Spring has arrived in the Heart of Virginia more quickly than many could have anticipated. With the warm weather and high pollen count also comes a dizzying array of events open to families and individuals. Someone could sip a glass of wine while walking through Riverside Park. Someone could swing a hammer and work alongside their neighbors to build a home. Another could gather in a group and discuss a powerful book about important issues. It’s overwhelming. Here’s a few of the numerous events taking place. It’s by no means an exhaustive list. To learn more about the different events taking place here, take a look at The Herald’s community calendar, or keep abreast of updates by various organizations’ social media pages.

Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking ceremony for Tarika Brown and her family in Cumberland County Saturday. Habitat does amazing work in the area, uniting various organizations, school divisions and nonprofits to create affordable and sustainable housing for families, as well as operate the Habitat ReStore in the Town of Farmville. Visit https://farmvillehabitat.org or Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity on Facebook to stay in the loop for upcoming events, which may or may not include the opportunity to win two Adirondack chairs made by Cumberland County High School students. Pick up raffle tickets at the ReStore, 1409 S. Main St.

The 10th annual Farmville Wine Festival is set for April 20. Enjoy the event with a choice of wineries, food vendors, a silent auction and live music performed by The Castaways. All proceeds go directly to the Prince Edward Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to those who need it most. The organization is locally supported and relies on donations from the community. Visit https://www.facebook.com/ events/408934209852225/ to learn more.

If an afternoon at the horse races is your cup of tea, look no further than the Town of Farmville. A Racy Affair, the annual Kentucky Derby-themed event that raises funds for Piedmont Senior Resources (PSR) Area Agency on Aging, is set for Saturday, May 4, at J and J Treeland in Prospect. Live airing of the Kentucky Derby race, casino games, carriage rides, a silent auction and of course mint juleps will be available. PSR services seniors in the area by coordinating community events, providing non-emergency medical transportation and delivering meals to seniors’ homes. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/290915541553264/ to learn more.

Some may say the book group is a lost art. Not so in the Town of Farmville. The Robert Russa Moton Museum and the Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce are among the organizations hosting the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read, an endeavor by Longwood University, in partnership with the Central Virginia Regional Library, Hampden-Sydney College, Prince Edward County Public Schools, and Fuqua School to celebrate community and literacy through reading “Burning Bright,” a collection of short stories by Ron Rash. To learn more about upcoming events, visit https://libguides.longwood.edu/bigread.

EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH is a staff reporter for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. Her email address is Emily.Hollingsworth@FarmvilleHerald.com.