Events › Afton & Nelson County
Southwest on Rt 151 · 30–50 min from Charlottesville
Afton Mountain and the Route 151 corridor through Nelson County are Virginia's craft-beverage trail: wineries, cideries, breweries, and distilleries stacked along one gorgeous stretch of the Blue Ridge, most with weekend live music and food trucks.
C-VILLE Chamber Music Festival at Hazy Mountain, featuring Colin Jacobsen and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony arr. for flute and strings. Doors open 6PM, music starts 7:30PM. Tickets required.
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Magic: The Gathering meetup at Bold Rock. Bring your deck - show it and get a FREE cider!
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Vinyl Share every Thursday 4–7pm at WildManDan Brewery. 21+ only establishment.
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Charlottesville blues band formed in 2012.
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An intimate five-course Secret Supper celebrating the vibrant flavors of Japan, with each chef-curated dish paired with a distinctive Hazy Mountain wine. Wine Club Members receive discount.
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True crime and mystery trivia night. Grab a cider, bring teammates, compete for prizes and bragging rights.
More InfoArtisan grilled cheese and beer pairing at WildManDan Brewery. Only 12 seats available — get your tickets! 21+ only.
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Pro Wrestling Hype RETURNS to Bold Rock! FREE ADMISSION, all ages, family friendly. Food truck & cider on site.
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Central-Virginia singer-songwriter blending rock, bluegrass, folk, and blues.
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Live music at Afton Mountain Vineyards featuring The Zip. Tasting Room Open 11am-7:30pm.
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An evening of dancing with C'Ville Bachata Social at Hazy Mountain Vineyards. Salsa and bachata lessons from 5-6pm, then dancing until 9pm. All levels welcome. Tickets required.
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Heart of Virginia Artisans Market at Hazy Mountain featuring local makers, curated gifts, handcrafted goods, adult beverages, and bites.
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An afternoon of curated tea selections and thoughtfully crafted culinary bites at the Hazy Mountain Villa. Hazy Mountain wines available for purchase. Tickets required.
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Wine & Cheese Pairing with Razzbourne Farms at Afton Mountain Vineyards. $60 per person. Tickets required.
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Join us for music on the deck from 2-5pm with Don Hancock at Cardinal Point Winery.
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Jam-band heart with warm vocals and Grateful Dead-inspired improvisation.
More InfoVinyl Share every Thursday 4–7pm at WildManDan Brewery. 21+ only establishment.
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Four-piece band featuring the drummer from the Jon Spear Band.
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Boozy trivia night! Grab a cider, bring teammates, compete for prizes and bragging rights.
More InfoArtisan grilled cheese and beer pairing at WildManDan Brewery. Only 12 seats available — get your tickets! 21+ only.
More InfoLive music in the beer garden at Brewing Tree.
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Join us for music on the deck from 2-5pm with Rick Martin at Cardinal Point Winery.
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Live music in the beer garden at Brewing Tree.
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Bold Book Club: Like a Moth to a Flame by Lillith Abendroth. Bring your book - first cider is FREE!
More InfoVinyl Share every Thursday 4–7pm at WildManDan Brewery. 21+ only establishment.
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Live music in the beer garden at Brewing Tree.
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Villains-themed trivia night. Compete for prizes and bragging rights at Bold Rock.
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Paint + Sip with Blue Ridge Brushes at Hazy Mountain Vineyards. No experience necessary, all materials included. Tickets via Eventbrite.
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The annual Supper Series concludes with a Burgundy truffle supper rooted in Italian cuisine. An elegant, coursed dinner celebrating one of the world's most prized ingredients, paired with Veritas wines. $150 per person including wine pairings. Wine Club Members receive 20% off the first two tickets.
More InfoArtisan grilled cheese and beer pairing at WildManDan Brewery. Only 12 seats available — get your tickets! 21+ only.
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Live music in the beer garden at Brewing Tree.
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Live music at Afton Mountain Vineyards featuring JJ Bevillaqua. Tasting Room Open 11am-7:30pm.
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Original guitar-driven rock and roll with a Southern-rock and Americana streak.
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Cider Bingo in the taproom starting at 6PM!
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Trivia Night in the upstairs mezzanine at Hazy Mountain Vineyards & Brewery with Tag Team Entertainment. Sip wine, test your knowledge, and win prizes!
