Get Out Loudoun May 2024

Inside:

GET OUT LOUDOUN

Get Out Loudoun is distributed monthly to entertainment, tourism, and hospitality venues throughout Loudoun County. For the latest news on the music scene and other community events, go to getoutloudoun.com.

CONTRIBUTORS

Dana Armstrong Norman K. Styer

ON THE COVER

Photo by Dana Armstrong

The Chris Timbers Band performing at Farm Brew Live in Manassas. TO ADVERTISE

Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sales@loudounnow.com getoutloudoun.com

TUNES

Chris Timbers is a familiar face in Loudoun’s music scene. The alternative soul singer/ songwriter is set to release an EP this summer filled with tracks he recorded with some big names in LA.

BREW

Need a little more harmless fun or mischief in your life? The folks at newly opened Lark Brewing Co. have just the thing.

ON STAGE

Ready to see burly men compete in a swimsuit contest? The Mr. Leesburg Pageant is coming back for a second year.

HAPPENINGS

Take a deep dive into the Hunt Country mystique this month as some of the area’s top equestrian venues open their gates for public tours.

BEST BETS

Get Out Loudoun’s top picks for May.

Loudoun Experiments

BY DOUGLAS ROGERS

A few years ago, a local beer collector opened an ancient bottle of Bass King Ale from England that had been bottled in 1903 and shared it with some friends. Among those who tasted the antique hooch was Loudoun beer scientist Jasper Akerboom whose company, Jasper Yeast, extracts obscure yeast strands and supplies high-quality liquid yeast to craft beverage producers.

“It was unbelievable,” Akerboom said of the vintage brew. “It was like drinking tobacco. Back then they used a lot of smoky malts in beer.”

Naturally, Akerboom set out to extract a yeast strain from the ancient bottle and after two years of trial and error, succeeded. “At first there were a lot of contaminants, but eventually something popped up that we could use.”

Before long, Akerboom had made a small batch of beer with the yeast and was so impressed with it that he took a strand to friend Favio Garcia, the experimental director of Brewing Operations at Loudoun’s Dynasty Brewing Company.

“The beer was nice, very much in line with historic English pale ales. I hope someone like Favio does something commercial with it.”

This month, as the country celebrates American Craft Beer week (May 13-19), it’s worth celebrating the creativity—and growth—of Loudoun’s extraordinary beer scene.

Perhaps in keeping with that 1903 Bass King Ale, the current trend in Loudoun is a move back to older style beers such as less hoppy English-style IPAs and a British beer known as Mild.

“Mild is a very low alcohol British beer that was meant to be brewed in large quantities,” said Akerboom. “It doesn’t have many hops and is served at room temperature. It’s the complete antithesis to the sweet, hazy IPAs that were so popular a few years back.”

Where to try it? Ocelot Brewing Company in eastern Loudoun just made Hand in Glove, its

and the team

are helping to form the tastes of modern beers with help from brewers who lived a century ago.

first English-style Dark Mild and at 3.8% alcohol is described as “a little charmer that will fit snuggly in the hand.”

Another trend is for crisp European-style lagers and pilsners, likely to be especially popular as summer looms. Black Hoof Brewing’s German-style Poacher’s Pilsner is one to try.

Then there is a gradual swing to featuring alcohol-free beer on menus. Jasper Yeast is conducting several trials with non-alcoholic yeast strains; Dirt Farm Brewing released a hoppy zero-alcohol ale titled 0%AF!, and ever-popular Bear Chase Brewing Co. has the non-alcoholic Run Wild IPA on tap.

As for all the growth, there’s even a new brewery to check out. Off Rt. 15 north of Aldie, Lark Brewing has ample outdoor space with firepits, lawns and a green turf courtyard all fronting an elegant open-plan A-Frame main building where the brewing tanks are visible through a glass wall behind the bar. You can sip beer and watch Rt. 15 traffic pass silently by.

Suffice to say, there’s something for everyone. Grab your LoCo Ale Trail passport at the Visit Loudoun Visitor Center to collect stamps and prizes this American Craft Beer Week.

