In conjunction with the Gordonsville holiday market, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for visits on the steps of Gordonsville Town Hall on Saturday, Dec. 9, from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, visit the event Facebook page here.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and County of Orange Fire and EMS will host a “Visit with Santa” event Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Orange County Public Safety Building, featuring activities, goodies and safety guidance. Photos will be sent digitally via email. For more info, visit the COFEMS Facebook page here.

Gordonsville On Main will host a holiday market Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Main Street in downtown Gordonsville. Vendors will include VA Pottery, Paint it Orange, Laurie Weinman Art, Host Pretty Host Often, Katie B Glass, Cakes by Jen, Maude’s Chocolates, Herbert’s Wine Jelly, Lily Bow Chic, Two Sisters Rock Art, and Wreaths by Cynthia. For more information, visit www.gordonsvilleonmain.com/events or email hello@gillianvalentine.com.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 5 p.m. in the meeting room of the Public Safety Building unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit orangecountyva.gov/95/Board-of-Supervisors.

Orange County Public Schools will hold a regular school board meeting Monday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Education Administration Complex. Regular meetings are held the first Monday of each month, with work sessions the last Monday of each month unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.ocss-va.org/school-board-home.

The Orange Town Council meets every first Monday of the month at 6 p.m. and every third Monday at 7 p.m. in the Orange Community Center meeting room unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.townoforangeva.org/55/Town-Council.

The 2023 Orange Christmas Parade, organized by the Orange Rotary Club, will take place Dec. 2 at 4:30 p.m. in downtown Orange. This year’s theme is “Winter Wonderland.” For more information including the parade route and how to enter a float, visit the official Orange Christmas Parade website here.

Orange County Public Schools will hold a school board work session Monday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Education Administration Complex. Regular meetings are held the first Monday of each month, with work sessions the last Monday of each month unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.ocss-va.org/school-board-home.

The Town of Orange Planning Commission holds its regular meeting every fourth Monday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Orange Community Center unless otherwise noted. Additional work sessions may take place on the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. For more information, www.va-orange.civicplus.com/58/Planning-Commission.

The Town of Gordonsville Memorial Tree Lighting will take place Sunday, Nov. 26, at 5:45 p.m. outside of Gordonsville Town Hall. To purchase a Memorial light for the Christmas tree, please stop by town hall or call (540) 832-2233.

Orange Town Council meetings take place every first Monday of the month at 6 p.m. and every third Monday at 7 p.m. in the Orange Community Center meeting room unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.townoforangeva.org/55/Town-Council.

Gordonsville Town Council will hold a public hearing regarding the Faulconer Street abandonment (portion) on Monday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m. Town council meetings take place the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the town hall council chambers unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.townofgordonsville.org/government/mayor_and_town_council/index.php or view the official public notice here.

Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Lake of the Woods Clubhouse, located at 205 Lake of the Woods Parkway in Locust Grove. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 5 p.m. in the meeting room of the Public Safety Building unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit orangecountyva.gov/95/Board-of-Supervisors.

Orange County Public Schools will hold a regular school board meeting Monday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Education Administration Complex. Regular meetings are held the first Monday of each month, with work sessions the last Monday of each month unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.ocss-va.org/school-board-home.

Gordonsville Planning Commission meetings take place the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. on the second floor of town hall unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.townofgordonsville.org/government/boards_&_commissions/planning_commission/index.php.

Just Orange will hold a meeting to update community members on its park project Friday, Nov. 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage, with music by DJ Flatline and complimentary baked goods courtesy of Missy Moodies. For more information, visit the Just Orange Facebook page here.

Montpelier will host the virtual program “The duPonts, the Madisons and Montpelier: The History of a Remarkable Chemistry” on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Montpelier Senior Research Historian Hilarie Hicks will discuss the duPont family history, share personal photos of the duPonts at Montpelier, and reveal some surprising connections between the Madisons and duPonts. This online program is free for Montpelier members and $5 for nonmembers. For more information or to register, visit www.montpelier.org/events/duponts_madison_montpelier?fbclid=IwAR3HQzpEtZRvZDlhfVFwV5IcMycjnpW3K61fS_bT9i1HJkSoj2xuENiVNFc.

The Orange Town Council meets every first Monday of the month at 6 p.m. and every third Monday at 7 p.m. in the Orange Community Center meeting room unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.townoforangeva.org/55/Town-Council.

Gordonsville Town Council will hold a work session Monday, Nov.6, at 6 p.m. in the town hall council chambers. For more information, visit www.townofgordonsville.org/government/mayor_and_town_council/index.php.

Avis Beasley Community Outreach Group will hold its annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon while supplies last. The event will take place in the Burger King parking lot located at 15 Orange Village Shopping Center in Orange. For more information, contact recreationcenterforocva@gmail.com.

Montpelier, the former home of James and Dolley Madison, has showcased steeplechase racing for over 85 years. Join us for a day full of sport and family fun at the former home of James Madison. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.montpelierraces.org.

The Orange County Planning Commission will hold its next meeting Thursday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. Regular meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the board meeting room of the Public Safety Building unless otherwise noted. Additional meetings are held the third Thursday of the month as needed. For more information, visit orangecountyva.gov/121/Planning-Commission.

The Orange County African-American Historical Society will hold its annual Eclipse Awards banquet Saturday, Oct. 28, at Orange County High School. The event honors members of the Orange County community who have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to the advancement of the African-American community. This year’s award recipients include: Gloria Gilmore, Jesse Magruder, Mary Minkoff, Ernestine Reid, Juliet Daniel and Sakhile Mthethwa. The reception begins at 4:30 p.m., with dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at www.ocaahs.org/eclipse-award-banquet.

Orange County Board of Supervisors meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 5 p.m. in the meeting room of the Public Safety Building unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit orangecountyva.gov/95/Board-of-Supervisors.

Orange County Public Schools will hold a school board work session Monday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Education Administration Complex. Regular meetings are held the first Monday of each month, with work sessions the last Monday of each month unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.ocss-va.org/school-board-home.

The Town of Orange Planning Commission holds its regular meeting every fourth Monday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Orange Community Center unless otherwise noted. Additional work sessions may take place on the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. For more information, www.va-orange.civicplus.com/58/Planning-Commission.

Join Montpelier's horticulture department and Virginia Master Naturalists to learn about forest ecology in the Landmark Forest. The tour will explore various techniques of active forest management that allow harvesting yet protect habitat, wildlife, and clean air and water, in order to renew and preserve woodlands for future generations. Registration is $18 for adults, $12 for youth ages 12 - 17 and free for children 11 and under. To register, visit www.montpelier.org/events/seasonal-woods-walk.

Join architectural antiquities expert Ann Miller, author of "Antebellum Orange: The Pre-Civil War Homes, Public Buildings and Historic Sites of Orange County, Virginia” for a special architectural tour of Bloomsbury. Tickets are $35 and space is limited. To register, visit www.thejamesmadisonmuseum.net/events.

Help the Orange County Historical Society preserve important community documents by bringing in your old photos, family papers, letters, journals, historical documents, etc. to be scanned and digitized for free by Society volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 21. Requirements: documents are not to exceed 10 pages apiece or 11x17 inches in size. Participants must provide an email address to receive digitized documents. For more information, view the Facebook page for the event here or call (540) 672-5366.