(free and open to the public)

Seeing the World on a Residence Ship - with Elayne Smith
Sept. 8 | 12:00–1:15 pm | IH 117

Join us as Elayne Smith shares her experience living aboard the Odyssey residence ship and traveling from Manila to Australia, offering a unique perspective on life at sea and global travel.

Elayne Smith is a UCLA geography graduate, former travel agency owner, reading specialist, and avid traveler.

Creating the Perfect Pairing - with Tassie Pippert

Sept. 22 | 4:00 – 5:30 pm

Discover how acids, proteins, tannins, and alcohol work together to create exceptional food and wine pairings in this engaging presentation.

Tassie Pippert is the Emmy Award-winning creator, producer, and host of Un-Wine’d on PBS, a JMU faculty emerita, and Chef in Residence at Hotel Madison.

50 and Wiser: Fun with Harrisonburg Parks & Recreation - with Lynn Hoy
Oct. 13 | 12:00–1:15 pm | IH 117

Discover the active and social opportunities available through Harrisonburg Parks & Recreation for adults 50 and wiser. Learn about current and future activities at the Price Rotary Center and other local venues, as well as partnerships with Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS).

Lynn Hoy earned a BS from JMU and has worked for the City of Harrisonburg for 40 years. She is currently the Senior Services Coordinator for Harrisonburg Parks & Recreation and has spent the past 15 years focusing on the 50 and Wiser population.

Building Bridges of Care and Delight - with Kathy Guisewite
Oct. 27 | 12:00–1:15 pm | IH 117

Learn about Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS), the Caregivers Community Network partnership with JMU, and the resources available to support individuals and families living with dementia.

Kathy Guisewite is the Caregiver Outreach Coordinator with Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS). She supports the Caregivers Community Network with JMU, Opening Minds through Art, and dementia education programs.

The Life of Lucy Simms and African Education in Early Harrisonburg - with Dale MacAllister
Nov. 10 | 12:00–1:15 pm | IH 117

Explore the remarkable life of Lucy Simms and the history of African American education in Harrisonburg following emancipation.

Dale MacAllister is a JMU alumnus, resident historian for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, and author of a biography on Lucy Simms.

Cuba, Another Example of the True Face of Communism - with Roberto Quinones
Dec. 8 | 12:00–1:15 pm | IH 117

Join Roberto Quinones for a discussion of present-day conditions in Cuba and the challenges facing the Cuban people.

Roberto Quinones is a Cuban lawyer, poet, writer, and independent journalist who has authored multiple books and articles.

Location: Brix & Columns Vineyard, 1501 Dave Berry Rd. McGaheysville, VA

A Republic If You Can Keep It - with George Gruner
Sept. 16 | 4:00 – 5:30 pm

George Gruner is a local historian with more than 40 years of teaching experience and has served at both Monticello and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.

Senior Fitness - with Andrew Kipps
Oct. 21 | 4:00 – 5:30 pm 

Explore safe and effective ways to exercise as you age, with practical information about staying active and maintaining fitness.

Andrew Kipps is a lifelong resident of the Shenandoah Valley. He graduated from Longwood University in 2014 with a degree in Exercise Science and has worked in a variety of roles related to senior fitness, activities, and parks and recreation. He lives in New Market with his wife, Kelly, and son, Theo.

Fair Trade: Not Just for Coffee and Chocolate - with Eleanor Held
Nov. 18 | 4-5:30pm

Explore what fair trade means and how it affects people, with a special focus on the clothing industry, fast fashion, and navigating ever-changing seasons and styles.

Eleanor Held grew up in Harrisonburg and earned a master's degree in Religion and Society from Durham University in England. Her interest in fair trade began while working at a fair trade gift shop at Stony Point Conference Center in New York. In 2014, she and her mother opened Green Hummingbird Fair Trade Clothing in Harrisonburg.

 Dynamic Aviation
Sept. 3 | 10:30 am–12:00 pm | Dynamic Aviation, 1402 Airport Road, Bridgewater, VA 22812
Self-drive | Limit: 30 | Free

Tour Dynamic Aviation and learn about the company's aviation services, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, airborne data acquisition, and public health and safety missions.

