City of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development

06/22/2026

☀️ Summer fun is waiting! ☀️

Whether you’re planning a family outing, a weekend adventure, a date night, or a relaxing afternoon outdoors, Charlottesville and the surrounding area have plenty of ways to make the most of the season.

Explore parks, trails, recreation programs, fitness opportunities, events, family-friendly activities, farmers markets, outdoor recreation, live music, arts, culture, and more.

Here are some great places to start:
🌳 Charlottesville Parks and Recreation
https://www.charlottesville.gov/1742/Parks-Recreation

📍 Visit Charlottesville — Things to Do
https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/things-to-do/

🎶 Charlottesville-Albemarle Events Calendar
https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/events/

👒 Charlottesville Downtown Mall
https://downtowncville.com/events/calendar

There’s something for children, adults, families, friends, and visitors alike. Get outside, try something new, and make this summer one to remember!

06/19/2026

Today, the City of Charlottesville joins communities across the nation in celebrating Juneteenth—a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and honors the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Black Americans.
As we reflect on our history, we also celebrate the people, culture, and community that continue to shape Charlottesville. We encourage everyone to take time to learn, reflect, and participate in local events that honor this important day. Explore local Juneteenth celebrations and community events at Visit Charlottesville: https://bit.ly/4vo3XRC

06/18/2026

Happy Father's Day!

Don't forget the father, grandfather, stepdad, mentor, or father figure in your life today. Take a moment to show them some love, treat them to a great meal, a relaxing massage, a peaceful day doing what they enjoy, or a thoughtful gift. And please, no socks or no ties. Let's celebrate the men who guide, support, protect, and love their families every day. Happy Father's Day!

06/17/2026

Who's ready for the next Downtown Mall Minute?

Today, OED's very own director, Chris Engel, shares his thoughts on what makes the Charlottesville Downtown Mall special and how he first discovered the Mall during a trip to the mountains. And if you know Chris, you know there's got to be a little something in there about the Market Street Parking Garage.

Food, flowers, fresh ideas, fenders, and more! Check it out!
👇👇👇

06/16/2026

Explore Charlottesville in the 1970s & Kick-Off the Downtown Mall 50th Anniversary

This summer, make sure to visit Then & Now: Charlottesville in the 1970s, an exhibit by the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society (ACHS), located in Vault Virginia’s first floor gallery. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Charlottesville Downtown Mall, this exhibit explores what life was like in the city 50 years ago.

Featuring 10 portraits from local artist and activist Frances Brand’s “Gallery of Firsts,” the exhibit includes paintings of important local figures, including Charles Barbour, Eugene Williams, and Nancy O’Brien. Their stories, along with historic photographs, newspaper articles, and additional images, explore how civic leadership, social activism, and community engagement shaped the decade.

Special gallery tours, led by ACHS Executive Director and curator of the exhibit, Olivia Brown, will be held throughout the summer on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month.

Get your ticket for one of these special events by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/special-gallery-tour-then-now-charlottesville-in-the-1970s-tickets-1988203432989

ACHS and Friends of Charlottesville Downtown are also proud to partner on a special kick-off event in the Vault Virginia Gallery for the Mall’s 50th anniversary. Any and all who are interested are encouraged to drop-in on Thursday, July 2, 2026, between 5:00-7:00 p.m. to explore the exhibit, hear short remarks from the organizers and City of Charlottesville, Va officials, and enjoy light refreshments as we launch into a busy weekend of activities and excitement around this important milestone!

Join us for a special guided tour of our exhibition, Then & Now: Charlottesville in the 1970s!

06/16/2026

Read all the latest information from your friendly OED staff: https://www.charlottesville.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16385/OED-Newsletter-June-11-2026?bidId=

06/12/2026

The countdown is on and we are only 3 weeks away from the big Charlottesville Downtown Mall 50th Birthday Party!

Check out the full lineup of events on the flyer below and start making your plans now to attend. And did we mention that all of these events are FREE?

Trust us, this is one party you won't want to miss! 🥳

https://downtowncville.com/50th-anniversary

06/10/2026

DOWNTOWN MALL MINUTE

It's time for another edition of the Downtown Mall Minute! Today we are joined by Rhoda Wheeler, owner of Agents In Style Luxury Boutique.

Take a look to see Rhoda share what makes the Charlottesville Downtown Mall such a special place. Here's a hint - Locally-owned is where it's at!

Make plans now to join Rhoda and all the other Downtown Mall businesses at the big Downtown Mall 50th Anniversary celebration on Friday, July 3rd. More details can be found here: https://downtowncville.com/50th-anniversary

06/05/2026

🎉More Congratulations Incoming🎉

At this week's Piedmont Pitch competition, Ctrl Alt Recycle and Penny's Imperfect Pizza, took home top honors and an equal share of the $15,000 prize money pool. They competed against four other entrepreneurial ventures, all of whom had outstanding pitches and business plans.

Please join us, along with our partners at County of Albemarle Economic Development, Central Virginia Small Business Development Center - CV SBDC, and Community Investment Collaborative, in celebrating these entrepreneurial businesses!

06/04/2026

ABOUT LAST WEEK

It's a week later and we're still celebrating the fact that three City of Charlottesville, Va businesses received awards at the 2026 Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) Awards Gala! Please join us in congratulating the following businesses:

Icarus Medical Innovations
(Startup of the Year)

BEACON Kitchen/New Hill Development Corporation
(Partnership of the Year)

Roversa Robotics
(Social Good Award)

In addition, the Office of Economic Development was pleased to once again sponsor the Student Entrepreneur of the Year award, which went to Landon Campbell of RedSide Custom Tools.

All of this simply reinforces that Charlottesville is a place where entrepreneurs can not only get their business venture started, but see it grow and thrive!