Courtesy of Visit Loudoun Jasper Akerboom

at Jasper Yeast

5/3 - DOORS: 7PM

ZOSO: THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE

5/11 - DOORS: 7PM

5/20 - DOORS: 7PM 5/19 - DOORS: 7:00PM

From Loudoun to Los Angeles: New Music is Coming for Chris Timbers

BY DANA ARMSTRONG

Longtime Loudoun music lovers are sure to know the name Chris Timbers. Now, Los Angeles, CA, may get to know him better, too.

The “alternative soul” singer/songwriter is set to release an EP this summer filled with tracks he recorded with some big names in LA.

For anyone unfamiliar with Timbers, the Virginia native gained his love of music from his father, a singer in a gospel band.

“I used to travel around with him when he’d go on Sundays with his group and play different places. I’d sing in the church choir when I was a kid, but I think it was watching the gospel band,” he said. “They were kind of like The Temptations. There’s five of them, they’re all dressed in suits, and you have your band and you have the singers up front,” Timbers said.

“And this guitar player that used to play with them every once-in-a-while from Middleburg—his name’s Gary Smallwood—he was a big

influence. Seeing him play got me really, really interested in the guitar.”

At nine years old, Timbers started his guitar education learning from the best in blues like one of his childhood favorites: Stevie Ray Vaughan. Timbers would eventually forgo college to start a blues band called Less Traveled in 1994.

After many years with them, he went on to pursue music as a solo artist in Brooklyn, NY. Then following run-in with the law and some years in prison, Timbers would recenter himself and rebuild his music career back in Virginia where he’d form the Chris Timbers Band.

Over a year ago, Timbers’ Nashville-based management at the time introduced him to Mikal Blue, a Grammy-winning English music producer linked to the likes of Colbie Caillat, OneRepublic, and Jason Mraz.

Photo by Dana Armstrong

The Chris Timbers Band performs at Farm Brew Live in Manassas.

I just think, like any songwriter, as you experience life your music kind of takes a journey with you, and that’s how it’s been for me.

“Colbie Caillat back in the day when she released her album “Bubbly,” that was one of my favorites. When Less Traveled was together, I remember us riding around in the van jamming to that CD, and I saw her in concert back then. Little did I know that Mikal Blue produced that record.”

Though Timbers would part ways with the management company, his musical connection with Blue remained strong. They started talking over phone calls and that eventually led to Timbers journeying out to LA in early February.

Timbers spent two weeks in the studio with Blue as well as co-producer Dean Dinning, the bassist for alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket. With the help of Blue and Dinning, Timbers whittled his collection of 40 original songs down to 10 and finally the five that would make up the EP.

“The people that they brought in, I had no idea stuff like this was going to happen. The flow of the sessions was so good, like the energy. Everyone was joking and having fun, and that was really cool to be in that circle of professionals,” Timbers said.

In addition to producing the EP, Blue and Dinning played guitar and other instruments on multiple tracks. Another musician they recruited for three of the songs was Gregg Bissonette, a drummer with a diverse résumé playing in backing bands for Ringo Starr, Ray Charles, Santana, Spinal Tap, and many others.

Timbers’ five singles will be released at separate times during the summer and then rereleased all together as an EP. He teases the work has everything from a party song called “Here’s to You” to the break-up song “Shut the Door,” featuring Timbers’ slide guitar skills and a “Beatle-esque” quality.

To tide over fans in the meantime, Timbers has a new release available now.

In a separate LA venture, Timbers worked with another manager to record a cover of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love.” Aptly released on 4/20, the song is a groovy, guitar-driven take on the King of Reggae’s song and marks one of Timber’s first recorded covers.

The cover is already gaining traction with music curators in Brazil, and Timbers hopes it will gain further attention in the wake of the recent movie “Bob Marley: One Love.”

Of course, Timbers keeps looking forward to upcoming gigs around Loudoun and beyond with the members of the Chris Timbers Band. Last year, the band was grateful to tour cross-country as an opener for the country rock group Pure Prairie League. They have intentions to get back out on the road soon and hope the upcoming EP will bolster their success.