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An evening of bachata dancing with C'Ville Bachata Social at Hazy Mountain Vineyards. Lessons from 5-6pm, dancing until 9pm. All levels welcome. Tickets required.
More InfoFall Festival at Brewing Tree Beer Company. Details coming soon.
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Trivia Night in the upstairs mezzanine at Hazy Mountain Vineyards & Brewery with Tag Team Entertainment. Sip wine, test your knowledge, and win prizes!
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12 Ridges Vineyard is a high-elevation winery set along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Mile Post 25 in Vesuvius, Virginia, sitting at roughly 3,300 feet, which makes it one of the highest vineyards in the eastern United States. The cool mountaintop climate, with its wide diurnal temperature swings, strong wind, and intense sunlight, slows ripening and preserves natural acidity, producing wines of structure and precision that the vineyard likens in spirit to cool-climate European regions such as Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace, and Germany. About ten acres are planted to Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Gris, varieties chosen specifically for high-elevation conditions, and the winemaking emphasizes restraint to let the site speak. Visitors can taste these wines in a quiet, understated tasting room with uninterrupted long-range views across the Blue Ridge Mountains. For those who wish to linger, a small collection of private homes on the property, including a Vineyard House and a Mountain House, lets guests extend their stay amid the elevation and sweeping mountain scenery.
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Afton Mountain Vineyards is one of Virginia's pioneering wineries, with vines first planted in 1978 on the eastern slope of its namesake Afton Mountain in the heart of the Blue Ridge. Set at nearly 1,000 feet of elevation amid 24 acres of vines spanning 11 grape varieties, the estate pairs sweeping mountain and vineyard views with award-quality wines crafted by French-born winemaker Damien Blanchon. Visitors can enjoy tastings and tours in the Tasting House, relax at the on-site pavilion, stay overnight in one of the vineyard's charming cottages, or host weddings and private events against a stunning Shenandoah Valley backdrop — making it a memorable destination for wine lovers and travelers alike.
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Blue Mountain Barrel House is a brewery and restaurant in Arrington, Virginia, serving as the sister operation to the original Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton. Billed as Virginia's first rural brewery, it has independently brewed and packaged its beers on site since 2012, and also produces all the beer for South Street Brewery. Visitors can sample a wide lineup spanning a core series, seasonal offerings, and the barrel-aged Barrel House series, with flagship beers like the Full Nelson Virginia Pale Ale, Kolsch 151, and the barrel-aged Dark Hollow Imperial Stout. The on-site Smokin' Barrel Restaurant rounds out the experience with sandwiches, pizzas, and a Sunday brunch. Guests can also take advantage of daily specials, growler fills, and live music during Friday Cheers, making it a relaxed destination for food, beer, and gatherings in Nelson County.
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Blue Toad Hard Cider is a craft cidery and taproom nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Nelson County, Virginia, producing award-winning dry hard ciders made exclusively from locally grown apples sourced from Western New York and Nelson County. The cidery takes a farm-to-can approach with all-natural, handcrafted ciders, including its decorated Paddy Green, which has earned a Gold medal at the Great Lakes International Cidery and Perry Competition and a Silver at the Virginia Governor's Cup. Visitors to the cider farm can enjoy pints, flights, and growler fills in the taproom, with happy hour specials, Sunday deals, and Heartland Wines also available for tasting and bottle sales. The property is a lively community hub, hosting live music, food trucks, festivals, and signature events like the Rockfish River Rodeo. Guests can join the Blue Toad Cider Club for bi-monthly shipments, and the on-site Cider Hall serves as an outdoor venue for weddings, corporate retreats, and other gatherings with scenic mountain views.
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Bold Rock Nellysford is a craft cidery, taproom, and restaurant in Nellysford, Virginia, set along the scenic Nelson 151 craft beverage trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The flagship Bold Rock Cider Barn, opened in August 2014, is a rustic timber-framed barn known as the "Chapel of Apple" that serves as the company's headquarters and primary cider production facility, with stunning views of the Rockfish River and surrounding mountains. Visitors can enjoy Bold Rock's gluten-free hard ciders, ranging from dry and crisp to sweet and fruity and made from locally sourced apples, alongside craft beers from sister brands and a full Bold Kitchen menu of lunch and dinner fare designed to pair with cider. The property also includes the Bold Rock Distillery at the Barrel Barn, a destination for craft cocktails, canned cocktails, seltzers, ciders, and wines. With a pint, a tasting flight, weekly food and drink specials, taproom events, a rewards club, and space to host private events, Bold Rock Nellysford offers a family-friendly spot to relax along Route 151.
