Record Store Day in Charlottesville, Virginia
Two dates to know: Record Store Day Black Friday is Friday, November 29, 2026, and the next main Record Store Day is Saturday, April 17, 2027.
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day is an annual event built around independent record stores. The main event traditionally lands on the third Saturday of April each year; Record Store Day Black Friday is traditionally held the day after US Thanksgiving. Both days bring exclusive, limited-run vinyl and CD releases sold only at participating independent shops — not big-box retailers, and not mail order until the in-store exclusives sell through. Because pressings are limited, popular titles can sell out within the first hour, which is why a line-early culture has grown up around the day even at shops that are otherwise quiet on a weekday morning.
Tips for the day
- Arrive early. At busy shops, lines for popular titles can start well before opening.
- Bring cash. A cash line often moves faster than card on a shop's highest-volume day of the year.
- Check each shop's own site or Instagram in the week before the date — participating shops post their own opening time, line policy, and which exclusive titles they've ordered in.
- Release lists are first-come, first-served and vary store to store. A title in stock at one shop may not show up at another, even across town.
- Expect one-per-customer or per-household limits on the most in-demand titles.
- Not every independent record store participates every year, and allocations vary shop to shop — confirm directly with the shop rather than assuming based on a past year.
Shops to check in Charlottesville, Virginia
Independent record shops open in Charlottesville, Virginia right now. We don't yet track which specific shops participate in Record Store Day or what they've ordered in for a given year — check each shop's own site or Instagram close to the date for their exclusive-release list, opening time, and line policy.
- Hello Goodbye Records
Local mom-and-pop record store in Charlottesville specializing in used and rare vinyl, with coffee and handmade dog collars; partners with Citizen Vinyl (Asheville) to help local bands press albums.
2 sources
- Low
Vintage clothing, records and antiques shop near Charlottesville's Downtown Mall; curated vinyl alongside vintage apparel, furniture and collectibles.
1 source
- Melody Supreme
Independent vinyl record store serving Central Virginia; new and pre-owned records, buys collections including house calls for larger ones.
2 sources
- Plan 9 Music (Charlottesville)
Charlottesville branch of the independent Plan 9 Music chain (separate from the Richmond store), operating since 1981; vinyl, CDs, cassettes and stereo equipment.
1 source
- Sidetracks Music
Relaxed downtown Charlottesville record store selling new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, turntables and audio gear; weekly new arrivals and special orders.
1 source
- The Vinyl Asylum
Staunton vinyl shop and gathering spot for analog purists and local collectors; buys and sells vinyl, cassettes, CDs and stereo equipment.
2 sources
See the full record store listing for Charlottesville, Virginia.