Enjoy
Arts, Music, Books & Lectures
At last, after five years’ planning and rebuilding of a new auditorium from the ashes of the 1928 structure destroyed by fire in 2007, Waterford welcomes you once again to enjoy the arts, concerts, lectures, and other special events at the Waterford Old School. Our beautiful hall is the best of old and new: it provides a larger, more versatile space while keeping the intimacy and remarkable acoustics of the original building. Discover it for yourself at these events and check our Calendar or Facebook page regularly for more to come.
Waterford Concert Series
Now in its 18th season and recognized as “the best music series in Northern Virginia,”* the 2012 series opened on April 29 with the Afiara String Quartet inaugurating the new auditorium of the Waterford Old School. In May, the Monumental Brass Quintet made a joyful noise on Mother’s Day; young Levine School competition winners played their best in June; and in October rising stars from the Maryland Opera Studio sing and perform in high style. The season ends in November with sublime choral music by the American University Chamber Chorus conducted by Dan Abraham.
You will find artists’ biographies and program notes on the Concerts page as the concert date approaches. For tickets, please click here.
Before each concert, take a free, guided walking tour of Waterford. Come early and meet your guide at 2 p.m. at the Old School. Bring a picnic to the Mill or the Old School lawn, walk nature trails along Catoctin Creek or drive scenic roads in the surrounding countryside. Reserveyour spot on the tour by emailing us at concerts@waterfordfoundation.org, or calling 540-882-3018, ext. 117. And please watch the Calendar (on the right on this page) and our Facebook page for news of special events to benefit our concerts’ home at the new Old School auditorium.
*Dr. Erik Jones, Director of Choral and Vocal Activities, Shepherd University, Artistic Director, Master Singers of Virginia
Waterford Books & Wine
Waterford’s author lecture series––so popular before the 2007 fire destroyed the Old School––is back as “Waterford Books & Wine.” These informal Saturday afternoon lectures by prominent authors are followed by a tasting of the wines from a prominent local winery—all in the beautiful new Waterford Old School auditorium.
The series offers you the opportunity to hear and talk with such notable authors as U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf (Prisoner of Conscience), New York Times praised Douglas Rogers (The Last Resort), and Pulitzer Prize winners (and former Waterford residents) Geraldine Brooks (Caleb’s Crossing) and Tony Horwitz (Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War).
Tickets are $10 at the door or online before the event. Books and wine by the glass or tasting will be available for purchase. Please watch the Calendar or our Facebook page for upcoming dates, authors, and participating wineries.
Waterford Lectures on History & Ideas
From early Quaker settlement to modern historic preservation––this thought-provoking new series draws from Waterford’s greater community of historians, preservationists, thinkers, and writers to discuss issues and ideas from the past that inform our present and our future. The W. Brown Morton Distinguished Lecture on Historic Preservation is an annual part of the series.
Waterford Lectures on History & Ideas grew out of the long-running George E. Bentley Memorial Lecture Series, named after the prominent Waterford resident and preservationist who died in 2000.
For the latest schedule, check the Calendar or Facebook page. Tickets.
Waterford Homes Tour & Crafts Exhibit
The Waterford Homes Tour & Crafts Exhibit is the oldest juried crafts fair in Virginia. Four-time winner of the county’s “Best Event of the Year,” the historic village of Waterford welcomes fairgoers from around the world each October for three days of living history, food, handicrafts, and just plain fun at the Waterford Fair.
Friends and families, adults, and children alike delight in lively performances of traditional music and dance; daring re-enactments by Colonial and Civil War-era militia and cavalry; art and photography exhibits, hands-on demonstrations of traditional American crafts by 155 renowned artisans (many nationally known) plus the ever-popular tour of private historic homes.
Waterford Walking Tours
The best way to explore and enjoy Waterford is in person and on foot—walking through the village and along the interpretive trail of the 144-acre Phillips Farm that is now part of the National Historic Landmark District of Waterford. Reserve a guide for your tour by calling the Foundation office, 540-882-3018, Ext. 117, or pick up one of our walking tour publications at the office before setting off on your own.
We hope you’ll plan a visit soon. Below you’ll find two downloadable brochures— one a street-by-street tour of the village, the other a self-guided walking tour of the farm trail