Timbers’ career has come a long way from where he first began. However, he finds the path is still not always linear.

“When I started playing in Loudoun with Less Traveled, we started at Ball’s Bluff—that’s what it was called. It’s funny because I’m playing this place 20 years later—Green Tree and King’s Court Tavern, which used to be Ball’s Bluff.”

“We played there every Wednesday night, just packed that place! When we played there on Christmas Day there’d be lines completely around the building back then. But that place, [Spanky’s] Shenanigans, and maybe one other was all you had. They were the only places we played in Loudoun really.”

“Now with breweries and wineries … there’s a ton of places to play. I mean, you could probably play every night, or at least Wednesday through Sunday in Loudoun alone, if you wanted to without doubt and do just fine and make a living doing it. And a decent living. I think it’s great that all these doors have opened for people to play.”

But if you’ve ever experienced a Chris Timbers Band gig for yourself—complete with Timbers’ powerful vocals and the impressive off-the-cuff improvisations of each of his band members— you’d know this talent is meant to grace more of the world’s stages.

Perhaps their next EP will lead to just that.

Chris Timbers’ cover of “Is This Love” is available now. Follow him on Facebook (Chris Timbers Music) and Instagram (@christimbersband) for updates on upcoming shows and the release of his new EP this summer.

BREWS

Lark Brewing Opens as a Community Spot for Fun

BY NORMAN K. STYER

Loudoun’s newest brewery is drawing crowds on the county’s southern boundary. Located along Rt. 15 south of Gilbert’s Corner, Lark Brewing Company opened in mid-April.

The 15-acre complex is intended to be a community gathering space with a sense of fun built into the experience.

Marketing Coordinator Grace Wheeler said that spirit is built into the name—lark.

“It’s harmless fun or mischief and the source of amusement,” she said. “We kind of like to play toward that and what we want to embody is it being kind of playful.”

Between the 6,500-square-foot timber frame taproom and the more than 100 outside seats— each outfitted with QR codes for wait service ordering—and two pavilions, there is plenty of room for play.

Key to making the fun happen are Director of Operations and Hospitality Kat Huff and Brewmaster Samuel Lynch.

A Fairfax native, Huff brought a lifetime of experience to get the operation up and running.

“I’ve been in this business pretty much my entire life. I started in the restaurant business when I was 14,” Huff said. “I was lucky enough to get connected with these guys last year despite not having any brewery experience. I have a hospitality background. I know they really wanted to put a good menu in here and I was able to put together an awesome team to accomplish that.”

Lynch may be familiar to those who frequent Loudoun’s craft brewing scene. For the past three years, he’s been a bartender at Loudoun’s northernmost brewery, Vanish Farmwoods Brewing, near Lucketts. While he did some work helping in the brewhouse there, this is his first experience brewing on a commercial scale.

“Part of my approach to it is I’m not trying to like create the very first of a kind, one-off beer,” he said. “I want to make good beer and I want to make it all the time consistently—and that’s what we’re doing here.”

Early favorites are the flagship On My Way IPA and the Double Dog Dare IPA, he said.

“We put a lot of trust in Sam to make great product in the glass and the rest of our team to

Photo by Norman K. Styer

Lark Brewing Co.’s 15-acre property along Rt. 15 near Loudoun’s sourth boundary includes more than 100 outdoor seats.

Photo by Norman K. Styer

Samuel Lynch is the brewmaster at Loudoun’s newest craft beverage designation, Lark Brewing Co. which opened in April.

put a great product on the plate,” Huff said.

The food offerings are designed to be a step above traditional brewery fare.

“We didn’t want to be the same old, same old. We really focused on the quality of food that we’re serving. Instead of having a huge menu, we made it smaller and really focused on quality and execution. So, I think you’ll find an elevated brewery fair here,” Huff said, noting the Philly cheesesteak eggrolls and grilled chicken sandwich are popular with the early visitors.

And it is not only about the beer. The bars also serve up cider, seltzer, fresh squeezed lemonade and mocktails. And the staff is putting the finishing touches on a 400-bottle wine cellar area.

