RAAC Fall Art Tour Nov. 7 and Artful Friends Gallery

The RAAC Fall Art Tour takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, a self-guided day across Rappahannock County with more than 80 artists and 30-plus studios and galleries. If you want a gentle way into the day, start in Sperryville at Artful Friends Gallery in The Marketplace, a partnership of artists and friends showing one-of-a-kind handmade work.

Quick Facts

• Event: RAAC Fall Art Tour, organized by the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community (RAAC)
• Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
• Where: Multiple studios and galleries throughout Rappahannock County
• Format: Self-guided; meet artists in their own spaces
• Media: Paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and woodworks
• Pre-tour stop: Artful Friends Gallery, 3 River Lane, Sperryville

What the Fall Art Tour Is

RAAC describes the tour as a premier self-guided event: you set your own route, drive the county's back roads in early November, and step into working studios where the people who made the work are often there to talk about it. With over 80 artists participating, no one will see everything in a day, and that is the point. Choose a cluster, linger, and leave room for a long lunch.

Why Begin at Artful Friends Gallery

Artful Friends sits inside The Marketplace at 3 River Lane in Sperryville, and its model suits the tour well: a collective of artists and friends, with handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces rather than mass-produced gifts. It is a useful orientation. Seeing a range of makers under one roof helps you decide which media you want to chase out into the county, whether that is ceramics, jewelry, or woodwork.

The gallery's listed hours are Thursday and Friday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We have not confirmed whether those hours change on tour day, so check with the gallery or RAAC before you plan around an early start.

Other Stops in The Marketplace

The same address houses a few neighbors worth a browse, which makes Sperryville an easy first or last leg:

• The Fish Camp Store offers vintage and antique gifts and decor. Listed hours are Thursday and Friday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Distressed Screen Printing makes custom prints and sells the shop's own designs. Listed hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

How to Shape the Day

• Pick a geography. The studios are spread across the county, so choose a few that sit near one another rather than chasing the full list.
• Go in with a buying plan. Ceramics and woodwork travel easily; large sculpture may need a vehicle with room.
• Bring layers. Early November in the foothills can turn cool by afternoon, and some studios are barns and outbuildings.
• Ask questions. Many artists will walk you through process, which is the real reward of a studio tour.

Planning Your Visit

Artful Friends Gallery
Address: 3 River Lane, Sperryville, VA 22740
Hours: Thursday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Friday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Saturday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Website: artfulfriendsgallery.com

For the full list of participating studios, tour maps, and any ticket or registration details, consult RAAC directly. We have not confirmed whether the tour charges admission. Our venue data for several Marketplace businesses has not been refreshed recently, so a quick call or website check before you drive is wise.