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Caribbean Cook-OffCaribbean Cook-Off
Local chefs are coming together for a Caribbean-inspired Cook-Off benefiting the Ford Haitian Foundation! Join us for an afternoon of incredible food, live music, and community - all in support of a meaningful cause. Purchase a wristband to sample delicious dishes created exclusively for this event by chefs generously donating their time and talent. All proceeds directly benefit the Institute Marantha of Grison-Garde, Haiti, which provides:
• Free education for more than 1,900 students
• Housing and care for orphans and the elderly
• Vocational training for 75 adults
• Essential healthcare clinics and community support
Date | Saturday, September 5 - 12:00 – 2:00pm |Eat amazing food, vote for your favorite chef
- 12:00 - 2:00pm | Live Music by Byron Massie
- 2:30 – 4:30pm | Live Music by LUA Project
Reserve your wristband in advance to pick it up at Will Call here
Are you a Chef interested in competing, or a business interested in sponsoring? We'd love to chat! Contact us at Events@AlbemarleCiderWorks.com --------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Ford Haitian Foundation:
Founded in North Garden, Virginia, more than 24 years ago, the Ford Haitian Foundation is dedicated to supporting underserved communities in rural northern Haiti, specifically Grison-Garde. Through educational initiatives, housing programs, nutrition support, and vocational training, the organization currently serves more than 1,900 students through four free primary and secondary schools, as well as adult vocational programs in carpentry, tailoring, welding, and electrical/solar training, and medical clinics
-------------------------------------------------------------------- About the musicians: 
Byron Massie is both a singer and songwriter, born and raised in Nelson County. Byron was born into a family whose musical traditions go back generations and have helped shape the musician he is today. He is almost always accompanied by his Dad, Billy, on the dobro. Together they provide a true instrumental harmony which allows you to melt into the stories created by the songs Byron has written. 
Lua Project is a cultural pollinator, bridging musical styles from different continents and different centuries. They write about contemporary themes, but draw on the musical traditions of their own families' past. The music is inspired by Mexican Son, Appalachian song forms, Jewish and Eastern European tonalities, baroque melodic ideas, and Scotch-Irish narrative storytelling approaches. They strive to create a repertoire that constitutes new traditional music that they will be able to pass down to their children to experience, transform, and pass on
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Silent Book ClubSilent Book Club
Sip cider and read in quiet camaraderie. No assigned reading, no obligations. Bring your own book of choice. This is a free social event hosted in our Orchard Room, now the first Sunday of the month. From the official website of Silent Book Club: "At Silent Book Club, there's no assigned reading. All readers are welcome—ebooks, textbooks, comic books... it's BYOBook. Friends and strangers gather at a set time and location, order food or drinks, share what they're reading, and settle in for an hour of silent, sustained reading. At the end of the hour, attendees can socialize—or not!
Note: this event is not truly silent. Chips are eaten, pages are turned, soft lofi music is played, and there are ambient bar sounds in the next room. Noise cancelling headphones are recommended if background sounds will disrupt your read
Schedule:
12:30 Arrive early to order food/ drinks/ chat
1-2pm Reading - bring whatever book you feel like reading
Afterwards: Mingle (or keep reading) We are excited to be Charlottesville's second chapter of Silent Book Club, an international organization bringing bibliophiles together. You can read about the experience in Cville Weekly's "Tried it in Cville Column" thanks to talented local journalist Kristie!
Upcoming dates: First Sunday of the Month
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Live Music In The Orchard: Her Checkered PastLive Music In The Orchard: Her Checkered Past
Come share a Cider with friends, we have the sound and beverages to sooth and satiate your mind and palate. Enjoy live music by Her Checkered Past. Join Anne O'Brien and Frank Bechter in the orchard for some live music that will warm your heart. This duo will keep you humming along to popular songs. The cider will be flowing so bring a thirst and treat yourself to a little relaxation.
