3 Fab-boo-lous Benefits of Volunteering for Ashland Halloween

Halloween in Ashland, Virginia

Wake up and smell the pumpkin spice. Spooky season is just around the corner and we’ve got plans to make it boo-tiful – but we can’t do it without you! Get these fab-boo-lous benefits when you volunteer for Ashland’s Halloween.

Trick or Treat Team

Give ‘em pumpkin to talk about when you invite neighbors to be Halloween Hosts. They’ll get the treat of being added to our Halloween map, while you celebrate tricking out Ashland Halloween.

Scavenger Hunt Helpers

What is sweeter than candy? Prizes! When Trick or Treaters collect three stamps in the Ashland Halloween Scavenger Hunt, they are given a glowing gift. Wouldn’t it feel gourd to hand out prizes?

Meeting Members

Hanging out with your best witches is eerie-sistible. Meet your #SquadGhouls once each month in August, September, and at the Ashland Halloween event. There, you’ll get all the fab-boo-lous event details and make a few new fang-tastic friends.

Ready to be the ghostess with the mostest? Sign up to volunteer for Ashland Halloween in the button below.

Free Summer Concerts

Ashland, Virginia's free concert series - Saturday Soundtracks

Katie Carter performing in April Saturday Soundtracks

Summer is sweeter with free outdoor concerts. Local musicians are scheduled to play live on the tracks every Saturday 4-7 PM within earshot of Origin Beer Lab, Caboose Market & Café, Trackside Kitchen & Wine, the Iron Horse’ patio areas or from lawn chairs in the pedestrian area. Scroll to hear more about the summer series of Ashland Saturday Soundtracks slated to rock the railroad.

July 15
James River Junction
The garage band turned opener for Lynyrd Skynyrd brings their riff-heavy combination of rock, country, and blues to Railroad Avenue.

July 22
ThePhipps
Singer and songwriter Christian Phipps plays positive tunes with messages of peace, love, and happiness for listeners.

July 29
The Boss of Us
Listen to classic covers and fan favorites from the comfort of downtown Ashland restaurant patios or in the pedestrian area.

August 5
Steven Snider
The popular Virginia musician brings stripped-down versions of favorite tunes and encourages requests.

August 26
The Richards
The three-piece band plays a blend of not-so-average covers and originals.

September 2
Chris Grigg
With over 200 songs on his current request list, you never know what will be played during Chris Grigg’s solo acoustic act.

September 9
The Crump Tunes
The father and daughter duo plays covers together with the help of friends and their special mix of talent.

September 16
Life Support
The Richmond-based duo that combines sweet tones of the ukulele and guitar with funky percussion grooves and soulful vocals.

September 23
Dowdy & White
Celebrate the final day of summer with the high energy duo of long-time friends Peyton Dowdy and Chris White. Hailing from Richmond, the dynamic duo will have you jamming to favorite rock, pop, and country songs from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s.

The Ashland Theatre announces another family-friendly spooky October!

The Ashland Theatre in Ashland, Virginia.

October is always a busy month at the Ashland Theatre, and this year is no different.  The Theatre is offering a mix of Halloween classics and live events.  Family events include the October Toddler Takeover, our monthly free event for children ages 0 to 6 and their families on Saturday, October 7 at 10AM. Later in the month, spooky film favorites Monster House and Hocus Pocus will be playing at 10AM on October 21 and 28 respectively.

Adults will enjoy Stephen King’s classic Carrie on Wednesday, October 25, and John Carpenter’s original 1978 Halloween is showing on Monday, October 30th.  Both films play at 7PM, and tickets are on sale now.

 

After a sold-out showing last year, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is returning for two showtimes this year, both with shadow-casts from Richmond’s own, Orgasmic Rush of Lush, RockyHorrorRVA.  Tickets for both showings are on sale now.

 

Halloween Movies and Events:

Saturday, October 7th, 10AM:             The Toddler Takeover, costumes encouraged

Saturday, October 21st, 10AM:           Monster House

Saturday, October 21st, 8PM:              The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Shadow-cast

Wednesday, October 25th, 7PM:         Carrie

Saturday, October 28th, 10AM:           Hocus Pocus

Saturday, October 28th , 9PM: The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Shadow-cast

Monday, October 30th, 7PM:              Halloween

 

October events also include:

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is playing at the Ashland Theatre from October 13 to November 5, with a special 1989 (Taylor’s Version) listening party on Saturday, October 28.  Tickets for all showings are on sale now; costumes and friendship bracelets are highly encouraged!

