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.
May 1, 2026 PARTICIPANTS
PARTICIPANT DETAILS
SH Franklin Building
921 MAIN STREET- SECOND FLOOR
Pop in for a wine tasting and art exhibition as part of First Fridays (May 1).
Artists include Joanne Becker, Kim Clarke, and Jim Tracey
~Cash bar featuring Rebec Vineyards.
5-8pm
Academy Center of the Arts
600 MAIN STREET
All on-site galleries will be open for a First Fridays (May 1) opening.
~ Ann White Academy Gallery (May 1- 29) featuring PARTS IS PARTS by Kaye Lipscomb: mixed media works.
~The Up Front Gallery (May 1-29) featuring Nourishing Flourishes by Erica Trabold: paper collage works.
~ Arts & Education Building (May 1-29) featuring LCS Middle School Art Showcase. Reception: May 13th - 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
Image to the right is Honeydew with Prosciutto by Erica Trabold.
Lynchburg Art Club
1101 RIVERMONT AVE
Join LAC for a First Fridays (May 1) reception for the opening of Go Big – Large Scale Art, artworks that measure a minimum of 36” for both heights and width and up to 72” in any direction.
The exhibit will feature the artwork of Phillip Carwile, Jennifer Clark, Emily Flint, Bev Flynn, Emily Goodyear, Claudia Jutras, Sherry Pope, and Brian Reisz.
Refreshments will be served.
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
Scrappy Elephant
400 12TH STREET
The Scrappy Elephant will be participating in First Fridays (May 1) from 4-6pm featuring pieces from a variety of artists.
The event will include snacks, a free craft, and a meet and greet with the artists.
Our artists are: Whitney Whited aka Fibre Faerie, Bradley 'the Glass Man' Cooper, Audrey Pierce, Lilly McSweeney of Happy Goblin Boutique, Melissa McReynolds, Stephen Kissel, and Macree Workman.
Click here to learn more. 4-6pm.
Riverviews Artspace
52 9TH STREET
Stop in on First Fridays (May 1) 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.
Program begins at 6 p.m.: In the Still—a dance performance by Randolph College student Ayani Vincent followed by a collector’s talk with Sue Ott Rowlands.
Opening in the Riverviews Collective Hallway Gallery: E.C. Glass High School AP Art Exhibition & Senior Art Show. Featured artists: River Baird, Lily Gray, Helen Grace Sackett, Lily Hunt, Madeline Stone, Wren Cook, JP Mancier, and Dietrich Mullins
~ On First Fridays, enjoy concessions, snacks, & drinks at the gallery bar.
~ Free and open to all ages.
Steven Francis Fine Art
1200 MAIN STREET
Please join us on First Fridays (May 1) for an opening reception for Marginalia, a solo exhibition of recent landscape paintings by Frank Hobbs.
The exhibition will be on view May 1- 29 with two other special events in addition to First Fridays:
~Artist Reception with Frank Hobbs - Friday, May 15 from 5-8pm
~Frank Hobbs Artist Talk - Saturday, May 16 at 12pm
Lynchburg Museum and Visitor’s Center
901 COURT STREET
Part II of Lynchburg & The Vietnam War opens on First Fridays (May 1), with a free public reception.
The Lynchburg Museum System invites visitors deeper into the human connections of the Vietnam War. The heart of the exhibit continues to honor the 27 Lynchburg men killed in action, alongside items from David Harker reflecting on his time as a POW, and artifacts from local Vietnam veterans. While the exhibit continues to center and honor local service members and their sacrifices, Part II broadens the story to reveal how the war was lived both abroad and at home.
New displays highlight the Combined Action Program (CAP) through Dr. Ed Palm’s in-country photographs, the service of women through Army Nurse Marilyn Brooks and Lt. Col. Esther Miller, and the journey of Nguyen Chanh Thi and how our community became the safe harbor for his family’s resettlement. Additional sections explore the war’s presence in daily life through music, letters, and media, tracing how distant events shaped the city in real time.
Vector Space
2004 MEMORIAL AVENUE
Stop by Vector Space for First Fridays (May 1)!
This month, participants will design and craft their very own wooden boomerang using woodshop tools and hands-on guidance from our team. Learn the basics of shaping, sanding, and balancing your piece — then join us for some fun in the grassy area as we test out your creation!
Everyone’s invited to join the fun! 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.
Sponsored by the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation.
Click here to learn more! 5-7:30pm