The Cricket on the Hearth runs to Nov. 22 in Glen Allen, VMFA opens Monet to Matisse Nov. 14, and Richmond Ballet's Nutcracker plays Dec. 5-23 downtown.

Last checked Nov. 10, 2026. Rebuilt at the start of each month, covering the next six weeks. Sources: the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen’s performances, Henrico Theatre Company and gallery pages, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ exhibition pages linked below. Prices are as each venue lists them.

Updated Nov. 10: the window now runs to Dec. 22. Added Beyond Santa (Dec. 1-2), A KOS Christmas (Dec. 21-22, $25) and Richmond Ballet’s Nutcracker (Dec. 5-23); the Glen Allen tree lighting is now billed as Illumination.

Short Pump has no arts center of its own. The nearest is the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Road, a Henrico County arts venue about eight miles east, with a ballroom stage, four galleries and the Henrico Theatre Company. Its box office is 804-261-ARTS (804-261-2787), open weekdays 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, about 11 miles southeast in Richmond, opens its biggest show of the year on Nov. 14.

Don’t miss

  • Through Nov. 22: The Cricket on the Hearth, Henrico Theatre Company, Glen Allen, from $10
  • Saturday, Nov. 14: The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse opens at VMFA
  • Sunday, Nov. 15: Connections in Color grand opening, Glen Allen, 1 to 3 p.m., free
  • Saturday, Dec. 5: Tree lighting and Festival of Trees opening, Glen Allen, free
  • Dec. 5-23: Richmond Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Carpenter Theatre, from $33.60

Exhibitions now showing

At the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen (galleries):

Show Dates Gallery
Holiday Wreath Exhibit, wreaths made by local artists Nov. 2 to Jan. 4 Slantwall and Midway galleries
Connections in Color, abstract works made by artists with neurocognitive changes and volunteers in the center’s Opening Minds through Art program Nov. 5 to Jan. 4 Gumenick Family Gallery
Illumination: A Festival of Trees Dec. 5 to Jan. 4 Opens 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5

Connections in Color has a free grand opening from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15.

At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond. General admission is free and the museum is open every day of the year; some galleries are temporarily closed.

Show Dates Admission
Promise and Peril: Recent Acquisitions in American Landscape Photography Through Sunday, Nov. 15 Free
Painted on Paper: American Watercolors from the Permanent Collection Through Feb. 15, 2027 Free
The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse from the Dallas Museum of Art Nov. 14 to April 4, 2027 $20 adults, $16 seniors 65 and up, $10 youth 7 to 17 and students, free for 6 and under and members
French Photography in the Age of Impressionism Opens Saturday, Nov. 21 Free

The Impressionist show traces the movement from its start in 1874 to Matisse and the early 20th century, the museum says. Its curators give an opening talk, “That 1870s Show,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Cheek Theater, and guided tours begin with one at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, according to the exhibition page.

Theater and dance

  • The Cricket on the Hearth, Henrico Theatre Company, through Nov. 22. Remaining shows are at 7 p.m. on Nov. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21, with 3 p.m. matinees on Sundays, Nov. 15 and 22. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students.
  • On the Air Radio Players: Beyond Santa, Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. An hourlong old-time radio show taped before a studio audience at the Cultural Arts Center, with live music and sound effects, according to the county calendar. Questions go to per22@henrico.gov.
  • Richmond Ballet: The Nutcracker, Dec. 5-23, with the Richmond Symphony at the Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center, downtown Richmond. Tickets start at $33.60 including fees, the ballet says. Showtimes and parking are on our Nutcracker page.

Concerts and classical

All at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, from its performances page:

Date Show Tickets
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. Desirée Roots: Timeless Ella, the music of Ella Fitzgerald $25
Monday, Nov. 23, and Tuesday, Nov. 24, 7 p.m. 3 Redneck Tenors: Broadway Bound $45
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Bobby BlackHat Band, blues $25
Monday, Dec. 21, and Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m. KOS Band: A KOS Christmas, the 11-piece band’s holiday show $25

Markets and special events

Regular events

  • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: open 365 days a year, free general admission.
  • Cultural Arts Center box office: weekdays 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., 804-261-ARTS.

Send us your event

Running a show, an exhibit or a class near Short Pump? Send the date, time, place, price and a link through our contact page. The rest of the month’s events are on things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

What is on at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen in November?

Henrico Theatre Company stages The Cricket on the Hearth through Nov. 22, Desirée Roots sings Ella Fitzgerald on Nov. 10 ($25), and the 3 Redneck Tenors play Nov. 23 and 24 ($45). The Bobby BlackHat Band follows on Dec. 8 and the KOS Band’s Christmas show on Dec. 21 and 22 ($25 each).

How much are tickets for The Cricket on the Hearth?

The Cultural Arts Center lists $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Evening shows start at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.; the box office is 804-261-ARTS.

When does the Monet exhibition open at VMFA?

The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse from the Dallas Museum of Art opens Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, and runs through April 4, 2027. Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and $10 for youth 7 to 17 and students; children 6 and under are free.

Are there free arts events near Short Pump?

Yes. The Connections in Color grand opening on Sunday, Nov. 15, and the tree lighting and Festival of Trees opening on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Cultural Arts Center are free. VMFA general admission and its French photography show are free.