Lark also has rolled out a support program for nonprofits. Each quarter, a custom brew will be created and sold with $1 from each pint supporting the selected charity. They are kicking off the program with one of their backyard neighbors, Friends of Homeless Animals, with the campaign continuing through May.

So far, Huff said they are getting good feedback from visitors—and seeing success in their effort to promote a bit more larking.

“It’s just great to see everyone laid back and having a good time and enjoying. We worked so hard on this project to get what we wanted. We wanted to see people enjoying themselves and the community come together,” Huff said. “The inspiration behind Lark was to be kind of a community hub, a place where you can go with your friends with your family and make memories.”

Lark Brewing Co. is open seven days a week at 24205 James Monroe Highway in the Aldie area. Learn more at larkbrewingco.com.

Crooked Run Presents Second Annual Mr. Leesburg Pageant

BY DANA ARMSTRONG

“We know that this is Leesburg with history all abound, so why not take a moment to check out the men in town?” asked the theme song for last year’s inaugural Mr. Leesburg Pageant. Well, it’s time to break out the formal wear and swim trunks again!

The second edition of the Mr. Leesburg Pageant, a Miss America-style charity pageant for men, returns to Leesburg’s Market Station on June 1. Hosted by Crooked Run Fermentation, the event will raise funds for LAWS: Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services.

For those who missed the event last year (aptly presented on April Fool’s Day), there’s some backstory to note. Bartenders and regulars of Crooked Run came up with the idea for the local men’s pageant. What started as a joke turned into a passion project meant to provide entertainment and betterment for the community.

The event raised over $6,550 last year, with Jared Nichols crowned as Mr. Leesburg, Mike Golino as Mr. Generosity, and Medhi Fadli as the runner-up. Costumes spanned from jack-olantern suits to Viking garb and talents included dancing with original choreography, reciting poetry, singing, and even making Starbucks Refreshers.

“Men’s pageants aren’t very popular and, although Mr. Leesburg is tongue in cheek, the time and effort the gentlemen took in fundraising and preparation [last year] was amazing,” said Abby Devlin, a Crooked Run manager and the committee chair of the pageant.

“Even though it was a competition, the guys supported each other. They cheered on each other and were each other’s biggest fans. Their authentic joy was contagious, and we look forward to another year of it.”

This year’s pageant will continue to showcase Northern Virginia’s finest gentlemen of all ages and backgrounds. This time around, contestants will be judged in four rounds: beach wear, summer formal, talent, and interview.

Using the Miss America pageant guidelines, the

Aaron Kilgore performs during the 2023 Mr. Leesburg Pageant at Crooked Run Brewing in Leesburg.

judges will award the title of “Mr. Leesburg” to the man they feel is the best role model for Leesburg and Northern Virginia. A second grand prize will be awarded to Mr. Generosity, the man who raises the most money for LAWS.

Winners can look forward to a sparkly crown, sash, and box of goodies donated by area businesses.

To give the event added legitimacy, the panel of judges will be stacked with pageant experts as well as passionate community members. The titleholders of Miss Arlington and Miss Loudoun County, Emily Kinsey and Breana Turner, will be joined by representatives from pageant sponsors King Street Oyster Bar, Rockland Farm, and more.

Photo by Dana Armstrong

According to Devlin, the judges will be looking for confidence, energy, charisma, entertainment value, style, and—above all—a commitment to social justice and the missions of the Mr. Leesburg Pageant and LAWS.

The nonprofit organization celebrates its 40th year of providing services to Loudoun’s adults, youth, and children this year. By raising money for such an impactful organization, the event positions men as allies in the fight against sexual assault and domestic violence.

“Mr. Leesburg is for everyone. Organizers are volunteers passionate about creating a space where everyone can be authentic. We want people to talk about issues like domestic violence and sexual assault, and we want men to feel empowered to learn and act against it,” Devlin said.

Though the pageant highlights a serious topic, the afternoon is sure to be full of fun and camaraderie for both contestants and the audience. Positioned outdoors in the area between Wild Hare Cider Cabin and Crooked Run Fermentation, guests are invited to enjoy a beer or cider while watching the entertainment.

