Charlottesville offers various winter break activities

With classes temporarily on hold and temperatures dropping, wintertime in the Charlottesville area offers a number of outings and entertainment options. There is something for everyone, and most of these trips will not put a strain on wallets.

The Virginia Cavaliers men’s and women’s basketball teams have games scheduled at the John Paul Jones arena through the month of March, so there are plenty of opportunities to catch the Hoos in action. The action really begins to pick up in January, when both teams will begin to face some of their toughest competition. Prices vary throughout the season, but tickets to a majority of the games can be purchased for less than $15. Basketball fans can visit virginiasports.com for more information.

Charlottesville’s music venues are loaded with concerts throughout the season. The Jefferson Theater, which reopened to the public in 2009, has a variety of acts on the horizon, including Yo La Tengo, Purity Ring, Citizen Cope, and a Michael Jackson tribute show. Meanwhile, there are a handful of other venues in the area offering smaller-scale shows. The newly opened Main Street Annex on the Downtown Mall promises to unveil a winter schedule soon, while The Southern, also downtown, offers shows from smaller and local artists. For more information, visit jeffersontheater.com, thesoutherncville.com, and facebook.com/MainStreetAnnex.

Of course, winter in Central Virginia is not complete without a few rounds of snow sports. Wintergreen Resort, adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway, offers a handful of winter sports, including skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing.  The resort has a handful of experts on site who are able to assist with lessons, and novices have no need for concern, as the staff will make safety a priority. Wintergreen offers a number of college specials for students, and for $159, students can obtain four one-day lift tickets, which essentially allows for four days on the slopes for the price of three. For more information, visit wintergreenresort.com/College-Specials/.

Moviegoers will be thrilled with the all-new Regal Cinema IMAX at the Stonefield shopping center. A handful of buzzed-about films are on the horizon for December and January, so readers are encouraged to keep an eye on Regal’s schedule. Films to note include Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained,” released on Christmas day, as well as January’s releases of “Gangster Squad,” “Broken City,” and “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.”

There is no limit to the abundance of winter fun to be had in Charlottesville. Music fans, sports fans and athletes alike will all be able to find something to suits one’s personal tastes.