WHRO Events

Join us at University Theatre Tues, Feb 24th at 7pm for a special screening event!

Norfolk native Deb Freeman is bringing her Emmy-winning PBS documentary 'Finding Edna Lewis' to her hometown ahead of the 4th Annual Monarch Short Film Festival.

From Freetown, Virginia, to New York City, Edna Lewis carved a remarkable path. She introduced many Americans to seasonal cooking, Southern cooking — the cooking of the Black community in rural Virginia that raised her. Yet despite a life that included fame and acclaim, she is not a household name. Finding Edna Lewis hopes to change that.

A discussion and Q&A with the filmmaker will occur after the film, moderated by WHRO's Director of Equity Production and Outreach Lisa Godley.

The Story Exchange returns for its second year, bringing WHRO’s popular “Moth Hour”–style storytelling series to historic Williamsburg. Hosted at the Kimball Theatre and presented in partnership with The Slam Connection, this intimate evening invites community members to share personal stories rooted in connection, vulnerability, and lived experience.

Each Story Exchange centers on a guiding question that sparks reflection and conversation, creating space for voices from across the region to be heard. Whether you join us as a storyteller or an audience member, you’ll experience the power of authentic, first-person storytelling in a welcoming, creative setting.

If you missed the 2025 Story Exchange, you can watch all past stories on the WHRO YouTube Channel or stream them anytime on WHRO+.

THEME: Romantic Love
Share a moment when vulnerability deepened your connection with someone. Description: Romance often asks us to risk honesty. Recall a moment when opening up — with your heart, your fears, or your truth — transformed a relationship, bringing you closer in unexpected ways.

Interested in sharing a story?

Submit your story here: https://whro.submittable.com/submit/343567/the-story-exchange-february-26th-submissions
Submission Deadline February 13th.

Tickets are $10 and on sale through the link below.

WHRO will be offering two screenings - at 11 a.m. and again at 6 p.m. There will be a raffle drawing before the screening and WHRO merch!

You're invited to join WHRO on Friday, Feb 27th for a screening event to watch the newest PBS Masterpiece series before ANYONE else!

Desire, ambition and betrayal simmer at the heart of the sumptuous costume drama, "The Forsytes."

Watch Episode One with us, where chance encounters for cousins Jo and Soames Forsyte, rival heirs to the family firm, throw their previously steady lives into disarray.

The series chronicles the lives, loves, trials and triumphs of a wealthy Victorian era stockbroking family, whose generations find themselves torn between tradition and self - sacrifice versus personal happiness and the pursuit of love.

Inspired by John Ga lsworthy’s celebrated Forsyte Saga novels, The Forsytes portrays events that take place before those covered in Galsworthy’s books.

Admission is free, but seating is limited -- Register at ticket link.

Come out to enjoy the symphony & stop by the our table to say hello! We'll have freebies and plenty of info on WHRO.

ABOUT: WAVES & WONDER

Set sail on a breathtaking musical journey where the power and beauty of water come to life through sound. From the mysterious dawn of Mussorgsky’s Prelude to Khovantchina to the serene optimism of Mendelssohn’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, the evening flows with evocative imagery. Cuong’s Re(new)al surges forward with exciting rhythms, as the GRAMMY®-nominated Sandbox Percussion Quartet channels the energy of hydro, wind, and solar power. Sibelius’ The Oceanides shimmers with Nordic elegance before Debussy’s La Mer washes over the audience in a mesmerizing display of orchestral brilliance. Let the waves of music carry you away!

WHRO will be offering two screenings - at 11 a.m. and again at 6 p.m. There will be a raffle drawing before the screening and WHRO merch!

You're invited to join WHRO on Wednesday, March 4th for a screening event to watch the newest PBS Masterpiece series before ANYONE else!

Desire, ambition and betrayal simmer at the heart of the sumptuous costume drama, "The Forsytes."

Watch Episode One with us, where chance encounters for cousins Jo and Soames Forsyte, rival heirs to the family firm, throw their previously steady lives into disarray.

The series chronicles the lives, loves, trials and triumphs of a wealthy Victorian era stockbroking family, whose generations find themselves torn between tradition and self - sacrifice versus personal happiness and the pursuit of love.