“Big takeaways from 2023 were the community involvement from small businesses and individuals throughout Loudoun, and beyond. The event was really organized at a grassroots level with contributions from locals, and the fundraising success would not have been possible without those sponsors,” said Devlin.

“Another takeaway was the enthusiasm of the guys that participated.”

There is still time to sign up to be a contestant. Any male-presenting resident of the DMV who is over 21 years old is welcome to apply. Participants must sign up before May 15 at mrleesburg.com, and there is a $20 entry fee.

For everyone else, the event is free and open to the public. Come out to bask in the summer sun with some cider, support a great cause, cheer on the contestants, and discover who will take the tiara for the next Mr. Leesburg.

The second annual Mr. Leesburg Pageant starts at noon on June 1 at Crooked Run’s Leesburg location, 205 Harrison St. SE. The event will be rescheduled in the case of inclement weather. To learn more, make an individual donation, or apply to become a contestant, go to mrleesburg.com.

1 50 West Vineyards 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg 50westvineyards.com

2 8 Chains North Winery 38593 Daymont Ln., Waterford, VA 8chainsnorth.com

3 868 Estate Vineyards 14001 Harpers Ferry Rd., Purcellville 868estatevineyards.com

4 The Barns at Hamilton Station 16804 Hamilton Station Rd., Hamilton thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

5 Bleu Frog Vineyards 16413 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg bleufrogvineyards.com

6 Bluemont Vineyard 18755 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont bluemontvineyard.com

7 Bogati Winery 35246 Harry Byrd Hwy., Round Hill bogatiwinery.com

8 Boxwood Estate Winery 2042 Burrland Rd., Middleburg boxwoodwinery.com

9 Breaux Vineyards 36888 Breaux Vineyards Ln., Hillsboro breauxvineyards.com

10 Bozzo Family Vineyards

35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro bozwines.com

11 Cana Vineyards of Middleburg 38600 John Mosby Hwy., Middleburg canavineyards.com

12 Carriage House Wineworks 40817 Brown Lane, Waterford chwwinery.com

13 Casanel Vineyards 17952 Canby Rd., Leesburg casanelvineyards.com

14 Chrysalis Vineyards 39025 John Mosby Hwy., Aldie chrysaliswine.com

15 Corcoran Vineyards & Cider 14635 Corkys Farm Ln., Waterford corcoranvineyards.com

16 Creek’s Edge Winery 41255 Annas Ln., Lovettsville creeksedgewinery.com

17 Crushed Cellars 37938 Charles Town Pike, Purcellville crushedcellars.com

18 Doukenie Winery 14727 Mountain Rd., Hillsboro doukeniewinery.com

19 Droumavalla Farm Winery 14980 Limestone School Rd., Lucketts droumavalla.com

20 Dry Mill Vineyards & Winery 18195 Dry Mill Rd., Leesburg drymillwine.com

21 Eagletree Farm & Vineyards 15100 Harrison Hill Lane, Leesburg eagletreevineyards.com

22 Endhardt Vineyards 19600 Lincoln Road, Purcellville endhardtvineyards.com

23 Fabbioli Cellars 15669 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg fabbioliwines.com

24 Fire y Cellars 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton fireflycellars.com

25 Fleetwood Farm Winery 23075 Evergreen Mills Rd., Leesburg fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

26 Forever Farm & Vineyards 15779 Woodgrove Road, Purcellville foreverfarmandvineyard.com 27 Greenhill Winery & Vineyards 23595 Winery Ln., Middleburg greenhillvineyards.com

28 Hidden Brook Winery 43301 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg hiddenbrookwinery.com

29 Hiddencroft Vineyards 12202 Axline Rd., Lovettsville hiddencroftvineyards.com 30 Lost Creek Winery 43285 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg lostcreekwinery.com

31 October One Vineyard

7 Loudoun St., SW, Leesburg

Octoberonevineyard.com

32 Old Farm Winery

23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie oldfarmwineryhartland.com

