Avoca Museums & Historical Society

08/12/2026

🍷 Sip, savor, and save! 🍂 Presale tickets are officially available for the Avoca Museum Harvest Wine Festival!

Grab your $20 Tasting Presale Ticket today (on sale until September 4th, $25 at the gate) to enjoy local wine tastings, a commemorative glass, live music from two sensational bands, food trucks, and artisan vendors.

Not a wine drinker? General admission is just $15, and the event is completely family-friendly kids and students (with ID) get in FREE!

Secure your presale tickets and get ready for a spectacular day of tastes, tunes, and treasures: https://www.avocamuseum.org/harvest-festival 🍇🎟️🥂

07/23/2026

Coming Fall 2026 🎬

The story continues.

Following the release of A Zealous and Active Patriot, Avoca Museum & Historical Society is excited to announce our upcoming documentary, premiering in Fall 2026.

Watch the official teaser trailer for a first look at the film, bringing the story of Col. Charles Lynch and the people who shaped our region to life.

A special thank you to Parker Productions for their outstanding work in producing this project. We can’t wait to share the full documentary with you.

Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the premiere!

07/22/2026

Now Available! 📖 "A Zealous and Active Patriot: The Revolutionary Life and Times of a Forgotten Virginia Hero" by Wyatt Golden

After years of dedicated research, collaboration, and generosity from so many individuals and organizations, Avoca Museum & Historical Society is honored to announce the official release of "A Zealous and Active Patriot" by Wyatt Golden.

This publication represents a shared commitment to preserving and telling the remarkable story of Col. Charles Lynch, the Lynch family, and the history that shaped our region. We are deeply grateful to everyone whose support made this project possible.

Financial Support
• Rick Lane
• Minnie and Bernard Lane Foundation
• Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation
• George Knight/Kenneth C. Patty Memorial Trust Fund
• Altavista Area YMCA Arts Council
• Patrick Henry Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution
• Poplar Forest Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution
• Col. Charles Lynch Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution

Special Thanks
• Avoca Museum & Historical Society Board of Directors
• Dr. Samuel Smith and Eric Schaefer for their guidance and historical expertise as members of the Advisory Council
• Maj. Gen. Jason Q. Bohm, USMC (Ret.)
• Liberty University Department of History for hosting the Virginia 250 presentation
• Town of Altavista
• Altavista Area YMCA for its continued partnership through funding, lectures, and book club programming
• The members and descendants of the Fauntleroy family for sharing their history and preserving their family's legacy
• The many libraries, archives, museums, and historical repositories whose collections and resources made this research possible

Artwork
• Kyle Griffith
• Stephanie Lafoon

To every donor, researcher, volunteer, historian, and supporter—thank you. Your investment in preserving our local history ensures these stories will continue to educate and inspire future generations.

Copies of "A Zealous and Active Patriot" are now available through the Avoca Museum Gift Shop. We invite you to stop by, pick up a copy, and celebrate this exciting milestone with us.

Finally, congratulations to Wyatt Golden on this outstanding contribution to Virginia history. His dedication to researching and sharing the story of Col. Charles Lynch has resulted in a work that will serve historians, students, and our community for generations to come.

07/16/2026

History came to life at Avoca 250: Lights, Liberty & Legends 🇺🇸

Saturday’s Living History Celebration transformed the grounds of Avoca into a place of discovery, conversation, and connection with the past. Visitors explored Revolutionary-era experiences through skilled artisans, military interpreters, educators, and reenactors from across Virginia.

From blacksmithing and pottery to colonial cooking, music, military demonstrations, and more, guests of all ages had the opportunity to engage with history firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of the many perspectives and stories that shaped our region and nation—including the experiences of Native Americans, enslaved individuals, soldiers, craftsmen, and families during the Revolutionary era.

We are incredibly grateful to the organizations, interpreters, and volunteers who shared their knowledge and passion with our community. Your dedication helped us preserve, interpret, and share history at Avoca.

Special thanks to the following organizations and groups:
Colonel Charles Lynch Chapter, NSDAR
Poplar Forest Chapter, NSDAR, Lynchburg, Virginia
Fincastle Company: 18th Century Living History Interpreters
Old City Cemetery Museums and Arboretum
Virginia Canals and Navigations Society
Patrick Henry Chapter SAR, Virginia
Patrick Henry's Red Hill
Central Appalachian Cherokee
VA250 - American Revolution 250 Commission
LYH Historical Foundation
KilianWare Pottery
Guilford Courthouse Fife and Drum

Special thanks to the following individuals:
Steve "Cheveyo" Garay, Andy Langeland, Curtis Crews, LT Skinnell, Brooke Spencer, Taylor Midkiff, Debi White, Virginia Clark, Marindy Deyerle, Christian Mumpower, Toby Williamson, Clarke Scott, Janice Poole, Christopher Evans, Ren Herdman, and April Martin

07/14/2026

What an unforgettable weekend! Avoca 250: Lights, Liberty & Legends welcomed the largest crowd in Avoca’s history as visitors from across the region gathered on the historic grounds to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary 🇺🇸🎡🎇

Over four incredible days, guests enjoyed carnival rides, live music, local food vendors, living history demonstrations, and a spectacular fireworks finale. From Revolutionary-era interpreters sharing stories of the past to families making new memories together, the weekend was a meaningful celebration of history, community, and connection.

A celebration of this size is only possible through the incredible generosity and support of our community partners. We extend our sincere gratitude to our event sponsors and supporters:

Town of Altavista, Virginia
Lori Watkins- State Farm Insurance
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
Hancock Electric
Dairy Freeze
Campbell County Public Schools Band Teachers
Landslide - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
The Pete Turpin Band
Colerides.com
Descendants of the Fauntleroy Family

We would also like to offer a special thank you to Altavista Instruments & Controls (AIC) for their support with event parking and to River Valley Resources and the Germeroth family for providing critical space for parking and fireworks operations. These partnerships were instrumental in making this event possible, and we truly could not have hosted a celebration of this scale without their generosity and support.

Finally, we are incredibly grateful for our volunteers who gave countless hours before, during, and after the event. From assisting with parking and guest services to supporting activities, welcoming visitors, and helping with cleanup, your dedication created a safe, welcoming, and memorable experience for thousands of guests.

Thank you to everyone who attended Avoca 250: Lights, Liberty & Legends. Your enthusiasm, support, and love for this community made this historic celebration one we will remember for years to come ❤️🤍💙

07/12/2026

AVOCA 250 CARNIVAL OPEN TONIGHT 6 to Close!

07/11/2026

07/11/2026

Landslide - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac during the sound check at Avoca Museums & Historical Society. They'll be taking the stage from 7-9 PM!

The Pete Turpin Band playing NOW until 7 pm!