Editing Virginia (section)

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Virginia}}
[[File:Colonial Williamsburg ladies.jpg|thumb|Colonial Virginian culture, language, and style are reenacted in [[Colonial Williamsburg|Williamsburg]].|alt=Five women dressed in long colonial style clothing sit on the stairs of tan and beige buildings talking. In front of them is a wooden wheelbarrow full of wicker baskets.]]
Modern Virginian culture has many sources and is part of the [[culture of the Southern United States]].{{sfn|Fischer|Kelly|2000|pp=102–103}} The [[Smithsonian Institution]] divides Virginia into nine cultural regions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.folklife.si.edu/resources/2007Festival/VA_Signs/SFF07_VA_Intro_Map.pdf |title=Roots of Virginia Culture |website=Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2007 |publisher=[[Smithsonian Institution]] |date=July 5, 2007 |access-date=September 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001175150/http://www.folklife.si.edu/resources/2007Festival/VA_Signs/SFF07_VA_Intro_Map.pdf |archive-date=October 1, 2008}}</ref>

Besides the general [[cuisine of the Southern United States]], Virginians maintain their own particular traditions. [[Virginia wine]] is made in many parts of the Commonwealth.<ref name=wine/> [[Smithfield ham]], sometimes called "Virginia ham", is a type of [[country ham]] which is [[Geographical indication|protected by state law]] and can be produced only in the town of [[Smithfield, Virginia|Smithfield]].{{sfn|Williamson|2008|p=41}} [[Virginia furniture]] and architecture are typical of [[American colonial architecture]]. Thomas Jefferson and many of the Commonwealth's early leaders favored the [[Neoclassical architecture]] style, leading to its use for important state buildings. The [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] and their style can also be found in parts of the Commonwealth.<ref name=dutch>{{cite journal|url=http://www.vahistorical.org/publications/Abstract_1091_Keller.htm |title=Pennsylvania and Virginia Germans during the Civil War |first=Christian B. |last=Keller |journal=Virginia Magazine of History and Biography |volume=109 |year=2001 |pages=37–86 |access-date=April 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522130544/https://www.vahistorical.org/publications/Abstract_1091_Keller.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2008}}</ref>

Literature in Virginia often deals with the Commonwealth's past. The works of [[Pulitzer Prize]] winner [[Ellen Glasgow]] often dealt with social inequalities and the role of women in her culture.{{sfn|Gray|Robinson|2004|pp=81, 103}} [[James Branch Cabell]] wrote extensively about the changing position of gentry in the [[Reconstruction era]], and challenged its moral code with ''[[Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/cabell1/summary.html|title=Summary of Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice|first=Mary Alice|last=Kirkpatrick|access-date=August 18, 2009|website=Library of Southern Literature|publisher=[[University of North Carolina]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601091309/http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/cabell1/summary.html|archive-date=June 1, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> [[William Styron]] approached history in works such as ''[[The Confessions of Nat Turner (1967)|The Confessions of Nat Turner]]'' and ''[[Sophie's Choice (novel)|Sophie's Choice]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/02/books/02styron.html|title=William Styron, Novelist, Dies at 81|first=Christopher|last=Lehmann-Haupt|date=November 2, 2006|access-date=August 18, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506145433/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/02/books/02styron.html|archive-date=May 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tom Wolfe]] has occasionally dealt with his southern heritage in bestsellers like ''[[I Am Charlotte Simmons]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26738-2004Nov4.html|title=A Coed in Full|first=Michael|last=Dirda|date=November 7, 2004|access-date=October 3, 2009|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726125311/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26738-2004Nov4.html|archive-date=July 26, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Matt Bondurant]] received critical acclaim for his [[historical fiction|historic novel]] ''[[The Wettest County in the World]]'' about moonshiners in [[Franklin County, Virginia|Franklin County]] during [[Prohibition in the United States|prohibition]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/fairfax-native-matt-bondurants-book-is-now-the-movie-lawless/2012/05/27/gJQAZqy1uU_story.html |title= Fairfax native Matt Bondurant's book is now the movie 'Lawless' |first= Tom |last= Jackman |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= May 27, 2012 |access-date= May 28, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120528120647/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/fairfax-native-matt-bondurants-book-is-now-the-movie-lawless/2012/05/27/gJQAZqy1uU_story.html |archive-date= May 28, 2012 |url-status= live}}</ref> Virginia also names a [[Poet Laureate of Virginia|state Poet Laureate]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/shad-plank-blog/dp-gov-taps-new-oig-elections-chief-hires-house-member-20140627,0,6770516.post|title=Gov. taps new OIG, elections chief, hires House member|first=Travis|last=Fain|date=June 27, 2014|access-date=July 9, 2014|work=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714222425/http://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/shad-plank-blog/dp-gov-taps-new-oig-elections-chief-hires-house-member-20140627,0,6770516.post|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Fine and performing arts===
{{See also|Music of Virginia}}
[[File:The Steel Wheels The Jefferson Theater Charlottesville VA February 2019.jpg|thumb|[[The Steel Wheels]], an Americana roots folk rock band, plays at [[Jefferson Theater (Virginia)|Jefferson Theater]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]] in February 2019.|alt=Five male musicians perform on stage in front of a standing audience, behind them a dozen lights project blue lines upward.]]
Virginia ranks near the middle of U.S. states in terms of public spending on the arts {{as of|2021|lc=on}}, at just over half of the national average.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://nasaa-arts.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NASAA-FY2021-State-Arts-Agency-Revenues-Report.pdf|title=State Arts Agency Revenues|publisher=National Assembly of State Arts Agencies|date=February 2021|access-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> The state government does fund some institutions, including the [[Virginia Museum of Fine Arts]] and the [[Science Museum of Virginia]]. Other museums include the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] of the [[National Air and Space Museum]] and the [[Chrysler Museum of Art]].{{sfn|Smith|2008|pp=22–25}} Besides these sites, many open-air museums are located in the Commonwealth, such as [[Colonial Williamsburg]], the [[Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia|Frontier Culture Museum]], and various historic battlefields.{{sfn|Howard|Burnham|Burnham|2006|pp=88, 206, 292}} The [[Virginia Foundation for the Humanities]] works to improve the Commonwealth's civic, cultural, and intellectual life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virginia.edu/vfh/mission.html|title=Mission & History|website=[[Virginia Foundation for the Humanities]]|year=2007|access-date=December 9, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827202050/http://www.virginia.edu/vfh/mission.html|archive-date=August 27, 2007}}</ref>