33 Otium Cellars

18050 Tranquility Rd., Purcellville otiumcellars.com

34 Stone Tower Winery

19925 Hogback Mountain Rd., L’burg stonetowerwinery.com

35 Stonehouse Meadery

36580 Shoemaker School Rd., Purcellville stonehousemeadery.com

1 Adroit Theory Brewing 404 Browning Ct., Purcellville adroit-theory.com

2 B Chord Brewing Company 34266 Williams Gap Rd., Round Hill bchordbrewing.com

3 Barnhouse Brewery 43271 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg barnhousebrewery.com

4 Bear Chase Brewing 33665 Bear Chase Ln., Bluemont bearchasebrew.com

5 Belly Love Brewing Company 725 E. Main St., Purcellville bellylovebrewing.com

6 Black Hoof Brewing Company 11 South King St., Leesburg blackhoofbrewing.com

7 Black Walnut Brewery 210 S. King St., Leesburg blackwalnutbrewery.com

8 Crooked Run Fermentations Central 22455 Davis Dr., Sterling crookedrunbrewing.com

9 Crooked Run Fermentations Market Station, Leesburg crookedrunbrewing.com

36 Sunset Hills Vineyard

38295 Fremont Overlook Ln, Purcellville sunsethillsvineyard.com

37 Terra Nebulo 39892 Old Wheatland Rd., Waterford terranebulo.com

38 Three Creeks Winery 18548 Harmony Church Road, Hamilton 3creekswinery.com

39 Two Twisted Posts Winery 12944 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro twotwistedposts.com

40 Village Winery 40405 Browns Lane, Waterford villagewineryandvineyards.com

BREWERIES

10 Dirt Farm Brewing 18701 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont dirtfarmbrewing.com

11 Dynasty Brewing Company 21140 Ashburn Crossing Drive, Ashburn 101 Loudoun St, SE, Leesburg dynastybrewing.com

12 Flying Ace Farm 40950 Flying Ace Ln, Lovettsville flyingacefarm.com

13 Harper’s Ferry Brewing 37412 Adventure Ctr. Lane, Hillsboro harpersferrybrewing.com

14 Harvest Gap Brewery 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro facebook.com/HarvestGap

15 Honor Brewing Company 42604 Trade West Dr., Sterling honorbrewing.com

16 Lark Brewing Co. 24205 James Monroe Hwy., Aldie larkbrewingco.com

17 Lost Barrel Brewing 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg lostbarrel.com

18 Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Rd. #142, Ashburn lostrhino.com

19 Loudoun Brewing Company 310 E. Market St., Leesburg loudounbrewing.com

1 Bluemont Station Brewery and Winery

18301 Whitehall Estate Lane, Bluemont bluemontstation.com

2 Hillsborough Brewery & Vineyards 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro hillsboroughwine.com

3 Notaviva Brewery and Winery 13274 Sagle Rd., Hillsboro notavivavineyards.com

41 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mount Gilead Rd., Leesburg willowcroftwine.com

42 The Wine Reserve at Waterford 38516 Charles Town Pike, Waterford waterfordwinereserve.com

43 Walsh Family Wine 16031 Hillsboro Rd., Purcellville northgatevineyard.com

44 Williams Gap Vineyards

35785 Sexton Farm Lane, Round Hill williamsgavineyard.com

45 Zephaniah Farm Vineyard 19381 Dunlop Mill Rd., Leesburg zephwine.com

20 Ocelot Brewing Company 23600 Overland Dr., #180, Dulles ocelotbrewing.com

21 Old 690 Brewing Company 15670 Ashbury Church Rd., Hillsboro old690.com

22 Old Ox Brewery 44652 Guilford Dr., Ste 114, Ashburn oldoxbrewery.com

23 Old Ox Brewery Middleburg 14 S Madison St, Middleburg, VA oldoxbrewery.com

24 Solace Brewing Company 42615 Trade West Dr., Sterling solacebrewing.com

25 Sweetwater Tavern 45980 Waterview Plaza, Sterling greatamericanrestaurants.com

26 The Craft of Brewing 21140 Ashburn Crossing Dr., Ashburn thecraftob.com

27 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery 42245 Black Hops Ln., Lucketts vanishbeer.com

