Activities| Farm Day explores history, future at Ivy Creek Natural Area

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America invites landmarks everywhere to participate in Help Light the World in Teal on Nov. 2 to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease during National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. More than 1,000 landmarks in 50 states and 13 countries already have signed up. www.lightteworldinteal.com.

American Heart Association will present the inaugural “Go Red for Women” Luncheon at 11 a.m. Nov. 10 at Kimpton The Forum. Look for food, fashions and a Purse-onality Auction of creative themed bags of all kinds. heart.org.

The Arts Center in Orange will present “Creative Spirits: An Immersive Halloween Celebration” at 7 p.m. Saturday. $45; $15 children. Costumes are encouraged. artscenterinorange.com.

Botanical Garden of the Piedmont will present a Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the northeast section of McIntire Park. There will be yoga, arts and crafts, storytelling and tours, among other treats. Look for Explore to Read, a signature trail activity. Artist Robin Hoffman will draw caricatures. Children’s nature crafts will begin at 10:30 a.m. Charlottesville artist Roberto Kamide will teach people how to build a cairn at 11 a.m. Free. Some events require pre-registration. www.piedmontgarden.org.

Care Fair will offer community resources for many aging-related issues from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 9 at Rockfish Valley Community Center in Afton. There will be presentations on elder law by attorney Doris Gelbman and senior care by Dr. Richard Lindsay. JABA will offer information about nutrition, socialization and insurance counseling. Virginia Navigator will share databases that can help seniors, adults with disabilities, caregivers and veterans. heretostaywtg.org, jabacares.org or rockfishcc.org.

Cat Action Team is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization serving Charlottesville and 12 surrounding counties to help homeless cats with trap/neuter/return programs, fostering, adoption, feral colony maintenance, food and support. Volunteers are welcome. catactionteam.org.

Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is open to the public from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The shelter will remain closed on Mondays for deep cleaning and staff member training. Evening adoption appointments may be scheduled throughout the week by emailing adoptions@caspca.org, submitting an adoption application on the website or calling (434) 973-5959. caspca.org.

Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA presents its Pit Bulls & Pumpkins weekend adoption event from Friday through Sunday. Adoption fees will be waived for all adult pit bull mixed-breed dogs. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. caspca.org.

Charlottesville Retreads is recruiting senior softball players at 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Darden Towe Park. The program is for men 55 and older and women 40 and older and runs from April through November. http://charlottesville retreads.org. (434) 825- 5304.

City of Charlottesville’s Downtown Safe Halloween will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ting Pavilion. There will be costume contests, a DJ, a giant slide and obstacle course, make-and-take crafts, a performance by Brushwood’s School of Dance at 2:30 p.m. and a magic show by Freckles ‘n’ Friends at 3:30 p.m. Safe trick-or-treating will follow on the Downtown Mall from 4 to 4:30 p.m. www.charlottesville.gov/parksandrec. (434) 970-3260.

The Compassionate Friends will meet on Zoom on the second Tuesday of every month, including Nov. 14, and in person on the fourth Tuesday of every month, including Nov. 28, in the downstairs library of Church of Our Saviour on East Rio Road. The support group is for families who have lost a child of any age, for any reason. Free; no fees. mashRN@aol.com or (434) 974-9314.

DMV is offering permanent farm-use placards for unregistered farm vehicles at all of its customer service centers. DMV-issued placards will be required starting July 1, 2024. Placards are $15 and remain valid for the lifetime of the vehicle, but they are not transferable. Applications are available online at dmv.virginia.gov.

Garden Club of Virginia will present its 65th annual Conservation Forum, “EcoLandscaping: Restoring Nature’s Balance,” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 2 at the CODE Building. $55 per person includes continental breakfast; $15 per person via Zoom. Students get in for free. Register at www.gcvirginia.org.

Greene County has ended its recent mandatory water restrictions, but voluntary water conservation practices are encouraged until further notice. www.greenecountyva.gov. (434) 985-5201.

Greene County Public Schools is participating in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program at Nathanael Greene Primary School, Nathanael Greene Elementary School, Ruckersville Elementary School, William Monroe Middle School and William Monroe High School. The same meals will be offered at no separate charge to all participants at each site. (202) 720-2600 or (800) 877-8339.

Hospice of the Piedmont offers general grief support drop-in groups at 3 p.m. Wednesdays on Zoom; call (434) 817-6915 to register. Remembering Our Children, a support group for parents who have lost children, takes place at 5:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month on Zoom; call (434) 817-6915 to register. hopva.org. (434) 817-6949.

Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm will present Farm Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The event will offer information on issues faced byy today’s farmers, as well as the site’s rich African American and Monacan history. There will be family-friendly activities, exhibitors, demonstrations and information from community partners. Free. www.ivycreekfoundation.org.

Living Free Together will present its Ruck the Ridge fundraiser for military families from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 11 at Blue Ridge School. Spaces for Ruck the Ridge are limited to 180 participants; registration is required at livingfree2gether.org. No registration is required for that day’s Ruck Fest, which is free; activities will include food trucks, face painting, a 40-foot climbing tower, a petting zoo, music and an inflatable obstacle course. livingfree2gether.org.

Living Free Together will offer a Fearless Family Workshop for veterans and military families from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Nov. 6 at 550 Buck Mountain Road in Earlysville. There will be dinner and classes for all ages, including finding your mission, cooking with teens, and yoga. Free; register at livingfree2gether.org.

30th annual Martha’s Market will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Dairy Market. Preview party from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday is $100. Participating downtown businesses will donate 15% of their sales to Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital programs that fight breast cancer and support women’s health. Presented by Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation. Free; donations welcomed. mjhfoundation.org.

Pancakes for Parkinson’s will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 4 on the University of Virginia’s South Lawn. There will be freshly made pancakes and live music. Proceeds will benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation. https://pancakesuva.wixsite.com/p4patuva.

Parkinson’s Activity and Resource Center (The PARC) will offer a Fall Open House from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 12 at The PARC at 1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 101; registration is requested at the-parc.org.

Parkinson’s Care Partners Support Group meets at 10:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at The Center at Belvedere. The meeting is part of the Virginia Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association Information and Referral Center of Virginia at UVa Health System. (434) 974-7756.

Piedmont Master Gardeners will present a Garden Basics event, “Season Extenders in the Edible Garden,” at 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at Trinity Episcopal Church. Learn how to grow fresh produce all winter long. Free. Registration closes at 5 p.m. Nov. 17, or when the class is full. https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/events/.

Rivanna Solid Waste Authority will present the sixth annual Great Pumpkin Smash Composting Event from Tuesday through Nov. 7 at McIntire Recycling Center. Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents can “smash” used pumpkins by dropping them into a large container, which will be delivered to a composting facility. Free. www.rivanna.org.

Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, Albemarle County Service Authority and City of Charlottesville Utilities Department are encouraging local residents to help conserve water by limiting outdoor watering, washing cars and filling pools during a time of below-average rainfall. www.rivanna.org.

Smith Aquatic Fitness Center lap and recreational pool (Zero Depth/Lazy River and Slide Pool) will be closed at certain times as a result of lifeguard shortages. The pool will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The fitness area upstairs will remain open as scheduled. www.charlottesville.gov. (434) 970-3072.

Survivors of Suicide Loss meets in person on the first Thursday of every month, including Nov. 2, at Church of the Incarnation and by Zoom at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month, including Nov. 16. Send email address to mashRN@aol.com for Zoom link. The group is for anyone who has lost a family member or friend to suicide. (434) 974-9314.

Three Notch’d Brewery, Distillery & Craft Kitchen in Nellysford will unveil its new stained-glass art LOVE sign, “What Unites Us,” at 5:3 p.m. Friday. The handmade sign is 6 feet tall and 22 feet long. The event also will mark the opening of the back yard in the new location at 2461 Rockfish Valley Highway. threenotchdbrewing.com.

Vintage Virginia Apples and Cove Garden Ruritan Club will present their 23rd annual Apple Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 4 at Albemarle CiderWorks in North Garden. C’ville Jazz Congregation, Tara Mills Band and Wildheart will play live music. There will be cider-pressing demonstrations, heritage apple tastings, fresh cider and an apple pie contest. Free; there is a charge for mountainside hayrides. https://www.albemarleciderworks.com/news/harvest-festival.

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is offering financial incentives for protecting nesting grassland birds during the 2024 haying season for landowners in 16 counties, including Albemarle, Culpeper, Greene, Madison and Orange. VGBI will provide up to $35 per acre for delaying the first cut of hay to July 1 or later. Apply at vagrasslandbirds.org/incentives/ before Nov. 15. www.pecva.org.

Voting Equality Bus will be at Mudhouse Crozet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 2. The bus benefits non-partisan grassroots efforts for the Equal Rights Amendment and inclusive gender equality awareness initiatives. Event is hosted by Mudhouse Specialty Coffee Roasters and Bluebird & Company. www.mudhouse.com.

The Wool Factory will present its Fall Fest from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. There will be beers and food from Selvedge Brewing and wines and ciders from The Workshop, plus live music, children’s activities and other festivities. Free. thewoolfactory.com.