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.

City's Free 'Eggstravaganza' Happening Saturday

The department will host the City's annual free spring “Eggstravaganza” on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, located at 4901 Old Brook Road. The event was originally postponed due to rain.
The annual free event includes a total of 20,000 candy and prize-filled eggs to be found in three separate egg hunts for children of different ages between 4 and 12. In addition, there will be a “Bunny Town” for children 3 years old and younger.
This free family event promises to be fun for all and will feature music by DJ Mili, hula hoop demonstrations, balloon artists, a caricature artist, arts and crafts, face painters, child fingerprinting, basketball, and the opportunity for children to have their picture taken with Mr. Bunny. Food vendors also will be on hand throughout the day.
Children who want to participate in the egg hunts need to bring their own basket and register for a color-coded wrist band that will allow them to participate in the hunt for their age group.
In addition to finding the prize eggs, games and activities with prizes will go on throughout the day.
The event is co-sponsored by the City and Radio One, and free parking will be available at John Marshall High School and Henderson Middle School.

April 16 Arbor Day Festival Offers Fun for the Entire Family

Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will co-sponsor Stay Co2ol With Trees, Richmond’s third annual Arbor Day celebration with fun and information for everyone in the family. Come out and enjoy the activities at the Carillon in Byrd Park on Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's free to attend and will be held rain or shine. At the event, children can climb trees, hunt “treasure,” create art or make a pinecone bird feeder. They will meet PBS KIDS’ Clifford the Big Red Dog and Nutzy, the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ mascot, as well as members of the Richmond Police Department’s Mounted Patrol and the Richmond Fire Department. The Sharon Rae North Trio, a jazz combo, will entertain; tree care professionals will be on hand to offer expert advice; and woodcarvers will demonstrate their skill. Plants, landscaping services, pruning tools and more will be exhibited and on sale, and a “Wow! Tree Walk” will be held throughout the event. What's a “Wow! Tree Walk?” It’s “Wow! I didn’t know bad mulching could kill a tree! Wow! I didn't know that trees can reduce street maintenance costs . . . raise property values . . . reduce summer and winter energy costs!” Wow, it's free park walks led by experts who will answer all your questions about trees. Also on the program, from 11 a.m. to noon, Lou Verner, wildlife-mapping coordinator of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, will explain “Why We Won’t Save Wildlife Without Native Plant Landscapes.” In addition, gardening expert Richard Nunnally will be on hand to talk with fans and help solve plant problems. The festival will conclude with a ceremonial tree planting presented by the American Legion Post 84 with their Color Guard and Memorial Rifles. Arbor Day sponsors include the Richmond Tree Stewards, Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, and Richmond’s Urban Forestry Division of the Department of Public Works. Gold corporate sponsors include Dominion, the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Community Idea Stations Public Broadcasting. Silver Sponsors include Cisneros Roofing, Colesville Nursery, Davey Tree Expert Co., Glen Allen Nursery, Riverside Outfitters and Virginia Department of Forestry. Bronze Sponsors include Arborscapes LLC, Circle Safety & Health Consultants LLC, Ginter Park Residents Association, Hudgins Landscaping, James River Grounds Management, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Richmond International Raceway, Truetimber Tree Service Inc., Vermeer Mid Atlantic, and Westover Hills Neighborhood Association. The Richmond Tree Stewards are trained volunteers who help the arborists of Urban Forestry care for trees along city streets and in parks. In 2010, they volunteered more than 1,500 hours of service to the city. You too can be a Tree Steward. Learn more at http://richmondtreestewards.wordpress.com or visit with them at the festival.

Bryan Park Centennial Celebration Set for Sept. 25

Join the department and the Friends of Bryan Park in the centennial celebration for Joseph Bryan Park on Saturday, Sept. 25, from noon to 6 p.m. in the park.

The celebration will feature food, live music, children’s activities, and a wide variety of vendors and exhibitors, including local artists, non-profit organizations, and environmental groups.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and other dignitaries will provide opening remarks at 12:30 p.m., while Susan Greenbaum, the Chris Adams Band, and the Bopcats will provide the musical entertainment at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively. In addition, the Richmond Raiders professional indoor football team will be on hand to meet the public, and the Lady Raiders Dance Team will perform.

Arts and crafts, a tree climb, a moon bounce, a fire truck, Richmond's mounted police, and the SPCA's walk-through Tail Wagon will be available for children to enjoy. The RVA Hoop Lovers will provide hula hoop fun, and the Richmond SEAL physical training team will hold a tug-of-war.

One highlight of the day will be the burial of a time capsule in the park. Richmond children in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to submit a letter or poster for possible inclusion in the time capsule and to make suggestions for items to be included. For complete information on the time capsule, visit www.friendsofbryanpark.org or e-mail timecapcontest@friendsofbryanpark.org.

The 262 acres, now known as Bryan Park, were given to the city of Richmond 100 years ago in January 1910 by Isobel “Belle” Lamont Stewart Bryan and her five sons to be used as a public park in memory of her late husband Joseph Bryan. Come help us celebrate the park's 110 years.

Free Park Festival July 18

July 16, 2010 What could be better than spending a Sunday afternoon in the park with family and friends? Mayor Dwight C. Jones, City Council President Kathy Graziano, Friends of Forest Hill Park and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities invite you to do just that on Sunday, July 18, from noon until 4 p.m., in Forest Hill Park at the annual Sunday in the Park with Friends.

This free family festival will explode with balloons, bubbles, bounces, bands and bikes, as families are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy the park. Dogs are welcome, but they must be leashed at all times.

Free snow cones, ice cream, watermelon and water will be provided, as well as fun, park games and activities for both children and adults, including face painting, clowns, an inflated carousel bounce, sack races, carnival games, and a corn pool.

A new addition to the festival this year is a bike rodeo sponsored by the Richmond Police Department, RA-MORE off-road bike enthusiasts, and several local businesses. The bike rodeo is designed to teach young people and first time bicycle riders safety and riding skills.

The rodeo is for children ages 5 to 12, and written parental permission is required. Participants should bring their own bicycles and register at Shelter #2 by noon Sunday. The park’s bicycle patrol officer Stacy Rogers will donate as many as 200 bike helmets, provide bicycle inspections and safety checks, and will use several bike courses to teach riding and safety skills.

Tours of the historic Stone House and the newly-restored lake are scheduled, and a golf cart shuttle will make the lake accessible to everyone. Visitors will also be able to view displays about the park’s history, the environment, conservation, and the lake renovation project. The Richmond Police Department, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, and the Sheriff’s Departments will all be on hand.

Sponsors for the festival include the city of Richmond, Dominion Virginia Power, Mead Westvaco, Forest Hill and Westover Hills neighborhood associations, WalMart, Sheriff C. T. Woody, Good Shepherd Elementary School, Westover Hills Library Assistance Group, Riverside Outfitters-True Timber, Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, Clown Alley #3, and the South of the James Market.


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