28 Water’s End Brewing 1602 Village Market Blvd SE #120, Leesburg watersendbrewery.com

29 Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery 38506 John Wolford Rd., Waterford wheatlandspring.com

4 Quattro Goomba’s Brewery & Winery

22860 James Monroe Hwy., Aldie goombawine.com

HAPPENINGS

HUNT COUNTRY STABLE TOUR RETURNS FOR 65TH YEAR

After a brief hiatus, the popular Hunt Country Stable Tour returns this year for its 65thanniversary, allowing visitors through the gates of historic and private properties to experience a variety of horses and equestrian activities.

The self-driving tour takes place on Memorial Day weekend—Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $40 and benefit Trinity Ministries, providing financial support to organizations that enhance and enrich the lives of people in need.

Highlights include a chance to go behind the scenes at Kinross and Poplar Grange Farms, two private equine estates with an array of horses in training. At Kinross, horses are trained for threeday eventing and fox hunting. Poplar Grange trains jumpers and steeplechase horses.

At Oak Spring Farm, established by the late Paul and Bunny Mellon, visitors can explore the renowned hunter and jumper barns. The Mellons bred internationally acclaimed horses including Sea Hero, winner of the Kentucky Derby.

The Piedmont Fox Hounds, the oldest hunt in the United States, will be at Trinity Church in Upperville on Saturday at 9 a.m. as the huntsmen demonstrate working with his hounds using a horn and voice commands.

The venue at Old Denton features mules used in dressage, western reining, and foxhunting.

Additional demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend at various times and locations. Polo matches will be held at Phipps Field. The Middleburg Training Center will open Saturday morning only from 7 to 9 a.m. for visitors who wish to watch jockeys and trainers exercise Thoroughbred racehorses.

The tour also includes Stoke Farm and Welbourne Inn, historic estates dating back to the 1800s. Welbourne will host historical reenactors who will recount some of the property’s history, which includes famous guests such as F. Scott Fitzgerald to Thomas Wolfe. Visitors to Stoke will be treated to panoramic views of the rolling hills, valleys, and mountains as well as the Ashland Bassets, Virginia’s oldest foot-hunting pack.

Horse lovers can visit mares and foals at Virginia Tech’s Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center and Salamander Resort will open its stables to showcase horses and students from local therapeutic riding programs. The National Sporting Library & Museum will offer tours its rare book and art collections.

For more details and tickets, go to trinityupperville.org/hunt-country-stable-tour.

The Reflex kicks off the 2024 Tarara Summer Concert Series on the Shadow Lake stage Saturday, May 25.

ROCKING FOR 25 YEARS

Tarara Summer Concert Series Opens with Doubleheader

The Tarara Summer Concert Series kicks of its 25th season with a Memorial Day weekend doubleheader.

The series started in 1999 on the back deck of Tarara Winery’s tasting room with two guitar players. This year’s schedule has a record 21 shows, with bands coming in from around the country to play on the outdoor stage at Shadow Lake where each show becomes a community party.

The Reflex continues it roll as the traditional opening act for the season, providing a night of full on ‘80s retro rock on Saturday, May 25. The next day, The Darby Brothers Band performs classic rock hits during a rare Sunday night show.

Bands return to the stage every Saturday night through The Legwarmers’ finale on Sept. 28.

Tickets are $25, with season passes priced at $200. Attendees may purchase food and beverages from one of the food trucks onsite or they may bring their own picnic. No outside alcohol is permitted per ABC regulations, but there is wine and beer available for purchase.

Learn more at tararaconcerts.com.

CHEFS ON WHEELS: LOUDOUN’S FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL

Loudoun County will celebrate the region’s top mobile chefs Saturday, May 11. It is the third year for the LoCo Food Truck Festival at Segra Field. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes more than 20 food trucks, live music, and a cornhole tournament.

For details, including cornhole registration, go to loudoun.gov/5994/LoCo-Food-Truck-Festival. Segra Field is located at 42095 Loudoun United Dr. near Leesburg.

