The Downtown Mall is eight pedestrian blocks of Main Street, Virginia's only pedestrian-only Main Street. Parking, theaters, events, rules and history.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts come from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the City of Charlottesville’s parking and park rules pages, Friends of Charlottesville Downtown and each venue’s own site.
The Downtown Mall is Charlottesville’s heart: eight brick-paved, car-free blocks of Main Street lined with restaurants, shops, two theaters and an outdoor amphitheater, with City Hall at the east end. The state’s historic resources department calls it the only pedestrian-only stretch of a Main Street in Virginia. It is a short walk from the city’s two downtown garages, where the first hour is free.
At a glance
- Where: East Main Street, from the west end near Ridge-McIntire Road to City Hall and Ting Pavilion at the east end
- Parking: Market Street garage, 550 E. Market St.; Water Street garage, 200 E. Water St.
- Buses: Charlottesville Area Transit is fare-free; the free trolley links the Mall and UVA
- Downtown help: Friends of Charlottesville Downtown
What is on the Mall
Theaters and music
- The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St. A theater that hosts concerts, films and the Charlottesville Symphony. Box office: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and an hour before shows, 434-979-1333 (theparamount.net).
- The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St. A concert hall with touring bands and dance nights, 434-245-4980 (jeffersontheater.com).
- Ting Pavilion, the outdoor amphitheater at the east end. It hosts summer concerts and the free Fridays After Five series, which in 2026 ran every Friday from 5:30 p.m., April 17 to Sept. 11. The city also uses it for the Monster Mash and other events.
For families
- Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St., a hands-on museum for children 8 and under, open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday (vadm.org).
- Central Library, 201 E. Market St., a block north, with storytimes and three hours of validated parking (jmrl.org).
Food and drink. The Mall is lined with restaurants, many with outdoor tables on the bricks. For weekend brunch at Bizou, Rapture, The Nook and Zocalo, see our brunch guide; for dinner, see date night. Friends of Charlottesville Downtown keeps a dining directory and a shopping directory.
City Market, a block south at 100 E. Water St., runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., April to November, with a Holiday Market from Nov. 28 to Dec. 19. See farmers markets.
Getting there and parking
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Street garage | 550 E. Market St.; first hour free, then $1 per half hour, $12 a day |
| Water Street garage | 200 E. Water St.; same rates |
| Free garage days | New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas |
| Street parking | Free; most spaces closest to the Mall have a two-hour limit |
| Bus | Charlottesville Area Transit, fare-free; free trolley from UVA |
Both garages use camera entry by Metropolis: register your plate once, or pay at the kiosks inside. Vehicles left more than 72 hours may be ticketed or towed. Details are on our getting around guide.
Rules on the Mall
- Dogs must be leashed on the Mall between the Ninth Street bridge and Ridge-McIntire Road, and on the side streets between Water and Market streets; owners must pick up after them, including at the pavilion. See dog-friendly Charlottesville.
- Fireworks, sparklers included, are illegal anywhere in the city.
- Big events can bring bag limits and screening; at the 2025 Grand Illumination, the city allowed one small clear bag per person.
The year on the Mall
- Spring to fall: Fridays After Five concerts at Ting Pavilion.
- October: the city’s free Monster Mash and Downtown Mall trick-or-treat. See Halloween events.
- November to January: Magic on the Mall, with Elves in Cville and Santa photos. See holiday lights and Christmas events.
- December: Grand Illumination and the city tree lighting by City Hall. See Christmas parade and tree lighting.
History
Main Street became the Downtown Mall in two phases between 1976 and 1980, designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin and his firm. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources says the design keeps pedestrians moving while leaving room for rest and conversation around fountains, and calls the Mall Halprin’s only surviving work in Virginia. Its features include brick and granite paving, groves of shade trees, historic fountains and bollards, planters, seating and public art, including six steel sculptures by University of Virginia professor James Hagan installed in 1981.
About 200 downtown streets in the United States were turned into pedestrian malls between the 1960s and 1980s; DHR says only about 30 were still pedestrian-only by the end of the 1990s, and Charlottesville’s was one of them. The Mall, about four acres inside the older Charlottesville and Albemarle County Courthouse Historic District, was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register on June 15, 2023, and the National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 5, 2024. More history is in our history and landmarks guide.
What this means for you
- Park once in a city garage; the first hour costs nothing.
- Check the Paramount, Jefferson and Ting Pavilion calendars before a night out.
- Bring the dog, on a leash.
Related guides: live music and nightlife, free things to do and date night.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I park for the Charlottesville Downtown Mall?
The city’s Market Street garage, 550 E. Market St., and Water Street garage, 200 E. Water St., are a short walk from the Mall. The first hour is free, then $1 per half hour up to $12 a day. Nearby street parking is free, with a two-hour limit on most spaces.
How long is the Downtown Mall?
Eight city blocks of Main Street, about four acres. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources calls it the only pedestrian-only portion of a Main Street in Virginia.
Who designed the Charlottesville Downtown Mall?
Landscape architect Lawrence Halprin and his firm, Lawrence Halprin and Associates. It was built in two phases from 1976 to 1980 and is his only surviving work in Virginia.
Can I bring my dog to the Downtown Mall?
Yes, on a leash. The city’s leash rule covers the Mall between the Ninth Street bridge and Ridge-McIntire Road and the side streets between Water and Market streets, and owners must pick up after their dogs.
Is the Downtown Mall a historic district?
Yes. The Charlottesville Downtown Mall Historic District was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register on June 15, 2023, and the National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 5, 2024.
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