A round up of don’t-miss happenings around the state.
Left: “Eros At Play,” by Kris Kukis. Right: “Killing Time,” by Greg Craola Simkins.
Photos courtesy of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.
Warhol’s pop icons, Shakespearean mischief and Harry Potter-themed beverages are just some of what’s on tap this weekend. So get ready to shake off the workweek and take a look at our picks for off duty fun.
Hop A ‘Board
July 29-30, Wirtz
Among the highlights of Smith Mountain Lake’s 50th anniversary celebration this summer will be the Cardboard Boat Regatta & Picnic Jamboree at W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center, featuring competitors who have been working since March to build boats out of cardboard. Tickets for preview and concert $10; the race is free. Skelton4HCenter.org
Potter Party
July 30-31, Alexandria
Grab your wand and get ready to celebrate everyone’s favorite wizard. The Stabler-Leadbetter Apothecary Museum will host its annual birthday party for Harry Potter, plus the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts I & II. Adults-only for tours and beverages on Saturday, family-friendly tours and activities like Harry Potter trivia on Sunday. AlexandriaVA.gov/apothecary
The Bard of Avon Comes to Agecroft
Through July 31, Richmond
The Merchant of Venice is presented by Quill Theater in the courtyard of Agecroft Hall, an authentic Tudor mansion built before Shakespeare’s time and brought over from England. Get there early for songs and monologues. Tickets $15-$25, discounts for groups. QuillTheater.com
Pop Life
Through Sept. 18, Charlottesville
From Marilyn and Liza to Saint Apollonia, Andy Warhol’s silkscreens of icons—both religious and celebrity—are among the most recognizable pieces of pop art in history. Catch these prints, among others, in all their brightly colored glory at Fralin Museum of Art’s Andy Warhol: Icons. Free admission. Virginia.edu/artmuseum
Hi-Times
Through Dec. 31, Virginia Beach
Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of Hi-Fructose at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art showcases the work of more than 50 artists who have been featured in the contemporary art quarterly Hi-Fructose magazine. “They have brought contemporary art to millions of people who may not have had other ways to access it,” says MOCA PR specialist Dot Greene. Tickets $5.50-$7.50; free for MOCA members and children 4 and under. VirginiaMOCA.org