The [[Harrison Opera House]], in [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], is home of the [[Virginia Opera]]. The [[Virginia Symphony Orchestra]] operates in and around [[Hampton Roads]].{{sfn|Howard|Burnham|Burnham|2006|pp=165–166}} Resident and touring theater troupes operate from the [[American Shakespeare Center]] in [[Staunton, Virginia|Staunton]].{{sfn|Goodwin|2012|p=154}} The [[Barter Theatre]] in [[Abingdon, Virginia|Abingdon]], designated the State Theatre of Virginia, won the first [[Regional Theatre Tony Award]] in 1948, while the [[Signature Theatre (Arlington, Virginia)|Signature Theatre]] in [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington]] won it in 2009. There is also a Children's Theater of Virginia, [[Theatre IV]], which is the second-largest touring troupe in the nation.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://richmond.com/entertainment/theater-legacies-theatre-iv-founders-embark-on-a-new-adventure/article_a9792a4b-f190-5b01-8539-b4fa3b0216ef.html |title=  Theater legacies: Theatre IV founders embark on a new adventure |first= Holly |last= Prestidge |work= The Richmond Times-Dispatch |date= January 18, 2013 |access-date= July 13, 2021}}</ref> Notable music performance venues include [[The Birchmere]], the [[Landmark Theater (Richmond, Virginia)|Landmark Theater]], and [[Jiffy Lube Live]].{{sfn|Howard|Burnham|Burnham|2006|pp=29, 121, 363, 432}} [[Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts]] is located in [[Vienna, Virginia|Vienna]] and is the only national park intended for use as a performing arts center.<ref name=wolftrap>{{harvnb|Scott|Scott|2004|pp=307–308}}</ref>

