Get ready for one unforgettable evening in Bassett! The Bassett Hwy 57 Cruise-In is wrapping up its 2025 season with a 10th Anniversary Celebration that’s bigger and better than ever.

Saturday, October 18
3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
3525 Fairystone Park Hwy, Bassett, VA 24055

It’s been a decade of horsepower, nostalgia, and community pride — and what better way to close out the season than with Race Night and Trunk-or-Treat!

What to Expect

• Race Night: Experience the thrill up close with tons of race cars on display — from dirt track legends to drag strip favorites.
• Live Music by 220 South: Cruise through the evening with great rock tunes and high-energy vibes.
• Trunk-or-Treat: Bring the kids for a safe and fun trick-or-treating experience right at the Cruise-In!
• DJ Entertainment by B99.9: Keeping the party going with your favorite hits all afternoon.
• Food & Vendors: Satisfy your cravings and browse cool merchandise from local vendors.
• Family-Friendly Fun: It’s the perfect event to celebrate community, cars, and good times together.

Event Guidelines

To make sure everyone enjoys the evening safely, please remember:
No alcohol
No firearms or weapons
No pets (service animals only)
No burnouts or reckless driving
No tents
Be respectful of others and their vehicles
Dispose of trash properly and help keep the area clean

Whether you’re a lifelong car enthusiast, a racer, or just looking for a fun evening with the family, this is the place to be. Come celebrate 10 incredible years of the Bassett Hwy 57 Cruise-In and help send off the 2025 season with a roar!

Invite your friends, bring the family, and make memories at the final Cruise-In of the year!

The post Race Night & Trunk-or-Treat: Bassett Hwy 57 Cruise-In’s 10th Anniversary Grand Finale! appeared first on Martinsville Tourism.

Secure your tickets today!

Join us Saturday, October 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Virginia Museum of Natural History for an unforgettable evening where rich flavors come together in perfect harmony. Be delighted as you are guided through a tasting of premium chocolates, curated from the world’s finest cocoa. Develop your palate for subtle differences found in cocoa beans harvested from various regions of the world and enjoyed for millennia.

Following the tasting, the Natural History of Chocolate event transitions to a five-course gourmet dinner, where chocolate takes center stage in every course. The savory dishes, artfully crafted by a skilled chef, incorporate chocolate in unexpected ways. A complementary wine accompanies each course to accentuate the unique qualities of each dish.

The menu includes:

• Mexican chocolate soup
• Cheese and fruit with chocolate dip
• Salad with chocolate dressing
• Choice of either 1) lamb lollipops encrusted with coffee and cocoa powder, or 2) cocoa-rubbed chicken
• Black Forest gateau

* Pre-purchased tickets are required to attend. Ticket sales will end September 15, or sooner, if all available tickets sell out beforehand. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Purchase tickets HERE!

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Rev up your engines and join us for a ride with purpose! On Saturday, September 20th, motorcycle enthusiasts from across the region will gather at the Martinsville Speedway Souvenir Lot for the Ride to Back the Blue, a special kickoff to the Bassett Hwy 57 Cruise In: Back the Blue.

This ride isn’t just about the open road—it’s about honoring and supporting the men and women who serve and protect our community every day.

Ride Details:

• Meet Up: 1:30–2:00 PM at Martinsville Speedway (souvenir lot)
• Kickstands Up: 2:15 PM sharp, with a police escort through Martinsville, Collinsville, and along Route 220
• Destination: Bassett Cruise In (3525 Fairystone Park Hwy) arriving just in time for the Back the Blue Cruise In at 3 PM

No registration fee is required—all riders are welcome. We kindly ask for a $10 donation, with 100% of proceeds donated to local law enforcement benevolence funds.

Why We Ride

This ride is dedicated to showing appreciation for our local law enforcement and first responders. Thanks to the Martinsville, Henry County, and surrounding police departments for making this possible, and to our sponsor, B99.9 – Southern Virginia’s Country Station, for their support.

Once the ride concludes, the celebration continues at the Bassett Hwy 57 Cruise In: Back the Blue. Expect classic cars, community spirit, and plenty of family fun.

For more information about the Cruise In following the ride, visit BassettCruiseIn.com
or check out the Bassett Hwy 57 Cruise In: Back the Blue Facebook event page.

Come ride, honor, and celebrate with us—because when we ride together, we stand together.

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Exhibit Opening Reception
5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 8, Piedmont Arts
Join Piedmont Arts for an opening reception in honor of its new exhibits. A gallery talk will be held at 6:15 p.m. Complimentary refreshments will be served.
Exhibits on view:
• What Memory Wears: Works by Barbara Hardy and Bob Ray
• In a Different Light: Photographs by Russell Hart
• Eyes on the Wild: Photography by Artemisia Blankenship
This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP with the number and names of the attendees in your party by Wednesday, Aug. 6.

