ART. MUSIC. FOOD. COMMUNITY.
THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH STARTING AT 5pm!
First Fridays is a monthly cultural event in Lynchburg, VA highlighting local artists, performers, exhibits, and more! Stop by one of the many art galleries offering new exhibits and special performances, then make a night of it in downtown or elsewhere in the city!
First Fridays’ primary purpose is to highlight the organizations and spaces that are bringing local, regional, and even national art to the Lynchburg community.
June 5, 2026 PARTICIPANTS
PARTICIPANT DETAILS
Steven Francis Fine Art
1200 MAIN STREET
Stop by on First Fridays (June 5) for an opening reception for Windowsill Reveries, a solo exhibition of paintings by Laura Wooten.
The exhibition will be on view June 5- July 25.
~ Laura Wooten Artist Talk - Saturday, June 13 at 12pm.
Old City Cemetery
401 TAYLOR STREET
Old City Cemetery will be participating in First Fridays (June 5) with tours of our private collections.
Featuring artwork by notable area artists, as well as 220 years of Lynchburg history.
Tours of the Heirloom Roses will also be available, weather permitting.
Refreshments will be served with donations appreciated.
Click here to learn more. 5-7:30pm.
SH Franklin Building
921 MAIN STREET- SECOND FLOOR
Stop by for a wine tasting and art exhibition as part of First Fridays (June 5).
Artists include Andrew Riscart, Joanne Becker, Kim Clarke, Jim Tracey, and FryGuy
~Cash bar featuring Rebec Vineyards.
5-8pm
Lynchburg Art Club
1101 RIVERMONT AVE
Join LAC for a First Fridays (June 5) reception for the annual Show Your Best Art Show.
Refreshments will be served.
This year’s judge is Shawn O’Connor. He was raised in Minot, ME and completed his BFA at the University of Southern Maine. After undergraduate studies, he went on to be a resident and staff member at Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts. Shawn received his MFA in Ceramics from Syracuse University, with his main focus of his research revolving around wood firing and where he designed and constructed a Train style wood kiln. He later went on to publish his first article about his kiln in the Log Book. Since graduate school Shawn has continued to focus on making utilitarian wood fired vessels, which he has exhibited both nationally and internationally. Shawn is currently an Assistant Professor of Studio Art at Sweet Briar College.
The Judge’s Critique and Awards will be held on June 7, 2026, at 2PM.
The juror will select six “Awards of Distinction” worth $100 each. These awards will not be ranked.
Regular gallery hours are Thursday - Friday from 1-5pm and Saturday - Sunday from 1:30-4pm (or by appointment).
Click here to learn more! 5-7:30pm
Riverviews Artspace
52 9TH STREET
Join us on First Fridays (June 5) for Crossing Cultures.
Thirty years of collecting across five continents, now on view in Lynchburg. This exhibit features international works from the private collection of Sue Ott Rowlands, President of Randolph College and world-traveled theatre artist.
This exhibition includes work by international artists from Spain, Nigeria, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Haiti, Germany, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Austria, Hungary, the United Kingdom, France, and Cuba.
~ On First Fridays, enjoy concessions, snacks, & drinks at the gallery bar.
~ Free and open to all ages.
~ Note for visitors: Riverviews will not host a First Friday event in July. The next exhibition, How Will Our Ancestors Find Us?, opens on June 26 from 5-8 pm.
Lynchburg Museum and Visitor’s Center
901 COURT STREET
Pop in for museum extended hours on First Fridays (June 5) for a free public reception and pop-up exhibit.
Explore the fascinating history of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Lynchburg, focusing on the Hill City innovations and inventions that shaped the nation–and even the world. From the town’s first water works that pumped water almost 250 feet above the James River, to the city’s leadership in powering the next human mission to Mars, STEM has a long and surprising history in Lynchburg.
The exhibit and reception are co-sponsored by the Lynchburg Museum System and the Future Focus Foundation.
Vector Space
2004 MEMORIAL AVENUE
Vector Space brings you a Parachute Build and Open House for First Fridays (June 5)!
This month, participants will design and create their very own mini parachute. Choose or bring a beloved parachuter figurine, attach it to your parachute, and then test your creation by releasing it into the big, wild sky! It’s a hands-on way to explore physics, creativity, and fun all at once.
This project also counts as a Junior Maker activity, designed to welcome young creators (with adult supervision) into the world of making.
We’ll also be opening our doors to visitors—drop in to explore our 23,000-square-foot makerspace and discover what we're all about.
Entry donations of $3 or more per participant are smiled upon.
Many thanks to the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation for their support in making this educational event possible!
Click here to learn more! 5-7:30pm
Academy Center of the Arts
600 MAIN STREET
All on-site galleries will be open for a First Fridays (June 5) opening.
~ Ann White Academy Gallery (June 5- July 31) featuring BECOMING by Sarah-Faith Strait: oil paintings.
~The Up Front Gallery (June 5- July 31) featuring Histories by Meredith Peverill: Mixed Media Collection.
Artist Talk on June 6th from 1-2!
Image to the right is Appaloosa Locomotion by Sarah-Faith Strait.