Parks and Recreation Takes 2020 Festival of Arts Virtual

Richmond, VA – The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) continues to take the safety and health of our residents as a top priority. Based on current guidelines and careful consideration, PRCF has made the decision to change the model of the 2020 Festival of Arts. In lieu of holding our weekly shows at the Dogwood Dell Amphitheater, PRCF will hold weekly live 40 minute performances via the department Facebook page.

Kicking off the season on Friday, July 17 at 7 p.m. will be Jazz fusion band Plunky and Oneness. Other scheduled performances include:

·        Corey El (R&B) on July 24

·        Susan Greenbaum (Folk/Pop) on July 31

·        A Festival Frolic (Dogwood Dell Musical Revue) on August 7

·        City Dance Theatre on August 14

·        Kadencia (Afro-Puerto Rican) on August 21

For more information about how the City of Richmond is responding to COVID-19, please visit www.richmondgov.com/covid19.

For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

58th Annual Festival of the Arts Presents ‘Opera in the Park’

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, in cooperation with the Virginia Opera and Wells Fargo, will host Opera in the Park, as part of the 58^th annual Festival of Arts at Dogwood Dell. The concert will be held on Saturday, August 30 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

The concert will feature performers from the Virginia Opera and accompanied by the Richmond Symphony conducted by Adam Turner. Classical pieces by Rossini, Verdi, and Mozart will be featured along with more contemporary pieces by Steven Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein. A complete program can be found at www.vaopera.org .

This is the second year that Opera in the Park has been a part of the City of Richmond’s Festival of the Arts. Attendance for the 2013 event exceeded 2,000 residents and visitors. For more information, please call (804) 646-1031.

7th Annual Latin Jazz Festival

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host the 7^th annual Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival, presented as part of the 58^th annual Festival of Arts at Dogwood Dell on Saturday, August 16 from 3 to 8 p.m. 

Featured performers will include 2013 Grammy Award winner Marlow Rosado, Ismael Rivera, Jr., Herbie Martinez and Orchestra, Julissa Cruz Latin Vintage Dance Troupe, AllAmerica Dance Group, and DJ Eddy Mayorga. Hosting this event will be Luis “Sweet Lou” Hidalgo. Also during the festival, the City of Richmond Office of Multicultural Affairs will be honored with an award to recognize their ten year anniversary.

The festival is free to attend with seating being on a first come, first serve basis. Pets, alcoholic beverages, or glass containers are not permitted. For more information, please call (804) 646-1031.

Dogwood Dell Offers a Family Fourth and Fireworks

Pack a picnic, grab a blanket and bring the entire family to the City’s free annual Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks Extravaganza presented by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities on July 4 at Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park.

     The program will begin with a Children’s Carnival from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. behind the Ha’ Penny Stage on the west side of the Carillon. It will include inflatables, face painting, and games. Vendors will be on hand selling food and drinks in the children’s area as well as in the circle in front of the Dell stage throughout the evening. Of course, the public also can bring their own food and drinks or snacks, but no glass containers or alcohol are allowed in the park.

      At 5:45 p.m., the program will begin on the Dell stage with jazz by Simply Kevin B. Next, Larry Robinson, the City’s carilloneur for more than 50 years, will follow with a performance on the Carillon bells at 7 p.m.

     At 7:30 p.m., the Richmond Concert Band will take the stage to perform a program of pop and patriotic music, including many traditional numbers the audience will recognize and want to sing along with. The highlight of the evening is the annual finale, the “1812 Overture,” played with cannon fire and Carillon bells as it was originally composed to be played. The piece will conclude with the annual fireworks display.

     Event parking will be available at City Stadium, located at 600 McCloy Street, with shuttle bus service to and from the Dell starting at 2 p.m. Individuals with valid handicapped parking stickers will be allowed to park in the Dell parking lot to the east of the Carillon. Carillon neighborhood streets will be closed to traffic and parking, and the Boulevard Bridge will close at approximately 6 p.m. and remained closed until the fireworks are over.

     The public is reminded that no dogs are allowed in the park, and the adjacent Barker Park Dog Park will be closed July 3, July 4 and July 5 for safety purposes.

     The rain date for the event is July 5. For last minute updates, call the Dogwood Dell production office at 646-1031.

     The Fourth of July Celebration is a part of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ Festival of Arts, the summer-long program of free outdoor family entertainment that takes place at Byrd Park’s Dogwood Dell amphitheater. The complete summer schedule is on the department’s website under Cultural Arts.

      

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Sunday's Dell Performance Cancelled

Sunday, June 30’s performance by the West End Assembly of God at Dogwood Dell has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. There will be no show at the Dell that evening.  

Tonight’s 57th Festival of the Arts Opening Postponed

Due to rain, the department has postponed tonight’s scheduled opening of the 57^th Festival of the Arts at Dogwood Dell until tomorrow night, Saturday, June 8.

