Department to Host Free Holiday Events

The department will host the following family friendly events for the enjoyment and entertainment of Richmond residents and visitors this holiday season.

     For the adults, the department will hold a free holiday concert featuring Bak N Da Day on Tuesday, December 18, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Randolph Community Center, 1415 Grayland Avenue.

     Bak N Da Day is a popular local group with a repertoire of close to 100 songs spanning the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. These masters of vocal harmony, known as sharp dressers and for their slick routines, cover the popular hits of several musical genres, including Doo-Wop, Motown and Philly Soul. If names like the O’Jays, the Commodores, the Miracles or the Delfonics mean anything to you, then this is a concert that shouldn’t be missed. For more information, call 646-1080.

     On Saturday, December 22, the public is invited to bring their little ones for a free Breakfast with Santa at the department’s Hickory Hill Community Center, 3000 East Belt Boulevard. Children and their parents will be served breakfast, and the young ones will have the chance to meet Jolly Old Saint Nick himself. The event is free, but reservations are required and should be made by calling 646-7934 by December 17.

     Those of any age will enjoy the James River Parade of Lights, the annual parade of holiday decorated boats on the James River, sponsored by the James River Advisory Council to be held on Saturday, December 8. The department will host a viewing site at Libby Hill Park on the corner of 28^th and Franklin Streets with entertainment starting at 4:30 p.m. and the parade scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

City to Hold Egg Hunts at Community Centers

Richmond, VA – On Monday, April 9, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., children age 12 and younger are invited to hunt for 25,000 candy- and prize-filled eggs that will be hidden at the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ community centers and participate in other fun activities for free. The centers are located as follows:

• Ann Hardy Plaza                            3000 First Ave.                          646-4824
• Battery Park                                   2803 Dupont Circle                    646-0944
• Blackwell                                         300 E. 15th St.                        646-8630
• Creighton Court                               2101 Creighton Road                 646-4511
• Fairfield Court                                  2506 Phaup St.                        646-0029
• Hickory Hill                                       300 E. Belt Blvd.                     646-8663
• Hotchkiss                                         701 E. Brookland Park Blvd.     646-4466
• Humphrey Calder                               414 N. Thompson St.              646-1780
• Pine Camp                                       4901 Old Brook Road               646-3672
• Powhatan                                         5051 Northhampton St.            646-0973
• Randolph                                          1415 Grayland Ave.                 646-1080                 
• T. B. Smith                                        2015 Ruffin Rd.                      646-8490
• Westover                                           1301 Jahnke Road                  646-8995
• Whitcomb Court                                 2302 Carmine St.                    646-2988

Children who want to participate in the egg hunts will need to bring their own baskets. For more information, contact the community center of interest.

      These events are co-sponsored by the city of Richmond and Radio One.

Veterans Day Program Scheduled at Byrd Park Carillon

The city of Richmond will host a Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11, at 4 p.m. at the World War I Memorial Carillon in Byrd Park. “The city of Richmond is proud to honor the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces, and we will never forget their courage and commitment to protecting our freedom and fighting for the rights of the oppressed,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

     

     Among the selections to be performed by the widely-praised Cantare Choir will be an Algonquin prayer written by Kenneth Swift Eagle Custalow of the Mattaponi Native American Tribe and A Prayer of Desmond Tutu by British Composer and Conductor James Whitbourn.

     For more information, call (804) 646-1031.

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The City’s department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is organizing the event which will include an invocation from Reverend Angelyn Poe, a concert on the Carillon bells by City carillonneur Larry Robinson, vocal selections by the Cantare Choir of the Greater Richmond Children’s Choir, and the presentation of a memorial wreath in honor of the Nation’s veterans.

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.

Holiday Events

Ongoing through Dec. 11 – Holiday Craftsman Sale, Pine Camp Arts & Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Rd. – This sale features gift items made by some of the area’s best artists and crafters, and a portion of every sale goes toward funding art classes for city youth. It goes on Tuesdays – Fridays 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Pine Camp, and in the lobby of City Hall at 900 E. Broad St. on Friday, Dec. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (804) 646-3674.

Dec. 5, 4 p.m. - “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” Landmark Theater, 6 N. Laurel St. – The department’s ‘Holiday Gift to the City,’ this heartwarming musical about a young shepherd boy and his mother is FREE to attend. Seating is general admission. For more information, call (804) 646-1031.

Dec. 7 – Dec. 16, noon – Caroling at City Hall – Stop by the lobby of City Hall, 900 E. Broad St., Tuesday, Dec. 7 through Friday, Dec. 10 and Monday, Dec. 13 through Thursday, Dec. 16 for a FREE holiday concert. Each day a different school choir will perform "sounds of the season" that are guaranteed to put you in a festive mood! Co-sponsored by Richmond Public Schools, call (804) 646-5733 or see the calendar at RichmondGov.com for information on which school is performing.

Dec. 11, 4:30 p.m. – 18th Annual James River Parade of Lights – Richmond families are invited to view this annual twinkling flotilla of holiday-decorated boats on the James River. Entertainment will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Libby Hill Park, located at 2801 E. Franklin St. Parade viewing will begin at 6 p.m. at the Intermediate Terminal at Dock and Water streets. This FREE event is a partnership program of the James River Advisory Council.

Dec. 18, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Breakfast with Santa, Hickory Hill Community Center, 3000 E. Belt Blvd. - The entire family will enjoy dining with Santa when he stops by to visit at Hickory Hill! It’s FREE, but reservations by Monday, Dec. 14 are required. Please call (804) 646-7934.

Dec. 28, 7 p.m. – Kwanzaa Celebration, Hickory Hill Community Center, 3000 E. Belt Blvd. - Bring the entire family and celebrate Kwanzaa with music, food and fun. This FREE celebration is co-sponsored by Deep Water Productions. For more information, call (804) 646-7934.