 

Macbeth (1948) – All Tickets 75¢! The Ashland Theatre’s year-long series of classic films from 1948 continues Monday, October 16th at 7PM with Shakespeare’s Macbeth, directed by and starring Orson Welles.  Tickets are on sale now.

 

Jack and the Beanstalk – A live musical from the Barter Theatre Players!  Live theatre returns to the Ashland Theatre with the Barter Theatre Players’ production of Jack and the Beanstalk on Saturday, October 28th at 2PM. Six quick-changing actors present the classic tale on stage.

 

The Ashland Theatre is committed to offering a range of programming that appeals to all community members.  The Theatre welcomed over 12,000 patrons throughout 2022, for a variety of programming.  Today, Ashland Theatre offers movies and concerts as well as recurring programs that are intended to continue to build, entertain, and inspire its audiences for the next 75 years and beyond.  Special events include the annual Ashland Book Festival, the Holly Jolly Holiday Party, a monthly Toddler Takeover, E-Sports tournaments, open mic nights, and private rentals, each uniquely serving as notable examples of the many ways in which Ashland Theatre continues to be a staple in the town of Ashland and the greater Richmond metro area. 

Announcing August Ashland Fourth Fridays Artists

☀️What ART you doing August 25? Cooks, creators, and all new artists are DRAWN to Ashland Fourth Fridays.👇

Live entertainment:

🩰 5 PM Ashland Dance Academy’s junior dancers perform inside The Depot.

🎵5 - 8 PM the Ham Biscuits cooks up New Orleans-style jazz, soul, and blues in the Ashland Town Hall Pavillion. 

🎵6 PM Saint Square plays unique indie rock married with heartfelt lyrics in The Depot

🏛️Ashland Museum tells the story of our town through historical artifacts, oral histories, biographies, and more.

👻 Ashland Haunted History Tours reenacts the haunted history of our Victorian town.

🐇 RED VEIN Escape challenges guests to puzzling games.

🎥 Ashland Theatre shows a movie at 7 PM.

Eat and Drink:
🍜 Ban Thai Restaurant dishes out authentic Thai tea and cuisine for carryout.

🥘 The Henry Clay Inn provides dine-in options inside the historic space. 

🍺 Origin Beer Lab pours craft brews inside, on the patio, and in their beer garden.

🥘 The Iron Horse Restaurant serves seasonal elevated southern cuisine on the patio.

🥘 The Caboose Market & Cafe pairs beers and wine with farm-to-table meals indoors and out.

🥘 Ashland Meat Co. At Cross Bros serves up sandwiches, salads, ice cream, and beverages indoors and out.

🥘 The Depot serves pizza and libations with three art vendors on display and a 5 PM performance by Ashland Dance Academy.

🥘 Trackside Kitchen and Wine show off their renovated space with all-American meals.

🍨 Sweet Frog lets you make your own frozen yogurt dreams come true.

🍹 Casa Herradura Family Mexican Restaurant offers a can’t-miss margarita special on the patio or in the expanded dining room.

🥘 Huddle Up Sports Bar is the destination for a giant dance floor, drinks, and dining.

🥘 Andy's Restaurant & Lounge’s homestyle plates pair perfectly with their outdoor patio and billiards. 

🍲 Tops China serves Chinese food favorites for dine-in or takeout.

Food trucks:

😋 Bikini Panini LLC wants you to taste the sun with Mediterranean and Cote d'Azur-inspired pressed sandwiches and cuisine.

🥤 Pop's Kettle Corn LLC pops out salty and sweet treats
🧁 Sugar Florist Bakery specialty baker sets up their booth for custom-made cupcake bouquets, floral sugar cookies, and boozy treats in Origin Beer Lab’s beer garden.

🍦Farmview Creamery in the Caravati's Architectural Salvage parking lot sells fresh, farm-made ice cream and flavored milk.


Art:

📝ReFunkIt curates funk, handcrafted art, and gifts 

🏠The Shop at 112 is open to peruse posh antiques and collectibles shop.

🚂Tiny Tim's Toys & Trains features unique toys and games for ages 0 to 99.

🌻 SkyCart Crafts makes custom signs, wreaths, and home goods. 

👕 Give for You on Town Hall lawn sells original t-shirts and cup designs.

🎨 Immagine', LLC on Town Hall lawn produces art prints, stationery, and gift items.