      Tomorrow night’s program will begin at 7:15 p.m. with children’s activities and entertainment, including a stilt walker, balloon art, face painting, an organ grinder and a make and take puppet project.  At 8:30 p.m., Virginia Repertory Theatre will present “Town Mouse/Country Mouse,” a children’s theatre production based on the fable, on the main stage.

     The program will repeat on Sunday, June 9 at the same times.

     The Festival of the Arts is the department’s summer-long program of free outdoor family entertainment that takes place at Byrd Park’s Dogwood Dell amphitheater located at 1100 Blanton Avenue. The entire season’s program can be found on the department's website under Cultural Arts.

     For future postponements or cancellations, please call the Dell Hotline at (804) 646-DELL (3355).

Don’t Miss “Scream Queens: The Musical”

PRCF and the Friends of Dogwood Dell join to bring you six performances of their production of “Scream Queens: The Musical” Oct. 26 through Nov. 4 at the department’s Pine Camp Theater.

     “Scream Queens” takes you into the world of B-rated horror films and the divas that populate them. The setting is a hotel ballroom outside of Cleveland, OH where GlamaGore ScreamiCon, the annual convention for fans, collectors and celebrities of direct-to-video B-movie horror films, is taking place. The drama ensues as six of the genre’s most popular actresses attempt to catch the attention of a famous director rumored to be in attendance.

     This fun musical production is a fundraiser for Dogwood Dell. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. on Oct. 26, Oct. 27, Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.  Pine Camp is located at 4901 Old Brook Road.

     Tickets are $20, or $10 for students and adults, age 60 and older, and can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, call 646-1031 or visit “Scream Queens RVA” on Facebook.

Fireworks Rescheduled for Tonight!

The City of Richmond has rescheduled its Festival of the Arts’ Fourth of July program at Dogwood Dell for 7 p.m. tonight, July 5. The program, originally scheduled for last night, was postponed due to inclement weather.
The program this evening will begin with a performance of patriotic music by the Richmond Concert Band, and will be followed by fireworks starting at approximately 8:30 p.m. The fireworks display is contingent on the weather and approval by the fire marshal. A rain delay until 10 p.m. is allowable, however if the fireworks cannot be started by 10 p.m. they will be cancelled for the year.
Parking will be available at City Stadium with shuttle service to and from the Dell starting at 5:30 p.m. Parking at the stadium is strongly advised as parking will not be allowed on grassy areas, medians, bridges or on many of the neighborhood streets and parking regulations will be strictly enforced. Violators will be ticketed and towed at their own expense.
The following traffic pattern changes and detours also will be in effect:

*The Boulevard will be closed to southbound traffic at Cary Street beginning at 7 p.m.
*Westover Hills Boulevard will be closed at Forest Hill Avenue to northbound traffic beginning at 7 p.m. The detour is west on Forest Hill Avenue to the Powhite Parkway or east on Forest Hill Avenue to the Lee Bridge.
*Douglasdale Road between McCloy Street and Blanton Avenue will be closed to traffic from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. as the roadway will be used for shuttle buses only.
*After the fireworks, all northbound traffic on the Boulevard will be detoured eastbound onto Interstate 195. If you are traveling east on Interstate 195 there is a .70-cent toll. The Boulevard northbound will reopen 30 minutes after the fireworks have ended.

City to Kickoff 55th Annual Festival of the Arts June 10

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the City of Richmond will kick off the 55th annual Festival of the Arts on Friday, June 10, at 8 p.m. on the Dogwood Dell stage with the Upper East Side Big Band. The festival features 30 evenings of outdoor family entertainment at Dogwood Dell throughout out the summer that are free to attend.
Highlighting the annual festival will be the city’s Fourth of July Celebration at the Dell. This year, beginning at 4 p.m., it will feature local hip hop group Kids in Da Biz, jazz by Sharon North, a concert on the Carillon bells, and rousing patriotic music by the Richmond Concert Band concluding with a fireworks extravaganza.
Other highlights of the annual summer festival include a Gospel Music Fest on Sunday, July 10, from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., a Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival on Saturday, July 23, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and a special tribute to local musician Page Wilson on Sunday, July 17, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. that will feature Terry Garland and Lil’ Ronnie, Wilson’s band Reckless Abandon, and the Janet Martin Band performing rock, blues and Americana music.
In addition to the wide variety of musical entertainment, the festival brings dance, movies, and theater to the Dell, as well as an entire lineup of morning and afternoon entertainment especially for young audiences on the Ha’Penny Stage, which is adjacent to the Dell.
Families are encouraged to bring picnics and blankets to performances, however no alcohol or pets are allowed. The outdoor amphitheatre is located in Byrd Park at 1300 Blanton Avenue, just north of the Boulevard Bridge.
The Festival of the Arts is produced by the Cultural Arts Division of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. The complete schedule of programs can be downloaded from the main page of the city’s website at www.richmondgov.com.

