Ashland Train Day through the lens of Rick Kidd
📸 20th Anniversary Giveaway — Jessica Robertson Photography
Ashland, we have the most exciting news to share! Jessica Robertson Photography is celebrating 20 years in our beloved community — and to say thank you, they are giving away 20 FREE Family Portrait Sessions to 20 lucky families! This is one of the most generous giveaways happening in Ashland, Virginia this year, and we don't want you to miss your chance.
Who qualifies for a family session? Multi-generational families, parents with children, siblings, grandparents, grandparents with grandchildren, or you and one person you love. Pets are welcome too! (Note: headshots, seniors, and individual sessions are not included.)
How to enter:
✅ Follow Jessica Robertson Photography on Facebook and Instagram
✅ Share the giveaway reel to your page and tag them
✅ Comment on the post and tell them why you'd love to win
✅ Fill out the official entry form at jessicarobertson.com under the "Giveaway" tab
Winners will be announced starting February 1st — so fill out that form today! Sessions must be completed by April 30, 2026. The giveaway covers the full session fee; printed products are not included.
📅 Giveaway open through April 30, 2026
📍 307 England Street, Ashland, Virginia 23005
🔗 jessicarobertson.com
💆 Spring Specials + Mother's Day Gift Cards — Revival Spas
Friends, if there was ever a time to treat yourself — or someone you love — it is RIGHT NOW. Revival Spas is running the most dreamy spring specials through April 15th, and we are telling every single person we know. Here's what's on the table for Ashland and Richmond, Virginia area self-care lovers:
🌿 70-Min Massage with CBD Spot Treatment & Nourishing Scalp Rub — $110 (reg. $145) CBD melts away tension while jojoba, rosemary, and peppermint infuse your scalp with hydrating, antioxidant-rich goodness. Every massage is fully customized to your needs.
✨ 70-Min Vitamin C Facial with Dermaplaning — $100 (reg. $130) Dermaplaning gently exfoliates and removes baby hairs, prepping your skin for a brightening, antioxidant-rich Vitamin C treatment that leaves you absolutely glowing for spring. (And yes — hair does not grow back darker or thicker!)
🧖 10% Off Full Body Organic Scrubs & Body Mud Wraps Slough off winter-dry skin and detoxify from head to toe with a mineral-rich, clay-based wrap of your choice. Your skin will thank you!
💝 Mother's Day Gift Card Sale — starting April 15th Give the gift of pure bliss! Starting April 15th, grab an $85 gift card worth $110 in services. Purchase easily online at revivalspas.com — this makes the most thoughtful Mother's Day gift in the Richmond, Virginia area!
📅 Spring Specials: March 1 – April 15, 2026
📅 Mother's Day Gift Card Sale: April 15 – May 15, 2026
🔗 revivalspas.com
🐔 Foam & Fowl Festival at Center of the Universe Brewing
We are cluckin' THRILLED to tell you about one of the most fun spring events in Ashland, Virginia! Join us at Center of the Universe Brewing Co for a free, family-friendly celebration of craft beer and all things chicken. Enjoy live music from the 804 Band, chicken-focused food trucks (Flavor Chariot and la Bête), new and limited-release brews, and college basketball on the TVs. It's the perfect Ashland VA spring outing — and did we mention it's FREE and open to all ages?
📅 Saturday, April 4, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Center of the Universe Brewing Co.,
11293 Air Park Rd, Ashland, VA 23005
🔗 cotubrewing.com/events/fowl-foam-2/
🌱 Entrepreneur Bootcamp — Downtown Ashland Association
Got a big idea brewing? We would love to see you at the Downtown Ashland Association's Entrepreneur Bootcamp! These free sessions connect local entrepreneurs with fresh resources, real insights, and the kind of community support every small business owner needs to thrive. Featuring Your Path Coaching & Consulting, this Ashland VA networking event is perfect for dreamers, doers, and everyone in between.
📅 Tuesday, April 1, 2026
⏰ 6:00 – 7:30 PM
📍 Ashland Branch Library Conference Room,
201 S Railroad Ave, Ashland, VA 23005
🔗 ashlandvirginia.com/bootcampom/bootcamp
🎤 Open Mic Night at Center of the Universe Brewing
Whether you're a performer or a fan, we'd love to have you at Open Mic Night at COTU! Host Russ Groover brings the PA, the mics, and the good vibes — you bring your voice, your instrument, or just your enthusiasm. Craft beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages are all available. Free to attend and free to perform. This is Ashland, Virginia community fun at its finest!