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Winery
Boutique Nelson County winery blending New World and Old World wine styles — pours estate-grown Virginia wines alongside a rotating selection of Portuguese wines. Also hosts weddings. Open Fri 12–5:30pm, Sat–Sun 11–5:30pm (seasonal, closed in winter).
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A riverside brewery and kitchen on five acres along the North Fork of the Rockfish River in Afton, founded by craft-beer pioneer Mark Thompson. Beer garden, Scratch Kitchen food truck, open meadow, kids' sandbox and dogs welcome on the leash. Free live music most weekends and The Roots Market every Wednesday. 21+ to enter the taproom.
Bryant's Dry Cider is a Virginia cidery and brewery whose ciders are crafted from apples grown on its historic estate farm in Nelson County, near Roseland in the rural Blue Ridge mountains. The company traces its apple-growing roots back more than a century, and today produces a range of gluten-free craft ciders that span from extra dry to moderately sweet, along with estate-produced beers. Visitors can taste at the Bryant's Farm tasting room, set in an 1800s building that hosts weekly events for the whole family, and there is also a second tasting location, the Lab, in Richmond. The farm setting offers history and nature alongside the drinks, and the venue is available for weddings and other gatherings. Guests can join the Cider Club, order online, or stop in to sample the lineup.
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Cardinal Point Winery is a family-operated farm winery in Nelson County, Virginia, ideally situated within view of the Rockfish Gap, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Skyline Drive. Established in 1985, the winery produces limited-production, handcrafted wines that showcase the unique style and terroir of the Monticello American Viticultural Area in the heart of Virginia wine country. Its portfolio spans a range of grape varieties grown and produced on the estate, including offerings such as Rockfish Red, Hopped Chardonnay, and Clay Hill Cabernet Franc. The tasting room welcomes guests daily between 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., offering tastings along with glass and bottle sales and both indoor and outdoor seating areas. Visitors can also join the Cardinal Point Cooperative wine club for access to award-winning wines, special pricing, and discounted event reservations.
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Devils Backbone Brewing Company is a Virginia craft brewery known for its award-winning beers and its setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The brewery operates two pub locations, the Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows and the Outpost, where visitors can enjoy a wide range of house brews along with the company's SMASH ready-to-drink canned cocktails. Beyond the taproom, Basecamp offers an array of experiences including a regular concert series, festivals, and other events held on its scenic grounds. Guests can extend their visit by camping at Basecamp or staying in its on-site lodging, and the property is also available for private events. With food, drink, music, and mountain getaways all in one place, Devils Backbone aims to feel like home.
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Flying Fox Vineyard is a small, family-run Virginia winery that has been producing premium wines since 2006 with a philosophy of uninhibited winemaking. Run by a team with collectively half a century of experience in the Virginia wine industry, the operation deliberately keeps its focus narrow, prioritizing wine itself over events, wide wholesale distribution, or food service. The winery farms two vineyard sites to take advantage of climatic variability: Flying Fox Vineyard in the warmer Monticello AVA, where its red varieties grow, and the cooler, higher Ridge Run Vineyard in the Shenandoah AVA, home to its whites. Its core Flying Fox Series offers eight premium varietal wines, such as viognier and petit verdot, that aim to express the fruit and place authentically, while the experimental Sly Fox Series and an award-winning seasonal vermouth let the team push beyond convention. The result is a limited-production, varietally focused portfolio meant to honor Virginia's emerging wine industry.
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Hazy Mountain is a family-owned winery in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia that produces wine from its own estate vineyards. With 86 acres under vine across two sites in Afton and Swoope, the winery proudly represents both the Monticello and Shenandoah Valley AVAs, aiming to let the vineyards speak for themselves and tell the story of what their distinctive soils have to offer. Guests can personalize their visit with guided tastings, offered seven days a week in the tasting room, with private guided tastings available upon request. The winery also offers a tiered wine club with four membership levels, plus tasting room and online shop discounts, for those who want to enjoy more Hazy Mountain at home. Beyond tastings, Hazy Mountain hosts weddings and private events in its dedicated vineyard event spaces and maintains a calendar of ongoing happenings throughout the year.
