Events
Fall 2025
September
Saturday, September 27, 2025, 3-5pm
Dutch Oven Cooking Social
You’re invited to a Food Studies potluck. Bring a snack or a drink to share, if you wish; we will have a Dutch oven dish on the fire, and you can try cooking dough on sticks or make ginger cake baked in an orange rind. Before September 24, please RSVP to dec09@vt.edu for more information, including the address It will be a good time to reconnect, meet new people, and share ideas. More details to follow, via the weekly VT Food Studies newsletter (join the listserv if you're not already receiving the newsletter).
October
Fridays October 10 and 17, 8:30-noon
Half-day Writing Retreats
The Food Studies writing and discussion group will be hosting two half-day writing retreats and lunch on these October Fridays (with October 17 on the first day of Fall Break) on the VT campus. If you'd like to join a collegial group to pursue independent writing projects in community, please email Anna Zeide zeide@vt.edu for location details and to RSVP.
Tuesday October 14, 2025, 12-3PM ET
Sustainable Dining Fall Harvest Festival
Stop by the 2025 Sustainable Dining Fall Harvest Festival on Dietrick Lawn between noon and 3pm to learn about our new Food, Agriculture, & Society minor! There will also be booths showcasing local options available to our students on campus and in the community. The focus is entirely on campus-based and/or local offerings to our students to help promote the Climate Action Commitment Goals laid out by the university. Other vendors include CNRE, The Meat Lab, VT Engage, The Office of Sustainability etc.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
West End Market Oyster Day
The West End Market dining hall on campus (770 Washington St, Blacksburg VA) will have an oyster day, featuring live oyster shucking from 5-7pm. The Food Studies program will be there throughout the day, tabling with information about historical and environmental contexts for oyster fishing in Virginia. Stop by to say hello!
Thursday, October 23, 2025, 5:15-6:45pm
Special Collections and University Archives Open House
On Thursday, October 23 from 5:15-6:45pm, join Special Collections and University Archives and the Food Studies Program for our 3rd annual Food History Open House! This year, we'll feature matrials from our collections relating to fall/seasonal foods. From cranberries to sweet potatoes and turkey to pumpkin, you'll be able to go "hands-on" with food history books and manuscripts! This is an open house and does not require advanced registration. Location: Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Campus--We are on the first floor of Newman Library, near the study cafe! For more information, contact Kira Dietz kadietz@vt.edu. https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/calendar/events/scuafoods
Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 10:45-11:45AM EDT
Hokie for a Day during Humanities Week
Food Studies will be leading an activity for the Hokie for a Day event during Humanities Week. Hokie for a Day offers fifth grade students a unique opportunity to experience college life and learn about programs on campus! October's series will have an emphasis on the humanities.
November
Saturday, November 15, 2025, 12-4pm
Native American Heritage Month Harvest Festival
We are proud to co-sponsor the NAHM Harvest Festival at the Indigenous Community Garden. The event celebrates Native American Heritage Month by honoring Lumbee traditions and the central role of food in sustaining cultural identity, health, and community resilience. Guided by Chef René Locklear White, this event will feature a presentation on the Indigenous Community Garden, a Culinary Demonstration & Tasting, a Keynote Presentation by Chef René Locklear White on “Honoring People of Dark Water in Appalachia," and more. Indigenous Community Garden at Virginia Tech, 615 Southgate Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060
December
Events TBA
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Stay tuned for more events!
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In addition to these one-off events, we are also working to build a durable community within the Food Studies program. The anchor of this is a biweekly Food Studies Breakfast Discussion Series. Please contact Anna Zeide, zeide@vt.edu, for more details or if you would like to join. We'd love to have you there, and at all our events.
Contact Anna Zeide with input or proposals for future events.