Events

Events Calendar

Community Appreciation BBQ

April 25, 2026 | 9 am - 1 pm | 1301 Pierce St., LYH

Pierce Street Gateway would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended our 5th Annual Community Appreciation BBQ! We cherish the wonderful memories we created together and are already looking forward to next year’s event. We are so grateful to our 2026 partner, the Sattva Yoga & Wellness Center.

A special thank you goes out to Centra for their generous sponsorship, as well as the volunteers from the LU Serves program for their hard work and dedication. We also want to acknowledge the Elks Lodge #181 for cooking an amazing meal that everyone enjoyed and Kuumba Dance Ensemble for an unforgettable performance.

Thank you for being a part of our community. See you next year!

Pierce Street Gateway Farmers Market

First Thursdays | May - October 2026 | 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm | 1301 Pierce St., LYH

In 2025, Pierce Street Gateway launched Pierce Street Farmers Market, taking place on the first Thursday of each month from May through October. The market aims to support local farmers, artisans, and small businesses while providing fresh produce to our community at prices that are lower than the Lynchburg grocery store average.

The market offers an ideal outing for families, friends, and neighbors. In addition to fresh, local produce and handcrafted goods, there are family-friendly activities and live music, making it a perfect destination for a fun and enjoyable evening.

As part of our commitment to the community, Pierce Street Farmers Market now offers Virginia Fresh Match (VFM) to make fresh produce more affordable and accessible to low-income households. For every dollar spent using SNAP/EBT, shoppers will receive an additional dollar to spend on fruits and vegetables.

How Virginia Fresh Match Works:

Go to Pierce Street Farmers Market
Swipe your SNAP/EBT card at the market checkout booth.
Double your dollars and get 50% off fruits and vegetables.

Pierce Street Farmers Market believes that all community members deserve affordable access to fruits and vegetables. By doubling SNAP/EBT, Pierce Street Gateway is not only helping to stretch food budgets but also supporting local farmers and the local economy. In 2025, VFM locations generated $1.1M in SNAP and VFM sales and 1,100 farmers from across Virginia earned income as a result of the program.

Pierce Street Gateway board member, Dr. Gerard Sherayko, will be leading tours of the Pierce Street Renaissance Historic District at each occurrence. The market not only supports local agriculture but also cultivates community connections, encourages healthy, sustainable living, and highlights the history of an important part of Lynchburg.

Pierce Street Gateway thanks The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation for its gracious sponsorship.

The markets accept SNAP, are open to the public, and there is no entry fee.

Vendor Application

Party on Pierce

Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 1301 Pierce St., LYH

The 3rd Annual Party on Pierce will be an incredible event that celebrates the rich history and diverse culture of Pierce Street with a variety of music, historical tours, and engaging activities for all ages. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the heritage of the Pierce Street Renaissance Historic District while enjoying live performances and interactive displays that highlight our local legacy. Pierce Street Gateway will again partner with the Whirlwind Johnson Foundation and is thankful for their continued collaboration. This event is free and open to the public.

“The Whirlwind Johnson Foundation is excited to partner with the Pierce Street Gateway for the 3rd Annual Party on Pierce. This event brings together people from Lynchburg and other communities to celebrate the significant history of the accomplished African Americans who resided on Pierce Street and enjoy a day of camaraderie, history, music, dance, and activities.” -Jolynn J Smith, MA, RACR - The Whirlwind Johnson Foundation (https://whirlwindjohnson.org/)

This event is supported in part by the City of Lynchburg Office of Economic Development & Tourism through the James River Arts & Cultural Grant Program.

Vendor Application

Interested in becoming a vendor or volunteering? Send us an email! info@psglyh.org

Sustainable Experiences

Available upon request:

Experiences

Plant a seed

Each individual participant plants a seed from a variety of choices in a ceramic or plastic pot to take home in a greenhouse ($3-5 per person)

Paint a pot

Paint a ceramic pot with a wide variety of color options and use colored paint pens to draw or write affirmations! ($5 per person)

Paint & Plant

Paint a ceramic pot and plant a seed of your choice, wrapped to go in a greenhouse bag. Save $2 by combining experiences! ($8 per person)

Seeds, soil, pots, greenhouse kits and plant tags are provided.

Garden Trips

Visit Pierce Street

Bring a group out to Pierce Street Gateway to experience the deep history that exists all around us. Perfect for all ages and groups of 25 or less. Add activities to your trip depending on what you hope to accomplish with your group.

Service Trips

Come spend time in the Pierce Street Community Garden and immediate neighborhood either during our regular service sessions or schedule your group for a private service trip!

Service Projects

Partner with us to accomplish great things for Lynchburg! We are always looking for passionate individuals or groups to collaborate with! If you need to complete a service project, let us talk about how we are working to keep the garden sustainable.

Activities

Garden Basics

Join in on a day of weeding, pruning, planting, harvesting, composting, distributing, etc. Basic gardening principles covered. All tools provided.

Adopt-A-Spot Service

Participate in our Adopt-A-Spot beautification contract by street trash and debris clean up.

Pierce Street Renaissance Historic District Guided Tours

Take Pierce Street Gateway’s guided tour of the neighborhood and learn about all 8 historical markers!

Poetry Corner

Be guided through timeless verse and reflect upon your surroundings in a session that is led by Dr. Nina Salmon on a reserved basis.

Packages

Young Green Leaders

Let us take our experiences and activities to your school-aged youth! Perfect for class-sized groups, we can tailor the experiences and activities to your needs and budget.

Vendor Packages

We would love to take our Plant a Seed experience, Paint and Plant experience, or whatever you have in mind to your next festival, fundraiser, or event! We are able to provide our own tables, chairs, and tent. Contact us to collaborate!

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