Wing Gallery at Sage Bird Ciderworks (325 N Liberty St) welcomes you to an opening reception for Monochrome in Color, a brand-new group exhibition showcasing works in a variety of media by 25 local artists. Swing by between 5 and 8 pm to spend some time with the artists and enjoy complimentary charcuterie. facebook.com/events/1616079549017607/1616079562350939/
  • OASIS Fine Art & Craft (103 S Main St) commemorates a major milestone with OASIS 25TH Anniversary Celebration – Local Pieces, Shared Heart. Join the fun of this anniversary bash featuring completed mosaics from OASIS’ community mosaic project; live music; and refreshments. facebook.com/events/754955494014013
  • Pale Fire Brewing Co (217 S Liberty St, Ste 105) shares Dia de los Muertos, a group art show honoring, through a variety of media, the memories of loved ones who have passed. Stop by the opening reception to see the works and meet some of the artists. palefirebrewing.com/event/first-friday/
  • Park Gables Gallery at VMRC (1491 Virginia Ave) celebrates the 39th Annual Shenandoah Valley Watercolor Society’s Members’ Show with a festive reception; see the watercolor works, converse with the artists, and enjoy refreshments. vmrc.org/events/39th-shenandoah-valley-watercolor-society-members-show
  • Rebecca’s Well Gift Shop (405 N Main St – Bridgewater) hosts Night Out on the Town, with Loretta Clark of LC Creations and Judy Galang of Cottage Crafts. Meet the artists and admire their quilted, crocheted, and handwoven works from 5 to 8 pm. facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550652462412#
  • Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions (86 W Gay St) introduce Personae, an exhibition including oil paint, nupastel, charcoal, acrylic, and pen work by Prusha Nor. Stop by the opening reception to explore the new artwork, sample refreshments, and enjoy a free wine tasting. facebook.com/events/1310555174041107/
  • Smith House Galleries (311 S Main St) opens two new exhibitions: Modern Times by Quillon Hall and Distorted Family by Ver Ikeseh. Visit the opening reception to admire paintings and mixed media works; get to know the artists; and sample light refreshments. valleyarts.org/smith-house-galleries-current-exhibition
  • Walkabout Outfitter (90 N Main St) hosts Music with Maria Leckey: Singer songwriter; enjoy a live performance with vocals and acoustic guitar in the shop throughout the evening. walkaboutoutfitter.com

Other 2025 First Fridays of the Valley participating venues are: Aristocat Cafe, Arts Incarnate,
Bridgewater Retirement Community (Bridgewater), Chestnut Ridge Coffee Roasters, Creative Art
Studio and Event Center (Bridgewater), Draime Fine Art Studio School, Fairfield Mediation
Center, The Frame Factory & Gallery, Friendly City Food Co-op, Friendly City Real Estate
Services, Gift & Thrift, The Golden Pony, Hess Financial, Stoney Run Artisans & Highland
Designs (McGaheysville), Ten Thousand Villages, Three Notch’d Valley Collab House, and The
Wing Gallery at The Perch.