The tour will be divided into groups of 10–12. Participants will visit the Legacy Hangar, home to two Beech-18s, Miss Virginia, the first Air Force One, and a 1929 crop duster. The tour will also include a look at the runway, beacon light, windsock, and three active maintenance hangars housing King Air aircraft used for environmental projects.

Security information required at registration: Proof of citizenship, first, middle, and last name, phone number, and email address. This information must be submitted by Aug. 21, 2026.

Optional carpool: Meet at 10:00 am at the Super Shoes parking lot, 2475 S. Main Street, Harrisonburg.

Breneman Turner Mill
Sept. 23 | 10:30 am – 1:00 pm Format: Carpool | Limit: 20 | Cost: $5

Take a guided tour of the Breneman Turner Mill, the only pre-Civil War mill in Rockingham County with original grist mill equipment. Discover its history and view preserved machinery. Note that the second and third floors contain more historic equipment, accessible by stairs. The mill is located three miles north of Harrisonburg off Route 42.

Note: Please wear comfortable shoes. Participants must be able to climb stairs to access all levels of the mill.

Gettysburg National Battlefield
Sept. 17 | 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Format: Coach Bus | Limit: 50 | Cost: $104

Join historian George Gruner for a memorable tour of Gettysburg National Battlefield. The visit includes the Museum, featuring the Cyclorama painting and a film on Pickett's Charge. After a lunch break, enjoy a two-hour guided bus tour led by a National Park Service guide. Post-tour, you can explore the museum further or join Gruner on a narrated walking tour of Pickett's Charge, covering about three-quarters of a mile.

Note: Lunch is on your own. Please also bring cash to tip the bus driver. The optional walking tour includes approximately ¾ mile of walking over uneven terrain.

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
Sept. 28 | 10:30 am Format: Carpool | Limit: 20 | Cost: No Fee

September is Hunger Action Month, an ideal time to learn about the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank's efforts. Join a guided tour of the Verona facility to see how it serves 25 counties and eight cities in Virginia through over 400 partners. Participants can donate non-perishable food or hygiene items; for a list of needed items, visit www.brafb.org.

Note: Please wear closed-toe shoes. Food donation is suggested.

Waterford Village Fair
Oct. 2 | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Format: Coach Bus | Limit: 30 | Cost: $20

Explore the Waterford National Historic Landmark, featuring 18th- and 19th-century homes. At the annual Waterford Fair, enjoy traditional crafts, living history exhibits, entertainment, food, and tours of historic homes and gardens. Experience a full day in one of Virginia's cherished historic communities at your own pace.

Note: Lunch and purchases are on your own. Please also bring cash to tip the bus driver.

Illyria Restaurant Kitchen Tour
Nov. 3 | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Format: Carpool | Limit: 20 | Cost: No Fee

Go behind the scenes at Illyria Mediterranean Restaurant with an exclusive tour of its beautiful, state-of-the-art kitchen, located in the historic Daily News-Record building in downtown Harrisonburg. Learn how the chefs prepare the restaurant's popular Mediterranean dishes while exploring the spacious and modern kitchen.

Following the tour, those who wish may enjoy lunch together at Rocktown Kitchen at their own expense.

Lunch at Rocktown Kitchen is optional and self-funded.

Museum of the Bible
Nov. 5 | 6:45 am – 5:30 pm Format: Coach Bus | Limit: 50 | Cost: $86

Travel with us to Washington, D.C., for a guided visit to the Museum of the Bible. Retired museum educator and volunteer docent Jerry Frazier will lead us on the museum's Highlights Tour, sharing insights into its most remarkable exhibits.

A pre-ordered boxed lunch in the Bistro Café is included with your registration. After lunch, you'll have more time to explore the museum before returning to Harrisonburg.

Note: The cost includes museum admission, guided tour, boxed lunch, and transportation. Please also bring cash to tip the bus driver.