Virginia is known for its tradition in the music genres of [[Old-time music|old-time string]] and [[Bluegrass music|bluegrass]], with groups such as the [[Carter Family]] and [[Stanley Brothers]] achieving national prominence during the 1940s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://folkways.si.edu/roots-branches-virginia-past-present/bluegrass/music/article/smithsonian|title=The Roots and Branches of Virginia Music|website=Folkways|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|year=2007|access-date=January 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107074814/http://www.folkways.si.edu/explore_folkways/virginia.aspx|archive-date=January 7, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The state's African tradition is found through [[Gospel (music)|gospel]], [[blues]], and [[shout band]]s, with both [[Ella Fitzgerald]] and [[Pearl Bailey]] coming from [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://richmondmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/music/virginias-greatest-show-never/ |title= Virginia's Greatest Show Never |magazine= Richmond Magazine |first= Craig |last= Belcher |date= September 25, 2018 |access-date= June 22, 2020}}</ref> Contemporary Virginia is also known for [[folk rock]] artists like [[Dave Matthews]] and [[Jason Mraz]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] artists [[Chris Brown]], [[D'Angelo]], and [[Kali Uchis]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] stars like [[Pharrell Williams]], [[Timbaland]], [[Missy Elliott]] and [[Pusha T]], as well as [[thrash metal]] groups like [[GWAR]] and [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2013/08/12-virginia-bands-you-should-listen-to-now.html|title=12 Virginia Bands You Should Listen to Now|first=Reggie|last=Pace|website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=August 14, 2013|access-date=January 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202211016/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2013/08/12-virginia-bands-you-should-listen-to-now.html|archive-date=February 2, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Several members of [[country music]] band [[Old Dominion (band)|Old Dominion]] grew up in the [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]] area, and took their band name from Virginia's state nickname.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.roanoke.com/arts_and_entertainment/music/old-dominion-country-band-has-roanoke-valley-roots/article_d98905b4-ea90-11e3-9679-0017a43b2370.html |title=Old Dominion country band has Roanoke Valley roots |first=Tad |last=Dickens |date=June 3, 2014 |newspaper=The Roanoke Times |access-date=April 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408140949/https://www.roanoke.com/arts_and_entertainment/music/old-dominion-country-band-has-roanoke-valley-roots/article_d98905b4-ea90-11e3-9679-0017a43b2370.html |archive-date=April 8, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Festivals===
[[File:Chincoteague pony swim 2007.jpg|thumb|The annual [[Pony Penning]] features more than 200 [[Chincoteague Pony|wild ponies]] swimming across the [[Assateague Channel]] into [[Chincoteague, Virginia|Chincoteague]].<ref name=ponies/>|alt=Dozens of brown and white ponies surge out of the shallow water onto a grassy shore crowded with onlookers.]]
Many counties and localities host [[county fair]]s and festivals. The [[Virginia State Fair]] is held at the [[Meadow Event Park]] every September. Also in September is the [[Neptune Festival]] in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]], which celebrates the city, the waterfront, and regional artists. [[Norfolk, Virginia#Parks and recreation|Norfolk's Harborfest]], in June, features boat racing and [[air show]]s.{{sfn|Goodwin|2012|pp=25, 287}} [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax County]] also sponsors Celebrate Fairfax! with popular and traditional music performances.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/06/AR2007060601032.html|title=Live!|date=June 7, 2007|first=Marianne|last=Meyer|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107095201/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/06/AR2007060601032.html|archive-date=November 7, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The Virginia Lake Festival is held in July in [[Clarksville, VA|Clarksville]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://virginialiving.com/the-daily-post/sweet-summertime/ |title= Sweet Summertime |website= Virginia Living |date=July 19, 2023 |access-date= January 23, 2024}}</ref> The [[Eastern Shore of Virginia|Eastern Shore]] island of [[Chincoteague, Virginia|Chincoteague]] hosts the annual [[Pony Penning]] of feral [[Chincoteague Pony|Chincoteague ponies]], expanded into a week-long carnival.<ref name=ponies>{{cite news |url= https://www.wavy.com/living-local/chincoteagues-97th-pony-swim-happening-wednesday-morning/ |title=  Chincoteague holds 2023 Pony Swim on Wednesday |website= WAVY |first= Brian |last= Reese |date= July 25, 2023 |access-date= February 8, 2024}}</ref> Every year on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], the [[Mattaponi]] and [[Pamunkey]] tribes present Virginia's governor with a tribute of deer in a celebration honoring colonial treaties.<ref name=taxtribute>{{cite news |url= https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/11/22/for-346th-year-virginia-tribes-present-governor-with-a-tribute-of-game/ |title= For 346th year, Virginia tribes present governor with a tribute of game |newspaper= Virginia Mercury |first= Sarah |last= Vogelsong |date= November 22, 2023 |access-date= January 23, 2024}}</ref>

The [[Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival]] is a two-week festival held annually in [[Winchester, Virginia|Winchester]] which includes parades and [[bluegrass music|bluegrass]] concerts. The [[Old-time music|Old Time]] Fiddlers' Convention in [[Galax, Virginia|Galax]], begun in 1935, is one of the oldest and largest such events worldwide. Wolf Trap hosts the [[Wolf Trap Opera Company]], which produces an opera festival every summer.<ref name=wolftrap/> The Blue Ridge Rock Festival has operated since 2017, and has brought as many as 33,000 concert-goers to the Blue Ridge Amphitheater in [[Pittsylvania County, Virginia|Pittsylvania County]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://roanoke.com/news/state-and-regional/after-legal-action-payments-flow-to-companies-owed-by-blue-ridge-rock-festival/article_6ffc78dc-b26d-53c1-8458-49861d6c52c4.html|title=After legal action, payments flow to companies owed by Blue Ridge Rock Festival|first=John R.|last=Crane|newspaper=Danville Register & Bee|date=January 21, 2022|access-date=January 23, 2022}}</ref> Two important film festivals, the [[Virginia Film Festival]] and the [[VCU French Film Festival]], are held annually in [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]] and Richmond, respectively.{{sfn|Goodwin|2012|pp=25–26}}