4 Fantastic Entertainment Venues in Charlottesville, Virginia

Everyone enjoys live entertainment, and the summer months seem to summon a fantastic line-up of performers, especially around this area of Virginia.  Charlottesville, Virginia is a hot spot for live entertainment, much of which is presented in and around the Historic Downtown Mall (which was featured in our last blog). These entertainment venues host everyone from world-renowned performers to local musicians, so you won’t want to miss their upcoming shows:

The Sprint Pavilion is an outdoor venue at the end of Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, making it ideal for a day of shopping, eating, and rocking out to a live performance. Upcoming events include music by Sarah McLachlan, Eli Cook, Justin Moore, Hall & Oates, and The Skip Castro Band, as well as the Top of the Hops Beer Fest in late September. One of the Pavilion’s most celebrated event is their free summer concert series, Fridays After Five, which is now in its 27th year.       

The John Paul Jones Arena, the largest arena in Virginia, has hosted a myriad of talent from basketball players to ice skating tours to renowned bands like Metallica, Bruce Springsteen, and Nine Inch Nails. In September, take your kids to a memorable Sesame Street “Let’s Dance!” show. In October, treat yourself to an ethereal performance of Dralion by Cirque du Soleil. Check the John Paul Jones Arena’s calendar of events for all of their current happenings.

The Jefferson Theater is a piece of history that dates all the way back to 1912, when it hosted vaudeville acts, silent movies, and historic performers. Having been renovated in 2009, it’s now the site of a host of musicians.  Don’t miss Rockn’ To Lockn’ (preceding the Lockn’ Music Festival), Killswitch Engage, Cody Purvis, and Jerry Garcia’s Birthday Bash (featuring Alligator, a Grateful Dead tribute band that hails from Charlottesville).

The Paramount Theater is invites you to join them for a series of performances that are less rock ‘n’ roll and more choral and instrumental. Sit back and relax to the Municipal Band of Charlottesville’s 92nd Summer Concert Series. Enter the world of Tsarist Russia with Fiddler on the Roof, presented by Ash Lawn Opera. Stay up-to-date with all upcoming performances on the Paramount Theater’s events page.

Photo by Bob Mical (This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.)