Bedford VA250

06/10/2026

Stop by the Bedford Area Welcome Center and pick up a free coloring sheet! Then be sure to post a pic to show off your coloring skills. Don't forget to tag us! 🇺🇸

06/08/2026

Join local author James Morrison at the Moneta/SML Library on Tuesday, June 16th, at 2 PM for a fascinating presentation about the extraordinary journey to bring a Bedford County hero home after more than eight decades.

The program tells the remarkable story of Morris E. Canady, a U.S. Marine from Bedford County who was killed in action during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942 and buried on the battlefield in the South Pacific. After 82 years, advances in recovery and identification efforts finally led to the discovery of his remains, allowing him to be returned to his family and laid to rest at home.

Morrison will share the history behind Canady's service and sacrifice, the long search to bring him home, and the inspiring story of how this local hero's journey was documented and shared with audiences around the world through a documentary film.

Don't miss this moving tribute to courage, perseverance, and the enduring commitment to honor those who served.
https://bedford.librarycalendar.com/event/unearthing-local-history-bringing-home-wwii-soldier-82027

06/08/2026

The Big Island Library will be presenting the Road Scholar Lecture: Honoring D-Day - Echoes of Valor & Victory next Saturday, June 13th, at 11 AM.

On June 6, 1944, the Allies undertook one of the boldest and most significant operations of World War II — a massive amphibious and airborne assault in Normandy, marking the beginning of the end for N**i oppression in Europe.

Join us as we honor this monumental day with an inspiring online lecture by Dr. Spencer Jones, esteemed historian and author. The first 24 hours of Operation Overlord, codenamed “D-Day,” saw a united effort of American, British, and Canadian forces to overcome Hitler's formidable 'Atlantic Wall' and secure essential beachheads. Dr. Jones will unveil the strategic brilliance and steadfast bravery that marked this pivotal moment, propelling the Allies towards the liberation of Europe.

Please note that this presentation is a pre-recorded Road Scholar lecture that we will be showing at the library. The presenter will not be here in person.

https://bedford.librarycalendar.com/event/online-lecture-honoring-d-day-echoes-valor-victory-83086

06/05/2026

🇺🇸 Welcome to Bedford for a historic weekend as we commemorate the 82nd Anniversary of the D-Day Landings and celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the National D-Day Memorial!

There’s plenty happening throughout the community. Check out our event calendar for local events and activities, or stop by the Bedford Area Welcome Center for information and assistance during your visit.

📅 https://www.destinationbedfordva.com/events/list

06/05/2026

Two nights only - June 5 & 6! A singing and dancing performance by Letters from Home will open the event at 7:30 p.m.

05/29/2026

May 29, 2026 - the Museum is open until 5 p.m.

05/29/2026

THIS weekend - May 29 & May 30 - at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest!

Playwright Teresa Harris’s original drama returns to Jefferson’s plantation for two additional performances!

Drawn from real-life experiences of the men and women who were enslaved at Poplar Forest, the trilogy explores the complexity of their lives and their struggles to survive. Join Harris, the cast and Poplar Forest’s archaeology and interpretation staff for a Q&A following the performance.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit www. poplarforest.org/events

05/28/2026

Join VA250 Commemorative Partner, the Bedford Public Library System, for a day of living history with Fincastle Company: 18th Century Living History Interpreters! This is free to attend on Saturday, May 30, at the library and in Wharton Garden, located on East Main Street in downtown Bedford. The Bedford VA Farmers Market will also be open until noon, and shops and restaurants will be open, too! Make it a full day in Bedford!

Come celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our Independence THIS COMING SATURDAY, MAY 30TH, from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Bedford Central Library (321 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA 24523)! Enjoy a living historic performance presented by the Fincastle Company.

Fincastle Company is a group of dedicated living historians who portray both military and civilian roles during the time of the American War of Independence. They conduct extensive research and documentation on all the clothing and equipment used by them in order to be as accurate to the period as possible.
The group performs living history displays at various historical sites in the mid-Atlantic region. They specifically portray the Fincastle/Montgomery County Militia, which was an actual unit from Southwestern Virginia that served in the American Revolution.

No registration is required.

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05/27/2026

Thank you Smith Mountain Eagle for the article! Come see the VA250 - American Revolution 250 Commission traveling banner exhibition at the Bedford Area Welcome Center through June 8! Open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Bedford Area Welcome Center is hosting a special traveling banner exhibition in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Visitors are invited to experience the exhibit now through June 8 at