2026 Central Virginia Star Party | by UVA Astronomy & Dark Skies, Bright Kids2026 Central Virginia Star Party | by UVA Astronomy & Dark Skies, Bright Kids
Gather round to marvel at the skies! Our annual Star Party is an opportunity to come star gaze, with guidance from the UVA Astronomy Department and their educational outreach program "Dark Skies, Bright Kids". Admission to this event is free, and community members of all ages are welcome to attend. There will be telescope observation using Celestron, Dobsonian and UniStellar telescopes, hands-on astronomy activities, a portable planetarium, and (for adults) cider tastings. When: September 12th, 6:30 - 10:00pm Where: Albemarle CiderWorks: 2545 Rural Ridge Lane; North Garden, Virginia About Dark Skies, Bright Kids:Dark Skies, Bright Kids is primarily a volunteer-run program, seeking to enhance science education in Virginia elementary schools in under-served areas. Operating out of the UVA Astronomy Department, the program hopes to foster the natural curiosity of children in the surrounding community by helping them to explore the Universe in a fun social setting with hands-on activities. See our video highlighting the 2018 Star Party
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[Food Truck] Rum Punch[Food Truck] Rum Punch
Originally from Jamaica, Chef Racquel White has become an integral part of the Charlottesville community. Alongside her husband, she has introduced locals to authentic Caribbean cuisine, serving beloved dishes like Oxtail, Jerk Chicken, Curry Goat, and her unforgettable mac and cheese. You can find Racquel sharing her incredible food at local farmers markets, art events, pop-ups, and restaurant takeovers throughout the Downtown Mall. Honed over more than 25 years in the restaurant industry, her recipes are the product of passion, experience, and tradition. Every bite is packed with bold, authentic flavors that keep people coming back for more. Wherever Rum Punch goes, a loyal following is sure to follow; and many of our own staff proudly count themselves among her biggest fans. That's why we're so excited to welcome Chef Racquel White to Albemarle CiderWorks for select dates this autumn. Come experience Rum Punch at Albemarle CiderWorks on the following dates:
Saturday, September 5th as a volunteer, competiting Chef in The Caribbean Cookout to raise funds for Haiti: ticketed fundraiser, learn more here
Sundays, 12-5pm: - September 13
- September 27
- October 11
- October 18
Irish Music : Aaron Olwell & FriendsIrish Music : Aaron Olwell & Friends
Enjoy this energetic and eclectic Irish jam session every 2nd Sunday of the month. Patrick & Aaron Olwell and friends play their fine renditions of traditional tunes all afternoon.Light bites and hard cider will be available for purchase by the glass, bottle, or flight. Outside food is welcome; feel free to bring a picnic! ABC laws prohibit the consumption of outside alcoholic beverages. *Musicians will setup in the Orchard Room during inclement weather.
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Live Music in the Orchard: The La Da DasLive Music in the Orchard: The La Da Das
The LaDaDas What do three friends and seasoned folksingers do after numerous decades of “9 to 5-ing”? Blair Jones, Betty Jo Taylor, and Mary Gordon Hall, all Virginia natives residing in the Charlottesville, Virginia area, are a three part harmony acoustic trio finally fulfilling lifelong dreams of being traveling troubadours. You’ll find them out and about singing in house concerts and regional concert series, always delighting you with original songs and their colorful harmonious versions of carefully selected covers. They are pleased to release their first and new album, Weaving a Chord.
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An Unexpected GatheringAn Unexpected Gathering
An Unexpected Gathering is an immersive, thoughtfully sourced farm-to-table dinner and folk faire set among the orchards of Albemarle Cider Works in the heart of Middle Virginia. This is not just a dinner. It is a celebration of the land, the people who tend it, and the stories that connect us all. Picture lantern-lit tables surrounded by apple trees at the doorstep of fall foliage. Fire-cooked meat ripe off the bone. Local ciders, wine, and beer poured by the people who made them. Live music drifting through the evening air. Games, activities, and surprise entertainment. And a long table where strangers become friends over a shared feast. Inspired by the old tales of halfling feasts and history becoming myth, An Unexpected Gathering brings the warmth and wonder of folklore to life through local food, handmade craft, and community. Think of a birthday celebration so generous it feeds the whole village. Every ticket supports Fields of View, a nonprofit dedicated to telling the stories of farmers, food systems, and rural communities across Middle Virginia. All proceeds fund educational programming, including a children's show filmed on Virginia farms, lesson plans for teachers, and media content provided to farmers at no cost. This is your invitation. Come hungry. Come curious. Come in costume. Cloaks, capes, and folk garb are warmly encouraged. Event Details • Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026 • Time: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM • Location: Albemarle Cider Works, North Garden, VA • Format: Immersive farm-to-table dinner with live music, games, and folk faire • Dress: Folk and farmstead costume fitting Middle Virginia. Cloaks and capes welcome. • Age: Private event, 21 and up • Tickets: Coming soon. Follow the LINK and join the mailing list to be first to know.
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[Food Truck] Rum Punch[Food Truck] Rum Punch
Originally from Jamaica, Chef Racquel White has become an integral part of the Charlottesville community. Alongside her husband, she has introduced locals to authentic Caribbean cuisine, serving beloved dishes like Oxtail, Jerk Chicken, Curry Goat, and her unforgettable mac and cheese. You can find Racquel sharing her incredible food at local farmers markets, art events, pop-ups, and restaurant takeovers throughout the Downtown Mall. Honed over more than 25 years in the restaurant industry, her recipes are the product of passion, experience, and tradition. Every bite is packed with bold, authentic flavors that keep people coming back for more. Wherever Rum Punch goes, a loyal following is sure to follow; and many of our own staff proudly count themselves among her biggest fans. That's why we're so excited to welcome Chef Racquel White to Albemarle CiderWorks for select dates this autumn. Come experience Rum Punch at Albemarle CiderWorks on the following dates:
Saturday, September 5th as a volunteer, competiting Chef in The Caribbean Cookout to raise funds for Haiti: ticketed fundraiser, learn more here
Sundays, 12-5pm: - September 13
- September 27
- October 11
- October 18
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