RSVP here

Upcoming Events

Ahoy, Mateys! Pirate Family Day
10 a.m.-12 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, Art Garden
Set sail on the high seas of fun at Ahoy, Mateys! Pirate Family Day!
This free, pirate-themed event features crafts with Heart to Art Creative Corner, games and snacks.
Pirates of the Piedmont will perform Celtic-inspired music that is fun for all ages. The upbeat jigs and reels of traditional Celtic music serve as inspiration for this band of rapscallions from Martinsville. They put a contemporary spin on traditional songs by incorporating rock and folk elements. Their performances are an exuberant celebration of Celtic music, encapsulating the spirit of the raucous sea shanties and soul-stirring ballads that have been passed down through the ages.
All ages are welcome. Admission is free. In the event of inclement weather, this event will be held at Piedmont Arts.

Learn more

Savory September: Wild, Wild West
6:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26, Piedmont Arts
Get ready to boot scootin’ boogie at this Wild West-themed fundraiser for the arts.
Kick up your boot heels to live country and western music by Matt Boswell, sample themed dishes and custom cocktails prepared by local chefs and take part in the 50/50 raffle for a chance to win big.
Guests are invited to dress in Western flair. So, dust off your boots, throw on some fringe and saddle up in your favorite denim, bandanas and cowboy hats. It’s time to boogie!
Admission tickets are $50 per person and include food and drinks. Raffle tickets are $20 each or $100 for six.

Buy tickets

Strategic Plan – Public Listening Session
6-7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10, Piedmont Arts
Join moderators Natalie Hodge and Jennifer Reis for a public listening session about Piedmont Arts. Share your thoughts on the future of the museum and how it can positively impact the community.

Learn more

Dr. Elliot Engel: The Mystery of Robert E. Lee
7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2, Piedmont Arts
Dr. Elliot Engel returns to Piedmont Arts with a light and enlightening literary lecture on Robert E. Lee. Using anecdotes, analysis and large doses of humor, Engel expertly reveals the man as a son, father, husband and unassuming general.
Guests are invited to attend a dinner with Dr. Engel before the program at 5:45 p.m. Reservations must be made in advance by purchasing tickets below. Tickets to the dinner and lecture are $50. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the galleries. Tickets to the lecture alone are $25.

Buy tickets

Classes

Bob Ross Workshop
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 7

Needle Felting
2:30-4:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15

Bob Ross Workshop
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 4

Chix with Stix
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Second and fourth Tuesdays

The post Mark your calendar – New exhibits opening Aug. 8 at Piedmont Arts appeared first on Martinsville Tourism.

Distinguished Lecturer Todd R. Marcum will present based upon his book of the same name. From the book, “The world was at war. But for the first 11 months of 1941, which included an exhilarating baseball season, America was not. Experience the exciting 1941 baseball season as Ted Williams chases .400 and Joe DiMaggio sets an unimaginable new standard. The lovable loser Dodgers take the National League by storm. Enjoy a detailed recap of the MLB season, but it wasn’t the only game in town. You’ll also read about an exciting Negro League season featuring Satchell Paige and a young Roy Campanella, among many others. Rarely before had three companies issued baseball cards in the same season; you’ll read about the companies and people behind Goudey, Gum, Inc., and Gum Products and learn about the Play Ball, Double Play, and Goudey sets of 1941.”

Special Guests will include former professional players of the Major League Baseball League: Lou Whitaker, of the Detroit Tigers, and Monty Montgomery, of the Kansas City Royals. Scott Norman, former member of Virginia Tech’s The New Virginians, will perform a baseball classic with audience participation. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best baseball attire.

Marcum, a Roanoke, Virginia-based marketing consultant and creator, grew up in Wayne County, West Virginia. He is a recipient of the American Advertising Federation Silver Medal for lifetime contributions to the advertising industry and a member of the Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications Hall of Fame. He concepted, wrote, and co-produced “Shine: The Legacy of Roanoke’s Advertising Men and Women,” a full-length documentary capturing the advertising and public relations history of Southwest Virginia. His first novel, Way Out Wayne, pays homage to his hometown and weaves in details about the places of his youth. He is an active member of Oak Grove Church of the Brethren and is an avid baseball card collector. He lives with his wife, Rhonda, and does most of his writing on his screen porch with his dog, Gracie, by his side.

Retiring President John Phillips will introduce the 2025-2026 officers and board of directors. Admission to the Annual Meeting & Distinguished Lecture is free, and the public is welcome. The Historic Henry County Courthouse is fully handicapped accessible.

NOTE: Todd Marcum may be contacted at 540-798-3869 for interviews, quotes, or further information.

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