📅 Monday, April 7, 2026
📍 Center of the Universe Brewing Co.,
11293 Air Park Rd, Ashland, VA 23005
🔗 cotubrewing.com/events/open-mic-night/
💛 Behind the Smile — Postpartum Support Group (Virtual)
Virginia mamas, this one is for YOU. Behind the Smile is a weekly virtual support group for mothers navigating the beautiful and sometimes overwhelming journey of postpartum life. Scheduled during morning nap time, these free hour-long sessions are facilitated by Eloise McCorkle — a Resident in Counseling, Postpartum Support Virginia preferred provider, perinatal mental health specialist, fellow mama, and military spouse. You don't have to do this alone. 💛
📅 Beginning Wednesday, April 8, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM
⌨️ Virtual — Virginia mamas welcome
🔗 milebymilescounseling.com/about-3
🐾 Patio Pawty Doggie Happy Hour at Center of the Universe Brewing
Grab your pup and come celebrate spring on the patio! We are obsessed with this dog-friendly happy hour at COTU, and we think your fur baby will be too. Enjoy cold beverages, great food, and live music — all with your four-legged best friend by your side. This is one of the most fun pet-friendly events in Ashland, Virginia, all year!
📅 Saturday, April 11, 2026
⏰ 4:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 Center of the Universe Brewing Co., 11293 Air Park Rd, Ashland, VA 23005
🔗 cotubrewing.com/events/patio-pawtys/
🏃 Hanover Chamber 5K Road Race
Looking for the perfect spring race in the Richmond, Virginia area? We love this flat, fast 5K course — great for all ages and a wonderful warm-up for Monument 10K season! Start and finish at the Hanover Chamber of Commerce in the Hanover Airpark. Expect springtime festivities, snacks, a crowd-favorite Mascot Race, and six years of community fun. Come run with your neighbors!
📅 Saturday, April 11, 2026
⏰ 8:30 – 11:30 AM
📍 11211 Air Park Rd, Suite 2, Ashland, VA
🔗 hanoverchamberva.com
🌸 Boldly Chic: The Wine & Wardrobe Affair — James River Cellars This one sounds absolutely stunning and we are telling all of our people about it! Enjoy curated wine tastings, luxe brunch bites, hand-selected vendors, and a surprise reveal you won't see coming. The perfect spring afternoon for the Ashland and Richmond, Virginia area wine lovers in your life.
📅 Sunday, April 12, 2026
⏰ 1:00 – 3:30 PM
📍James River Cellars Winery,
11008 Washington Highway, Glen Allen, VA 23059
🔗 eventbrite.com/e/boldlychic-tickets-1983047954815
🎤 Hanover's Got Talent — Auditions
Is there a star in your life ages 8 and up? We'd love to see them shine! Auditions for Hanover's Got Talent are happening at Hanover Arts and Activities Center. The top 15 acts will perform at the Ashland Theatre on May 3rd, and the top three winners earn prizes AND the opportunity to perform at Ashland, VA events throughout the year. Time slots are assigned as sign-ups come in — register today!
📅 Monday, April 13, 2026
⏰ 4:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Hanover Arts and Activities Center,
500 S. Center St., Ashland, VA
🔗 https://www.ashlandvirginia.com/news/hanovers-got-talent-auditions-open
🎭 "The Importance of Being Earnest" — Randolph-Macon College Theatre
If you love sharp wit, tangled romances, and timeless comedy, this one is absolutely not to be missed! Randolph-Macon College's Theatre Program presents Oscar Wilde's beloved classic under the direction of Visiting Assistant Professor Amy George Brown. Double lives unravel, identities get hilariously mistaken, and the truth proves far more inconvenient than fiction. Free your calendar and treat yourself to a night of brilliant theatre right here in Ashland, VA!
📅 April 16–19, 2026
📍 Center for the Performing Arts, Cobb-Kesler Theater,
205 Henry St, Ashland, VA 23005
🔗 rmc.edu/campus-life/arts-and-events/
🎖️ Salute to Our Heroes — Hanover Chamber Foundation
Hanover County honors our Sheriff's Office deputies and their families! The evening begins with the Sheriff's Annual Awards Ceremony at Hanover High School, followed by dinner at the historic Hanover Tavern. Sponsorships are available, and community members are welcome to purchase citizen tickets to show their gratitude to the men and women who serve our community every day.
📅 Thursday, April 16, 2026
📍 Hanover High School & Hanover Tavern,
Hanover County, VA
🔗 hanoverchamberva.com
🌏 J. Earl Moreland Lecture on Asia: "Between Roots & Rivers"
We are so excited to share this powerful, free public lecture at Randolph-Macon College! Presenter Emma Ito — Director of Education at Virginia Humanities — will explore the layered histories and lived experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Virginia, from early immigrants to landmark legal cases and local community stories. This is the kind of evening that expands your heart and your understanding of our shared Virginia history.
📅 Thursday, April 16, 2026
⏰ 7:30 – 9:00 PM
📍 Brock Commons 201 – Dollar Tree Room,
Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA
🔗 rmc.edu/campus-life/arts-and-events/
🍷 April Fools Wine Tasting Festival — James River Cellars Winery
Now celebrating its 23rd year, this beloved Central Virginia tradition is one we look forward to every spring! The April Fools Festival brings together Virginia wineries for a lively day of tastings, live music, local vendors, and food trucks. Every guest receives a complimentary James River Cellars stemless wine glass — and gets to vote for their favorite wine! Tickets are just $20 in advance. Cheers to spring in Virginia wine country! 🥂
📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ 12:00 PM
📍 James River Cellars Winery,
11008 Washington Highway, Glen Allen, VA 23059
🔗 jamesrivercellars.com/event/april-fools-festival-april-18th-2026/
🎩 Derby Hat Decorating Party at Center of the Universe Brewing
Y'all, we are HERE for this one. Head to COTU and build your very own custom Kentucky Derby hat with help from the creative pros at Color Outside the Lines Academy! All materials are included — ribbons, feathers, tulle, flowers, extra bling, and glue guns — starting at just $35. Space is limited and you must arrive by 6 PM to have time to create your masterpiece. Sign up today and show up to Derby weekend in style! 🐎
📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ 4:00 – 7:00 PM (arrive by 6 PM!)