🕯️ Living with Grace on Town Hall offers stylish home decor.

🧢 BeKurved is an iconic fashion brand with sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, and more on Town Hall lawn.

🐶Wigglebutts dog bakery bakes organic, locally made dog treats and hand-stamped ID Tags on Town Hall lawn.

☕️ Marigold Art Studio on Town Hall lawn sells affordable watercolor prints on paper, mugs, totes, tee-shirts, and more.

🖼️ Aergase Art on Town Hall lawn displays original stained glass art.

🪴 KP Jenkins Jewelry and Fine Arts on Town Hall lawn have jewelry inspired by nature.

👕Say Hello Threads inside The Depot prints shirts that promote inclusivity.

🕯️Luxx Design Studio inside The Depot has wall Art, wood door signs & candles.

🚲 Ashland Dance Academy raffles off a bike inside The Depot to fundraise for their bike-a-thon.

Sassy Sparkles Fairy Hair inside The Depot makes you sparkle with hand-tied silk hair extensions.

🧵AVA Handmade on Robinson Street sells sewing bags and accessories. 

🌟 Sazha Star’s Closet on Robinson Street repurposes jewelry and art.

🖼️ The Asylum on Robinson Street is a self-publishing and collaborative press working in the traditional printmaking techniques of intaglio, woodcut, and monotype.

📝 Handmade Greeting Card Factory on Robinson Street creates custom cards and journals.

🪵 Tailored Crafters on Robinson Street is a family of craftsmen and artists making custom woodwork.

🐢 The Box Turtle Sanctuary of Central VA on Robinson Street totes their turtles to Ashland Fourth Fridays for meet and greets as well as educational activities.

Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park is Chugging Along

This summer, Downtown Ashland Association will break ground on a self-guided walking tour! The Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park will include nine stops, beginning at Ashland Train Station and continuing to railroad attractions like the red caboose, steam train mural, and many more. The tour will stretch one mile from the tracks, along England Street, to Pufferbelly Park.

We cannot wait to share the stories of Ashland’s railroad heritage and our place in the national railroad scene with residents and visitors alike! In the meantime, here’s info on how the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park keeps chugging along…

Inspiration
In an effort to spur local business by increasing foot traffic along downtown sidewalks, Downtown Ashland Association’s Board of Directors dreamed up a self-guided walking tour for visitors to discover our historic train town. They envisioned a series of small parks to be educational and entertaining while highlighting Ashland’s rich railroad history. Nine exhibits will be located within easy walking distance of each other, free to the public year-round, and include interactive elements with a website and mobile app to enhance the tour.

Input
Downtown Ashland Association put the idea to the test in 2019 by holding public input sessions and an online survey. Ashland residents were overwhelmingly in support of building the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park as a placemaking feature to tell Ashland’s story. The Association gathered valuable ideas for interpretive content, locations, and design.

Approval
Following public input, Downtown Ashland Association presented a proposal for the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park to the Town of Ashland. It was unanimously approved by Town Council in 2020. Once the park is constructed in the summer of 2023, the town will take on ownership and maintenance of the nine sites.

Volunteers
Building a public park is a group effort! Volunteers worked diligently for years to fundraise and plan for the park. Thanks to their efforts, more than one hundred individuals and businesses have donated toward the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park’s construction. Doswell Limited Partnership is its largest supporter, followed closely by the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation. Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, CSX, and The Port of Virginia provided support as well.

Collaboration
Creating the interpretive content of each exhibit was a joint project of the Hanover County Black Heritage Society, Ashland Museum, and Downtown Ashland Association. We have designed exhibits on major railroad inventions and innovations, railroad workers, technological advances, and their impacts on our local community.

Construction
Our local team is bringing the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park from idea to reality! Landscaping has been generously donated by James River Nurseries of Ashland. Engineering was contracted from Timmons Group. Construction plans are being prepared by Stable Foundations LLC of Ashland. Nine kiosks were fabricated by Randy Jackson of Steel Standing in Hanover Air Park. The Town of Ashland provides oversight throughout the process.

Breaking Ground
After years of planning and effort, the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park is breaking ground in August of 2023. Sites include the 1923 train station, Tinder Guest House’s restored 1926 red caboose, a wheel truck, a Janney coupler, and America’s longest railroad mural.

Launch
Stay tuned on our website, Facebook and Instagram to join the October ribbon cutting ceremony and community celebration.