The natural beauty and tranquility of the Eastern Shore draws creative people from all over the world. They come to paint, cook, carve, sculpt, weave and perform.
Explore small town galleries, farmers markets, antique galleries, music and theater stages, working studios, chef-owned bistros and experimental farms using Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Trail as a roadmap.
Plan your visit to coincide with annual festivals like Paint Onancock! Plein Air, Artisans Guild Thanksgiving Studio Tour, Easter Decoy & Art Festival, Experimental Film Virginia, Art & Music on the Farm, the Craft Beer and Music Festival or look for a growing number of pop-up cultural events ranging from Shakespeare in the Park to bluegrass music on a dock.
Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisans Guild
Get off the main drag and explore the backroads of Virginia’s Eastern Shore like a local using Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Guild as a guide. Watch local artists and artisans work in their studios, eat at authentic locally owned restaurants, meet local farmers and unwind in boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts.
Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisan Trail is more than just a way to plan a trip or buy art. It gets you behind the scenes. Enjoy the annual Studio Tour to see artistic studios and get to know the artists and artisans. You’ll go home with incredible stories and great handmade products.
Learn more about Virginia’s Eastern Shore Artisans Guild here.
Festivals and Events
Art isn’t only something you observe. It can also be something you experience and there are plenty of opportunities to do that on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Experimental Film Virginia brings cinematographers from around the world to Cape Charles. They spend two weeks shooting and editing short films, which are then screened overlooking the water.
Shakespeare in the Park brings words that were written hundreds of years ago to life under the stars in the little town of Exmore.
At Cork and Canvas, you can sip wine while shopping arts and crafts made by local vendors. These are just a few of the festivals that bring arts and culture alive on the Shore in any given year.
There’s no shortage of performing arts on Virginia’s Eastern Shore either. Music venues and performing arts centers provide a steady stream of cultural events, while bars and restaurants keep the local music scene rocking.
Live music is a staple of almost every weekend, whether it’s bluegrass at an art gallery or local favorites performing at a seafood shack.
On a regular basis live theater performances, ballet, storytelling, poetry readings and classical music performances can be found on weekend calendars.
Learn more about events and festivals here.
Galleries and Studios
Towns across Virginia’s Eastern shore are dotted with a growing number of fine art galleries, antique stores and studios.
You can go to any destination and come home with a keychain or a T-shirt, but galleries and studios on Virginia’s Eastern Shore are filled with one-of-a-kind treasures that can only be found here.
Carvers carry on a centuries-old tradition and capture the beauty of local birds.
Jewelers turn humble oyster shells into high art and painters and photographers capture beach days, streetscapes and watermen in scenes of everyday life.
Antique stores offer a glimpse into days gone by on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Decoys carved by local legends harken back to the region’s deep ties to the water, fine art captures scenes of days gone by and furniture and decorative pieces show off the skill of local artisans.
Learn more about galleries here.
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