Have Lunch Served on a Frisbee!

The Landing, the concession at Byrd Park, will open for business at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 28. It's located at Byrd Park’s Fountain Lake and offers pedal boat rides and food service throughout the summer months. It will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. until dusk.
Pedal boat rides will cost $12 for 30 minutes, and food service will include hot dogs, hamburgers, barbeque, a wide variety of sandwiches, cold plates, sides, ice cream, and beverages - including Polar Shock Frozen Drinks! In addition, you can have your box lunch served in a box - or on Frisbee at no additional charge!
Visit www.petesgreatfood.com for the complete menu or to order in advance. Ordering online in advance will have your order ready for pick up and can save time if you are on a limited lunch hour or on your way to a Festival of the Arts performance at Dogwood Dell. You can also contact Pete's for group rates.
The Festival of the Arts kicks off at Dogwood Dell on Friday, June 10 at 8 p.m. with big band and swing music by the Upper East Side Big Band. Watch for a copy of the complete Dogwood Dell schedule to be published on this website or call 804-646-DELL for program updates.

Special movie night set for Oct. 29

Families are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes to the final film in the department’s fall series of free outdoor movies, which will be shown at Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park on Friday, October 29.
The department will show Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” from 7 to 9 p.m.
“Our movies in the parks have been a huge success," said J.R. Pope, director of the department. "Families from all over the city have really enjoyed them. They’re a great way for families and neighbors to get outdoors and have some fun, and it's all free.”
The department chose to offer its free movie series to provide families with an affordable recreation option in the current economic environment. All the movies have been free to attend, and free popcorn is handed out for as long as it lasts.
Audiences should bring chairs or blankets and can also bring their own sodas and snacks. Food and drinks can also be purchased from the concession stand at Dogwood Dell.
As a reminder, no glass containers or pets are allowed at Dogwood Dell.

City Opens The Landing at Byrd Park

June 18, 2010 - Mayor Dwight C. Jones officially opened The Landing with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, June 18. The Landing is the new concession building constructed by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities at Fountain Lake in Byrd Park. The new facility includes restrooms and free WiFi, as well as outdoor tables with umbrellas.

“This is a wonderful new addition to Byrd Park that will enhance the amenities of the park,” said Mayor Jones. “Now residents and visitors can come and enjoy Byrd Park, use the free WiFi, and have refreshments from Sally Bell’s.”

“This makes it a perfect place for office workers to sit outside to enjoy lunch or for families to bring the kids for lunch after a pedal boat ride,” said the city’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities J. R. Pope.

“You can also order in advance and stop by to pick up something if you’re attending one of the city’s Festival of the Arts performances at Dogwood Dell,” he noted.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities incorporated several green components into the construction of the building in keeping with Mayor Jones’ green city initiative. These include the installation of waterless urinals, low-velocity flush toilets, and solar tubes in the roof to bring in more sunlight. The department is also making all of its new signage with recycled materials, and big belly trash cans in the park require emptying less often and save on gas.

The Landing will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, and Sally Bell’s, which has operated in Richmond for 85 years, will be offering their box lunches, as well as items from the grill, sides and desserts. You can find their complete menu online at www.sallybellskitchen.com., and orders can be placed in advance by calling (804) 204-1501.

City Kicks Off 54th Annual Festival of the Arts June 11

jUNE 10, 2010 - Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will kick off its 54th annual Festival of the Arts at Dogwood Dell on Friday, June 11, at 8 p.m. with an evening of big band music by the Upper East Side Big Band.

In addition to the lineup of performances on the Dell stage, this year's summer-long festival of free outdoor entertainment for families includes a series of Tuesday Blue Plate Specials at 12:30 p.m. for active adults; a series for young audiences on the Ha’Penny Stage adjacent to the Dell; a Gospel Music Fest on July 11 from 3 to 9 p.m.; a Words & Music Festival on July 18 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; the Fourth Annual Latin Jazz Festival on August 14 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; a series of Carillon concerts performed by the city’s Carilloneur Larry Robinson; and the popular Fourth of July annual performance series concluding with cannon fire and a fireworks spectacular.

Audiences are encouraged to bring the entire family and arrive early to secure a seat in the outdoor amphitheatre. Picnicking is also encouraged; however, audiences are reminded that no pets, alcohol or glass containers are allowed at the Dell.

The program guide listing this year’s lineup and more information, can be found on the department’s website at www.RichmondGov.com/parks under Cultural Arts, or for more information, call the Dell Information Line at (804) 646-DELL or the department’s main office at (804) 646-5733.