Best of · guide
Three Virginia theaters to build an autumn outing around
An Abingdon stage, a Waynesboro landmark and Charlottesville’s Paramount offer different starting points for a cultural trip.
A theater can give a weekend trip its shape: choose the performance first, then arrange dinner and time around town. These three stops offer different routes into Virginia’s arts scene, with official calendars and practical visitor information to help with the planning.
This shortlist focuses on active programming and useful trip-planning resources. Choose the production that interests you; a venue’s reputation cannot tell you whether a particular show suits your party.
Abingdon: Barter Theatre
Barter’s downtown setting puts live theater on Main Street. Pay attention to the venue printed on your ticket: Gilliam Stage is at 127 West Main Street, while Barter’s Smith Theatre is at 110 West Main Street.
The theater’s parking lot is across from Gilliam Stage and beside Smith Theatre, entered from Partington Place. Check the directions and parking guide and visitor page when planning an overnight stay or a meal around the curtain time. Box office: 276-628-3991.
Waynesboro: Wayne Theatre
The Wayne is marking its building’s centennial and ten years of the revived theater with a 2026–27 season. Its live-theater calendar includes October productions and Studio Wayne performances, giving visitors several kinds of stage experience to consider.
The venue is at 521 West Main Street. Contact 540-943-9999 for ticket questions, and check the specific performance listing rather than assuming every date has the same start time.
Charlottesville: The Paramount
The Paramount at 215 East Main Street combines live performances, films and broadcasts. Its current calendar includes Cirque Kalabanté on October 7 and A Taste of Ireland on October 11, alongside screen programming.
That mix makes it useful for readers choosing between a concert-style night and a movie outing. Browse the official calendar and confirm the format before purchasing; a broadcast is a different experience from seeing performers in the room. Box office: 434-979-1333.
Details checked October 2, 2026. Confirm availability and any accessibility requirements with the venue. Find more outing ideas in Best of Virginia and Travel & Lifestyle.
