This Thursday, December 1st, there will be an open reception at Montpelier to kick off the art exhibit “The Madisons in Art”.  The exhibit will run from December 1 through 18 at Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison.  Twenty-seven local artists from the Firnew Farm Artists Circle will exhibit.  These artists represent talent from Madison, Green, Culpeper, Rapphannock and Albemarle counties in Virginia, and all have depicted Montpelier in some way.  For more information please visit www.montpelier.org.

There is so much to do in Charlottesville and surrounding area next weekend … Here’s just a sampling:

Holiday Wreath Workshops at Monticello December 1,2,3,4,5,7,9,10.  www.monticello.org

Handmade for the Holidays at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center Museum Shop Saturday, December 3 from 2:00pm until 6:00pm.  Free tastings and local artisan demonstrations.  www.monticellocatalog.org

Candlelight Mansion Tour at Montpelier December 2,3,4.  www.montpelier.org

Holiday Open House at the Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum, Gordonsville, December 4.  www.hgiexchange.org

Four Country Players Presents “It’s a Wonderful Life” December 2-4, 9-11, 16-18 in Barboursville.  Friday performances are half price.  www.fourcp.org

John Paul Jone Arena hosts the hit musical comedy “Rock of Ages” Sunday, December 4 at 7:00pm.  www.johnpauljonesarena.com

71st Annual Christmas Concert presented by the Virginia Glee Club on Friday, December 2 at 8:00pm at Old Cabell Hall.  Tickets $15.  www.virginiagleeclub.org

PVCC Chorus Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 4th at 3:00pm.  Tickets free.  www.pvcc.edu/performingarts

Christmas Weekend at Walton’s Mountain Museum, December 3,4.  www.waltonmuseum.org

French Crepe Day at DelFosse Vineyards, December 4 from 1:00pm until 5:00pm.  www.delfossewine.com

First Charlottesville “Pop-Up Restaurant” called Handsome Boy Noodles, December 4 from 6:00pm until 11:00pm.  Enjoy noodle dishes like pho and ramen, dumplings and Korean style chicken wings.  Location is the Restaurant Ten on the Downtown Mall.  Chef Pei Chang of Ten will do the honors.  Have an economical dinner in style, with profits going to charity.

On Sunday, December 18th, and Tuesday, December 20th, Monticello will host a unique experience of the holidays during Thomas Jefferson’s time.  These special house tours will feature an explanation of how the holidays were celebrated during Jefferson’s life.  You will tour the house including the Third Floor Dome area, not seen on everyday house tours.  Finally you will sample culinary delights from Jefferson’s time paired with today’s Virginia wines.  You will actually receive a copy of one of eight recipes found in Jefferson’s own hand.  The tours will begin at 3:30pm on both tour days, but plan on arriving early to do some holiday shopping in the Museum Shop.  Your gifts will be wrapped and ready for you at 6:30pm when the special tour is completed.

These special Holiday Tours are by reservation only.  The cost is $75 per person; this includes a coupon for 10% discount in the Museum Shop.

For more information please visit www.monticello.org.

Blenheim Vineyards will cut evergreen foliage from the woods surrounding the Vineyard to provide the materials for their Wreath Making Workshops this holiday season.  Michelle Smith, Lead Gardener for Blenheim, will instruct 12 lucky participants in creating a wreath at each workshop.  The workshops will be held on Thursday, December 8th from 10:00am until 1:00pm and on Saturday, December 10th at 11:00am until 2:00pm.  Please bring your own hand pruners and gloves.  To make a reservation contact Kathy Del Rosso at Kathy@blenheimvineyards.com.

Get your Holiday Season off to a great start by enjoying all there is to do in the Central Virginia Region.  Here are four ideas:

Four County Players Presents “It’s a Wonderful Life” in Barboursville, Virginia, on December 2-4, 9-11, 16-18.  All Fridays are half price.  www.fourcp.org.

Holiday Open House at the Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum in Gordonsville, Virginia on December 4.  www.hgiexchange.org.

A Christmas Weekend at Walton’s Mountain Museum, December 3,4.  www.waltonmuseum.org.

French Crepe Day at DelFosse Vineyards on December 4 from 1:00pm until 5:00pm.  www.delfossewine.com.

You can jump-start your Christmas holiday by visiting Montpelier for their Candlelight Tour.  The tour is scheduled for December 2, 3 an 4, 2011, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm.  The tour will include meeting Dolley Madison as you tour the mansion by candlelight.  Dancers will perform in the Grand Salon, and light refreshments and Christmas music will surround the tree in the duPont Grand Salon.  Then get a jump start on your holiday shopping at the Museum Shop.  For more information or to purchase advance tickets go to www.montpelier.org.

The John Paul Jones Arena has a spectacular schedule of Broadway performances planned between now and July 2012.  Plan now to attend one or all of the following:

My Fair Lady - October 24, 2011

Rock of Ages - December 4, 2011

Fiddler on the Roof - February 21, 2012

Young Frankenstein - April 4, 2012

Mamma Mia - July 12, 2012

For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.JohnPaulJonesArena.com.

Plan now to attend one of the Holiday Wreath Workshops at Monticello … and give yourself a head start on the holidays.  The Workshops will be held on December 1,2,3,4,5,7,9 and 10.  For more information visit www.monticello.org.

Here are just a few highlights from the fall schedule for Charlottesville’s non-profit community theater:

September 25, Food Wine & Film with Peter Chang

October 9, Eddie Miles “A Salute to Elvis & Country Legends”

October 19, Hilary Hahn, Violin with Valentina Lisitsa, Piano

October 20, Live Nation Presents Brian Regan

October 23, Starr Hill Presents The Jayhawks

October 30, Anthony Bourdain & Eric Ripert

November 4, Barter Theatre Civil War Voices

November 11, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company

November 19, United Nations of Comedy Tour

November 27, Sounds of Austria

November 30, A Skaggs Family Christmas

December 17, Oratorio Society: Christmas at The Paramount

December 21 & 22, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker

For more information, additional schedule and tickets go to www.theparamount.net. All shows on sale now.