The 19th Street Band returns to 868 Estate Vineyards on May 26 to perform in the daylong NoVA MusicFest.

NOVA MUSICFEST: HELPING TO MAKE CANCER ROCK

The summer music season at 868 Estate Vineyards moves into high gear on Sunday, May 26, when some of the area’s most popular performers gather for the fourth annual NoVA MusicFest.

The concert is a benefit for Cancer Can Rock, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting musicians facing aggressive cancer. The core of the

Photo by Norman K. Styer

program is to put them in a recording studio, surround them with great players, and lay down a track that will memorialize their talents.

The program is the passion of Jim Ebert, a multi-platinum record producer who survived his own bout with brain cancer more than two decades ago.

“What we do is we take musicians with cancer, and we bring them into a recording studio, all paid for, I produce it, and put a band around them,” he said. ”It’s amazing. We give them a beautiful day. I’ve had statements like, ‘Today I forgot I had cancer,’ which is really powerful. So that’s what we do. We are kind of our slogan: Because music lasts forever. This gives everybody who we work with a permanent legacy for friends and family.”

Last year, the nonprofit reached the milestone of completing 50 recordings. The money raised by the show helps make those recording sessions possible.

The May 26 event includes seven hours of music from local, regional, and international musicians, food, 868 Estate wine, Lost Rhino beer, craft vendors and more.

Pre-sale tickets are $25 with $30 admission at the gate. Children 12 and under are free. This event is dog-friendly, family friendly. Pop up tents are welcome. Outside alcohol is prohibited.

For tickets and more details, go to cancercanrock.org/events.

NOVA MUSICFEST SCHEDULE

Noon - 12:30 p.m.: The Greek and the Freak 12:30 -1 p.m.: Gary Smallwood & Michael Fath

1 :10 - 1:40 p.m.: Laura Cashman

1:50 - 2:25 p.m.: Juliet Lloyd Duo

2:40 - 3:20 p.m.: The Honey Larks

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.: The 19th Street Band

4:40 - 5:20 p.m.: Patty Reese Band

5:30 - 6:10 p.m.: One Hot Mess

6:20 - 7 p.m.: Jason Masi Band

Now Showing

I Shot the Sheriff - Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre

May 11 & 18 at Oatlands in Leesburg

The Mountaintop - Drama

May 4, 5, 10, 11, 16, 18 & 19 at 7:00pm

The Phantom of the Opera - Summer Camp Musical Theatre

June 28, 29, July 5 & 6 at 7:00pm June 29, 30, July 6 &7 at 2:00pm

Murder on the British Express - Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre

June 29 & July 13 at Oatlands in Leesburg│July 20at ONO Offshore in Chantilly

August 3 at Casanel Winery in Leesburg│August 9 at Creek’s Edge Winery in Lovettsville

August 17 at Savoir Fare in Round Hill

August 23 at Effingham Manor in Nokesville

▪ Magic ▪ Improv ▪ And More!

All performances at StageCoach Theatre in Ashburn unless noted. Registration is open for Summer Camps for ages 5 - 19.

GETOUT Best Bets

5.10.24

Mostly Fab Friday, May 10, 7 p.m.

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

Mother’s Day weekend kicks off with a special night of Beatles harmonies by some Loudoun favorites: Cal Everett, Gary Smallwood, Todd Wright and Chris Martin. Tickets are $20 through eventbrite.com.

5.20.24

Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras Monday, May 20, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

He built a national following as a featured cast member on the Bravo series “Vanderpump Rules,” currently dealing with a bit of reality TV villain status. On tour, he brings a talented band of LA musicians of a night of rock hit covers.

5.24.24

Night of the Grateful Dead Friday, May 24, 5 p.m. Harpers Ferry Brewing harpersferrybrewing.com

The Brahman Noodles plans a full band electric show of selections from the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia. Tie-dye and boogie shoes recommended.

5.26.24

The Broken Hearts Sunday, May 26 Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

Hailing from Tom Petty’s hometown of Gainesville, FL, the band performs a night of Heartbreaker hits.