RAAC Fall Art Tour, Nov 7: Rappahannock Studios

The RAAC Fall Art Tour takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, opening the studio doors of more than 30 studios and galleries across Rappahannock County and putting you face to face with over 80 artists. It is a self-guided tour organized by the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community (RAAC), and it makes one of the better late-autumn reasons to wander the county's back roads.

Quick Facts

• Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
• Format: Self-guided; you set your own route
• Scale: 80+ artists, 30+ studios and galleries
• Where: Multiple studios and galleries throughout Rappahannock County
• Organizer: Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community (RAAC)
• Media: Paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and woodworks

What the Tour Is Like

Unlike a gallery crawl in a single town, this one is spread across the county, so the day is as much about the drive as the destinations. The format is the draw: you meet the artists in the places where they actually work, rather than behind a sales counter. For anyone building a collection, or hunting for something handmade to give this season, that is a different experience from browsing a finished show.

The range is broad. RAAC describes work in paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and woodworks, so you can follow a single medium from stop to stop or mix freely. Arriving with a loose plan rather than a rigid checklist is the better approach with more than 30 stops on offer; no one is expected to see them all in a day.

How to Plan Your Route

• Choose a focus. Decide whether you are there for ceramics, painting, or something to wear, and let that shape which studios you prioritize.
• Confirm details with RAAC. Studio participation and individual opening times are set by the organizer, so check the current tour map before you leave.
• Bring a way to carry things. Pottery and framed work travel better with a blanket and a box in the car.
• Leave room for an unplanned stop. Part of the pleasure is a studio you had not heard of.

Pairing the Tour With the Rest of the Day

November is the tail end of the county's orchard season, and it pairs naturally with an art day. Lee's Orchard in Washington is a historic family-owned apple orchard with 18 varieties, including heritage apples, and its season runs from Labor Day to Thanksgiving, so it is still within range. It is worth calling ahead for current availability.

Plant lovers have another stop nearby in Washington: Eastwoods Nurseries, a specialist tree nursery on Long Mountain Road growing more than 300 varieties of Japanese maple. Its regular listed hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, closed Mondays, though its visiting arrangements have shifted recently, so confirm before you go. Neither is part of the art tour; they are simply good company for the same day.

If you want an easy place to stretch your legs between studios, Rappahannock County Park at 7 Park Lane in Washington is a free public park open daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, and cornhole.

Planning Your Visit

• Event: RAAC Fall Art Tour
• Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
• Location: Studios and galleries throughout Rappahannock County
• Organizer: Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community (RAAC)
• Lee's Orchard: 65 Orchard Lane, Washington, VA 22747; (540) 675-3201; season Labor Day to Thanksgiving
• Eastwoods Nurseries: 634 Long Mountain Road, Washington, VA; (540) 675-1234; Tuesday through Sunday 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, closed Monday; website japanesemaples.com
• Rappahannock County Park: 7 Park Lane, Washington, VA; (540) 675-5330; daily 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM

For the current list of participating studios and any admission or map details, go to RAAC directly, as the organizer controls the tour information.