Photo Credit: William Dyas
Lemon Tree Gallery & Studio in Cape Charles, VA offers free live music on Friday nights from 6-8 PM with complimentary refreshments and a cash bar. There are over 60 artists in the collective. Always free to explore and enjoy the gallery!
Northampton County citizens benefit from a rich arts and culture community. The Eastern Shore's pristine natural surroundings inspires a community of creative artists, artisans, poets, musicians, dancers, filmmakers and writers. There are year round arts events at various locations in the County. Local and regional performing artists appear regularly at various venues.
Lemon Tree Gallery & Studio and Historic Palace Theatre in Cape Charles managed by the 501c3 non-profit, GEAR (Global Exchange Arts Roundtable), provide art, dance and theater instruction for children and adults. GEAR is also behind Experimental Film Virginia.
Photo Credit: William Dyas
The Arts Council of the Eastern Shore (ACES) presents an annual program of regional and national performance art at various sites on the Shore.
The Eastern Shore Art League presents an annual member’s show, a student show and offers post-secondary arts scholarships.
The Artisans Guild-Eastern Shore of Virginia 
offers mentoring and professional development to its working members. The Guild holds an annual three-day Open Studio Tour every year over Thanksgiving Weekend.
There is no charge for the tour.
Harbor for the Arts provides free live music in Cape Charles Central Park every Saturday during the summer at 7 PM. There is a "large grass area in front of the Gazebo and shady tree areas on the sides. Bring a chair or blanket. Beverages will be available."
Musicians are plentiful on the Shore. Many venues up and down the County offer free live music year round. Want to get in on the scene? Open Mic nights offer opportunities to show off your talent. Please check the Live Music calendar to find an event near you!
Festivals provide entertainment for residents and visitors and enhance their knowledge and enjoyment with displays and performances. For twenty years, the Juneteenth Festival has been an arena to educate and promote cultural enlightenment and diversity to the residents of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Juneteenth is the oldest known festival to celebrate the end of slavery and is celebrated in June.
July 4th is always a big draw for parades, music, contests, food, fun and fireworks. If you are on the Chesapeake Bay on the 4th of July, you can see fireworks across the Bay and up and down the Shore!
In September, the Town of Exmore hosts an Artisans Fall Festival. Please check our Calendar for events happening in Northampton County.
Local fiction and non-fiction writers, many nationally known, hold readings and book signings at county libraries and cultural events.
Listen to the: Writer's Block Eastern Shore Edition from April 21st, at the Barrier Islands Center featuring musical guest Thelma Peterson and talented local writers, poets, and storytellers performing their work in front of a live audience.
Local poets Terry Flynn and Stephen Scott Whitaker.
WHRO held a reading of local poets and storytellers at the Barrier Island Center which was recorded for the radio show "Writer's Block."
Please support the arts!
More free Arts and Cultural events can be viewed on the site menu.
Enjoy!!