Parks and Recreation Starts Summer Off With a Splash!

Looking for something to do this summer? The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) is sure to have an event or program to kick start your summer along with great, free activities for everyone in your family!

Kicking off the 61^st Festival of Arts at Dogwood Dell will be the James River Bell Ringers on Monday, May 29. This premier hand bell ensemble will celebrate Memorial Day with patriotic musical selections. The show will begin at 4 p.m.

On Thursday, June 1, the department will host the annual Senior Day in the Park on the grounds of the Carillon. A great opportunity to enjoy live music with friends and family, this event will also have health and wellness and retail vendors on site.

On Saturday, June 3, join the James River Park Outdoor Education staff for the annual Family Fishing Fair at Shields Lake in Byrd Park. This family friendly event celebrates Virginia’s Free Fishing Weekend, when no license is required to fish, and is meant to introduce newcomers and novices to the sport.

On Friday, June 16, residents are invited to join PRCF for the start of the 2017 Movies in the Park Series. The first movie in the series is “The Secret Lives of Pets” and will be shown at Byrd Park at 8 p.m. A full schedule of the 2017 movie series is available at http://richmondvirginiaparks.blogspot.com/2017/ .

Beginning on Saturday, June 17, all City pools will be open for City residents. Week day hours are 1 to 8 p.m. with free swim available from 1 to 4:30 p.m., family time from 5 to 7 p.m. and adult swim from 7 to 8 p.m. Weekend hours for the outdoor pools are noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

On Monday, June 19, the USDA Summer Meals for Kids begins serving at more than 100 sites across the City of Richmond. The Summer Meals for Kids Program provides children and teens (through the age of 18) nutritious breakfasts and lunches during the summer months. A complete listing of serving facilities can be found at http://www.richmondgov.com/parks/documents/SMFK_Locations.pdf.

The CarMax Summer basketball league hosted at Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road, also begins on June 19. Games are played Monday through Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. This will be the eleventh year of the league, which is made possible through a generous donation from the CarMax Foundation.

Monday, June 26 marks the beginning of PRCF’s youth summer camps. Both the “Secrets of the Mystery Box” summer camp, for ages 6 to 12, and “Generation Z” teen camp, for ages 13 to 15, are full day camps that operate from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are also specialty camps such as soccer, tennis, and Lego that are available as half day camps.

For more information on these events and PRCF sites and programs, please call (804) 646-5733 or visit www.richmondgov.com/parks.

Annual Commemoration of Memorial Day with Free Music in the Park

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host its annual Memorial Day Concert on Monday, May 30 at Byrd Park. Beginning at 4 p.m. at the World War I Memorial Carillon, the city carillonneur Larry Robinson will pay tribute to our nation’s veterans through the ringing of the Carillon Bells, followed by a concert from The Virginians Barbershop Chorus. Mr. Robinson is a dedicated musician who has made the Carillon bells his vocation for more than 50 years.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call (804) 646-1031 or 804-646-3680.

Annual Commemoration of Memorial Day with Free Music in the Park

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host its annual Memorial Day Concert on Monday, May 25 at Byrd Park. Beginning at 4 p.m. at the World War I Memorial Carillon, the city carillonneur Larry Robinson will pay tribute to our nation’s veterans through the ringing of the Carillon Bells, followed by a concert from The Virginians Barbershop Chorus. Mr. Robinson is a dedicated musician who has made the Carillon bells his vocation for more than 50 years.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the Dogwood Dell office at (804) 646-1031.

City to Hold Memorial Day Program at Carillon

The City of Richmond will hold its annual Memorial Day Program at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 30, at the Carillon in Byrd Park, 1300 Blanton Avenue.
This event is free to the public and open to all who wish to honor those who have served Virginia and the nation. The program will include a selection of patriotic music, presentation of a memorial wreath, and a concert on the Carillon bells by city Carillonneur Larry Robinson.
Retired veteran Dr. Dean Decker of the Richmond Memorial Rifle Squad will be the featured guest speaker, and he will present a program on the history of Memorial Day.
The 240-foot Carillon was built as a permanent memorial to the heroic efforts of Virginia’s World War I servicemen and servicewomen following the enactment of a World War Memorial Commission by the Virginia General Assembly in 1928.