Inspired by John Ga lsworthy’s celebrated Forsyte Saga novels, The Forsytes portrays events that take place before those covered in Galsworthy’s books.

Admission is free, but seating is limited -- Register at ticket link.

Join us for a WHRO+ Community Event and be among the first to explore our brand-new streaming app, WHRO+! This session is designed for both members and nonmembers who want a hands-on introduction to the app.

During this event, our team will:

• Walk you through the features of WHRO+ and show you how to make the most of it.
• Provide one-on-one help with downloading and logging in on your personal device.
• Answer your questions and share tips for enjoying WHRO+ at home.

This is a free event, and registration is encouraged so we can best prepare to assist everyone.

*NOTE: It is recommended that you bring your devices using WHRO+ if possible, and have your PBS Passport login information. If you do not know your passport information, call WHRO Member Assistance at 757-889-9499 in advance of the session.

Come learn how WHRO+ makes it easier than ever to enjoy your favorite PBS programming—plus exclusive local content, history, and storytelling from right here in our community. Make sure to bring your smartphone, ipad/tablet or computer so we can get you logged in and ready to stream!

Come out for a special edition of Another View on-site in Yorktown Thursday, March 19th at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown!

Join host Barbara Hamm Lee for a thoughtful conversation with historians Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander and Christy Coleman, exploring lesser-known perspectives on the role of Black Americans during the American Revolution. Together, they’ll discuss historical research, evolving interpretations of the past, and why these stories continue to matter today.

This event is free but registration is highly recommended! Click ticket link to reserve your spot.

Join us for a WHRO+ Community Event and be among the first to explore our brand-new streaming app, WHRO+! This session is designed for both members and nonmembers who want a hands-on introduction to the app.

During this event, our team will:

• Walk you through the features of WHRO+ and show you how to make the most of it.
• Provide one-on-one help with downloading and logging in on your personal device.
• Answer your questions and share tips for enjoying WHRO+ at home.

This is a free event, and registration is encouraged so we can best prepare to assist everyone.

*NOTE: It is recommended that you bring your devices using WHRO+ if possible, and have your PBS Passport login information. If you do not know your passport information, call WHRO Member Assistance at 757-889-9499 in advance of the session.

Come learn how WHRO+ makes it easier than ever to enjoy your favorite PBS programming—plus exclusive local content, history, and storytelling from right here in our community. Make sure to bring your smartphone, iPad/tablet or computer so we can get you logged in and ready to stream!

WHRO brings The Story Exchange back for its second year, stopping in downtown Suffolk for an evening of meaningful, community-driven storytelling at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. This “Moth Hour”–style event invites participants to explore personal narratives that reflect the moments, relationships, and experiences that shape who we are.

Designed to foster connection and empathy, The Story Exchange blends powerful live storytelling with a shared sense of place. Audience members are just as much a part of the experience as the storytellers—listening, reflecting, and engaging with stories that resonate across generations and communities.

Missed last year’s stories? All 2025 Story Exchange events are available on the WHRO YouTube Channel and streaming on WHRO+.

THEME:
Prompt: Describe a moment when a family member surprised you with their love.
Description: Family love can arrive in gestures big or small — sometimes when we least expect it. Tell us about a time a family member’s care, sacrifice, or simple act of kindness revealed a deeper bond than you realized.

Interested in sharing a story?
Submit your story here: https://whro.submittable.com/submit/345965/the-story-exchange-april-30th-submissions

Tickets on sale Soon

Come out to enjoy the symphony & stop by the our table to say hello! We'll have freebies and plenty of info on WHRO.

ABOUT: AMERICAN MOSAIC

Celebrate the American spirit with a concert that honors history, resilience, and the power of music to tell our nation’s story. Peter Boyer’s American Mosaic, a newly commissioned work, weaves together images by renowned photographer Joe Sohm, music, and the voices of America in a powerful reflection on the nation’s past and future. The program concludes with William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, composed in 1934, a masterful fusion of African American spirituals and symphonic grandeur, bringing the season to a triumphant and deeply moving close.