When entrepreneur and philanthropist Adrianne Ryder-Cook Joseph came to Gloucester in the late 1980s, the county had some talented and dedicated artists, but the arts scene was small, and people often had to travel outside of the county to find art galleries and museums, symphonies and performances.

Now, some 35 years later, the arts are thriving in Gloucester, with a month-long celebration every June of all things art—the Gloucester Arts Festival—to highlight artists, showcase their work, and encourage artistic expression by everyone in the community.

The festival kicks off this weekend with the Brews, Brine & Wine ticketed event from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Machicomoco State Park, 3601 Timberneck Road, and continues Saturday with the free Symphony Under the Stars concert from 8-9:45 p.m. on the lawn at the intersection of Main Street and Walter Reed Way, featuring the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, preceded by a performance at 6 p.m. by Gloucester’s own Liberty Dolls.

Other ev...