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Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery is a family-run winery and meadery in Nellysford, Virginia, in the scenic Rockfish River Valley along the Route 151 corridor in the Blue Ridge. It first opened in 1993 as a pick-your-own berry farm and in 1998 became the fifty-first winery to open in Virginia. The winery specializes in "true to the fruit" wines made from fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, plums, apples, peaches, and elderberries, alongside historically accurate honey meads, with all 32 varieties handcrafted in small batches and bottled on the farm. Visitors can sample these fruit wines and ancient-style honey meads while learning the history behind each one, and enjoy tasting flights and charcuterie out on the patio. Set amid orchards and farmland with mountain views, Hill Top is part of a region known for wineries, breweries, cideries, hiking, and outdoor recreation, and it offers a discount to veterans, military members, and law enforcement.
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Silverback Distillery is an internationally awarded craft distillery led by Master Distiller Christine Riggleman, founded in 2014. The independent, small-batch operation produces distinct, flavorful spirits from a unique mix of local grains, mountain water, and American craftsmanship, including the citrus-forward Strange Monkey Gin, honey-infused Blackback Rye Whiskey, Blackback Bourbon, and the acclaimed Christine Riggleman Reserve, the first bourbon branded under a woman's name. Silverback operates production facilities and tasting rooms in both the Pocono region of Pennsylvania and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, giving visitors two locations to explore. Guests can enjoy a range of tasting experiences, from cocktail flights and barrel-smoked cocktails to whiskey served neat. The distillery takes its name from a family nickname and prides itself on creating high-quality, approachable spirits meant to be enjoyed by everyone.
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Valley Road Vineyards is a Virginia farm winery located at the gateway to the Nelson 151 trail at 9264 Critzers Shop Road in Afton, within the historic Monticello Viticultural Area. Founded in 2016, the winery focuses on outstanding estate wines and farms roughly a dozen-plus acres under vine; it is a member of the Monticello Wine Trail and a winner of the 2026 Virginia Governor's Cup. Visitors can sample wines in the farm-chic tasting room or relax outdoors on the Patio, the Pavilion overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, or in the shade of the Grove. The winery is open seven days a week, offers a wine club and regular events, and is a popular setting for weddings and private celebrations. Its scenic location makes it a natural first stop for those exploring the Nelson 151 corridor.
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Veritas Vineyard and Winery is a top-rated, family-owned winery located at 151 Veritas Lane in Afton, Virginia, about 20 minutes west of Charlottesville in scenic Nelson County. A proud member of the Nelson 151 Trail, the estate produces award-winning wines and offers a tasting room open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors can enjoy wine tastings, settle in at one of the winery's tables to take in the vineyard views, and explore the seasonal menu and wine list. The property is also a popular destination for weddings and hosts a calendar of events throughout the year, including its Supper Series, Starry Nights, and Veritas Illuminated. Guests can join the wine club for quarterly hand-selected releases and member benefits, and the on-site Farmhouse offers an additional dining and lodging experience.
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Virginia Distillery Co. is an American Single Malt whisky distillery set in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, in central Virginia. The distillery describes itself as the most awarded single malt whisky distillery in America, earning recognition from top industry experts and prestigious competitions for its grain-to-glass craft. At its Visitors Center, guests can book guided tours and tastings to explore the distillery's process, history, and award-winning whisky firsthand. The distillery also hosts a calendar of special events and experiences, and shares whisky cocktail recipes ranging from classic Old Fashioneds to original creations. Its flagship offerings include the Courage & Conviction brand of American Single Malt, with educational resources available through the American Single Malt Academy.
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WildManDan Brewery is an artisan production brewery in Afton, Virginia, and a member of the Nelson 151 Craft Beverage Trail, where it has been recognized among the trail's best. The brewery is a 21-and-over establishment open to the public, specializing in small-batch beer and welcoming visitors Wednesday through Sunday, with hours that include weekday afternoons and evenings. Beyond the taproom, the property offers a Mountain Farmhouse that sleeps 12, available for group bookings with farm-to-table catering for guests staying the weekend. Regular happenings give the brewery a community feel, including Run, Walk, Crawl on Wednesdays, Locals Vinyl nights with five-dollar pints on Thursdays, and a Saturday grilled cheese and beer pairing with limited seating. The brewery also hosts seasonal events such as the Nelson 151 Honey Daze celebration and shows all Green Bay Packers games, making it a relaxed spot for craft beer and casual gatherings in the Virginia mountains.
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