📍 Center of the Universe Brewing Co. — Private Events Room,
11293 Air Park Rd, Ashland, VA 23005
🔗 cotubrewing.com/events/derby-hat-decorating-party/
🧩 Puzzle Racing at Center of the Universe Brewing
Think you've got the fastest puzzle-solving fingers in Ashland, Virginia? Put them to the test at COTU Puzzle Races! Grab a friend or come solo, choose a 250-piece puzzle, and race the clock for a chance to win a COTU gift card. No registration required — just show up and puzzle anytime between 1–6 PM. This is the low-key, laugh-out-loud kind of afternoon we absolutely love.
📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ 1:00 – 6:00 PM
📍 Center of the Universe Brewing Co.,
11293 Air Park Rd, Ashland, VA 23005
🔗 cotubrewing.com/events/cotu-puzzle-races/
🎶 Live Music: Life Support at The Iron Horse
We love a good night out in Ashland, and this one sounds like a great time! Richmond-based folk rock band Life Support takes the stage at The Iron Horse — come out, grab a drink, and enjoy some live music with your people.
📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ Music starts at 8:30 PM
📍 The Iron Horse,
100 S Railroad Ave, Ashland, VA
🏆 Ira Andrews Lecture Featuring Eboo Patel — Randolph-Macon College
We are so honored to share this one with you! Interfaith America founder and president Eboo Patel — who served on President Obama's Inaugural Faith Council and has been recognized as one of America's best leaders — delivers the prestigious Ira Andrews Lecture as part of the inauguration week for Randolph-Macon's 16th president. This is a free, public event that we think the whole Ashland, VA community will treasure.
📅 Thursday, April 23, 2026
⏰ 5:00 – 6:30 PM
📍 Center for the Performing Arts,
Blackwell Auditorium, 205 Henry St, Ashland, VA 23005
🔗 rmc.edu/campus-life/arts-and-events/
🇺🇸 Hanover County VA250 LOVE Sign — Downtown Ashland
History is coming to downtown Ashland, and we are thrilled! The Hanover County VA250 LOVE sign — a 16-foot-wide mosaic sculpture designed and built by Hanover County Public School art students — will be parked on Duncan Street beside Refunkit during Train Day weekend. It's traveling throughout the county in 2026 to honor the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Come see it, take a photo, and celebrate our incredible community!
📅 Thursday, April 23 – Monday, April 27, 2026
📍 Duncan Street beside Refunkit, Downtown Ashland, VA
🔗 ashlandmuseum.org
🚂 22nd Annual Ashland Train Day
Friends, THIS IS THE BIG ONE. We are beyond excited for the 22nd Annual Ashland Train Day — the beloved street festival and railroad extravaganza that makes Downtown Ashland, Virginia the absolute Center of the Universe for one glorious day! Rain or shine, come celebrate with model train displays, Lego layouts, vintage railroad equipment, a classic red caboose, live music at the Pavilion, dance performances, food trucks from around the world, unique vendors, bouncy houses, face painting, raffles for Amtrak tickets, and so much more. Don't miss your chance to win an official Train Day raffle prize — and grab your exclusive 2026 merchandise online before it sells out!
📅 Saturday, April 25, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Downtown Ashland, VA
🔗 AshlandTrainDay.com
🎭 Hanover's Got Talent Rehearsal
A quick but important reminder for all Hanover's Got Talent performers — mandatory rehearsal is coming up! If your act made it to the showcase, you'll need to be there. The big show is at Ashland Theatre on May 3rd, and we cannot wait to cheer everyone on!
📅 Sunday, April 26, 2026
⏰ 6:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Hanover Arts and Activities Center,
500 S. Center St., Ashland, VA
📻 Happy Hour Vibes — On-Air Networking Party
Ashland-area entrepreneurs, this one is a game-changer for your brand! Join us for Happy Hour Vibes, the monthly on-air networking party where business meets buzz. Only 15 seats are available! Your ticket includes a 30-second on-air business mention, professional branded photos, social media shoutouts across Farmer Company Media AND Downtown Ashland Association platforms, signature mocktails by Shaken Not Spurred, and Chick-fil-A from Ashland. 50% of proceeds benefit Downtown Ashland Association. Don't miss your spotlight moment!
📅 Monday, April 27, 2026
📍 Farmer Company Media Studios,
1913 Huguenot Rd Suite 300, North Chesterfield, VA 23235
🎟️ $75/ticket (only 15 available!)
🔗 ashlandvirginia.com/happyhourvibes