Movies in the Park 2019

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities proudly presents Movies in the Park. This annual series of free movies will be held every Friday night, from June 21 through August 16, in a different city park.

Activities begin at 8 p.m. and the movies start at 8:30 p.m., or as soon as it is dark. Families are invited to bring blankets or chairs and refreshments. Vendors will also have refreshments for sale.

The following is this summer’s Movies in the Park schedule:

Movies in the Park 2017

Join the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities our 2017 Movies in the Park series!

Our first movie of the year will begin on Friday, June 16 at Byrd Park, 600 S. Boulevard, 23221.

For more information or updates, please visit our Facebook page.

City to Hold Free Veterans Day Program

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will host a Veterans Day commemoration program featuring local historian Kitty Snow and a performance on the Carillon Bells by carillonneur Lawrence Robinson on Friday, November 11 beginning at 2 p.m. This event will be held at the World War I Memorial Carillon located in Byrd Park 1300 Blanton Avenue.

Ms. Snow will be presenting excerpts from her book “From Richmond to France…Images of Our Soldiers and Our City in World War I.”

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

Movies in the Park 2016

Join the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities our 2016 Movies in the Park series!

Our first movie of the year will begin on Friday, June 17 at Byrd Park, 600 S. Boulevard, 23221.

For more information or updates, please visit our Facebook page.

Home for the Holidays ~ "The Night Before"

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities is proud to present Home for the Holidays ~ “The Night Before” which is a dance adaptation of the famous poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Altria Theater. The show will begin at 5 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so it is suggested to arrive early.

The show will feature participants enrolled in the department’s dance classes, as well as the City Dance Theatre.

“Guaranteed to be a fun filled afternoon, Home for the Holidays ~ “The Night Before” is a great showcase of talent that will appeal to all ages,” said Dr. Norman C. Merrifield, Director of the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities.

For more information, please call (804) 646-3677.

Movies in the Park: Friday, June 27

Join Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities this Friday, June 27 at Broad Rock Sports Complex, 4835 Old Warwick Road at 8 p.m. to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 rated PG Animated.

 

The movie will start around 8:30 p.m. or when it gets dark. Bring your blanket or chair and enjoy the movie. Free sodas to the first 200 attendees.

 

Sponsors: The CW Richmond, Bounce TV, 106.5 The Beat and Pepsi.

 

Call 804-646-5733 for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

 



Movie in the Parks Begins Friday, June 20!

 

 

Join Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities this Friday, June 20 at Byrd Park (near Fountain Lake), 600 south Boulevard at 8 p.m. to see Despicable Me 2 rated PG Animated.

 

The movie will start around 8:30 p.m. or when it gets dark. Bring your blanket or chair and enjoy the movie. Refreshments will be on sale. Free sodas to the first 300 attendees.

 

Sponsors: The CW Richmond, Bounce TV, 106.5 The Beat and Pepsi.

 

Call 804-646-5733 for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

 

Movies in the Park 2014

Join the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities our 2014 Movies in the Park series!

Our first movie of the year will begin on Friday, June 20 at Byrd Park, 600 S. Boulevard, 23221.

For more information or updates, please visit our Facebook page.

Celebrate the Holiday Season!

Carols at Noon is a free holiday concert series in partnership with Richmond Public Schools.  Featuring school choirs from across the city, each concert is expected to last approximately 20 minutes.

City to Host Annual Holiday Opera

The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities will host the beloved children’s opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” on Sunday, December 8 at 4 p.m. at the Landmark Theater located at 6 North Laurel Street.

One of Richmond’s longest running traditions; the Department has offered free performances of this opera since the 1960s.  Pegged as the unofficial kick-off to the holiday festivities in the Richmond area, “Amahl and the Night Visitors” is perhaps the most recognized holiday opera experience for children of all ages. “This outstanding production exposes youngsters and adults to the medium of opera and brings together diverse communities to share in a common holiday tradition,” says Dr. Norman C. Merrifield, director of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities.

The opera was written in 1951 by Gian-Carlo Menotti and focuses on Amahl, a young peasant shepherd boy with a talent for embellishing fact with a varnish of fantasy.  As the opera opens, Amahl is very excited because he has seen a truly strange and wondrous star outside, one with a long tail the likes of which he has never seen. His Mother dismisses his news, but a knock on their door reveals three kings who are following that very star.  The story unfolds as shepherds come from far and near to observe the visitors, and ultimately leads to the magic of a Christmas miracle.

Staging director George C. Macklin, Jr. will be retiring after a 49-year affiliation with the production, having started as King Balthazar before taking over the director’s chair.  He is joined by assistant director Charmaine McGilvary and music director Diana Covington Greer.  Principal cast members include Matthew Barbieri as Amahl, Bekah Hughes Davis as his Mother, J. David Clatterbuck, Raymond Elmore, and Ben Miller as the Kings Kaspar, Balthazar, and Melchior respectively, and Stanley Fountain as the Page.

This event is free to the public.  Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. and no reservations are necessary. For more information, please call (804) 646-1031.

One More Movie in the Park

The department will give the public one more chance to enjoy a free movie in the park before fall finally hits. On Friday, Oct. 4, the department will show “Wreck-It Ralph” in Byrd Park.
     The animated Disney movie features the loveable Ralph, a video game villain, who after 30 years is tired of always being the bad guy and longs to be the hero for a change. He sets out to fulfill his dream, but in his quest he brings havoc to the whole arcade in which he lives. This PG-rated film is sure to entertain the entire family.
     The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. beside Fountain Lake in Byrd Park. Free sodas and popcorn will be available to the first 500 people. Refreshments will be on sale also, and movie-goers are encouraged to bring a blanket or their own chairs.
     This program is co-sponsored by Pepsi, 106.5 the Beat, The CW Richmond, Bounce Richmond and the Friends of William Byrd Park. 

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Department Extends Free Movies in the Park Series

Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities has added another free movie to its series of family films shown in parks around the city. “Cats and Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore” will be shown at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, in Jefferson Park at 21^st and East Marshall streets.  

     In the animated family comedy, cats and dogs join forces for the first time in history to take down Kitty Galore, a former agent for the spy organization MEOWS, who has hatched a diabolical plan to make the world her own scratching post. The film features the voices of Chris O’Donnell and Jack McBrayer in the starring roles.
    This movie concludes the department’s series of free family Movies in the Parks, co-sponsored by 106.5 the Beat. The series kicked off on July 15 in Byrd Park and has featured a PG-rated film every Friday night in a variety of parks around the city.
     Families are encouraged to bring their blankets, popcorn and drinks to enjoy the movie.

Department Kicks Off Free Outdoor Movie Series

The department will kick off its third year of free movies in the park on Friday, July 15, at 8 p.m. with the showing of "Megamind” in Byrd Park beside Fountain Lake. The animated film features Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Tina Fey in a sci-fi comedy that finally gives the underdog a chance to save the world.
“Megamind” will be followed by six more free family movie nights in Richmond’s parks. The schedule is as follows:

· Friday, July 22
“Despicable Me”
Battery Park
2803 Dupont Circle

· Friday, July 29
“Alpha and Omega”
Hotchkiss Community Center
701 E. Brookland Park Blvd.

· Friday, August 5
“Shrek Forever After”
Mary Munford Playground
211 Westmoreland St.

· Thursday, August 11
“Justin Bieber: Never Say Never”
Bryan Park
4308 Hermitage Road

· Friday, August 12
“Sister Act II”
Byrd Park’s Dogwood Dell
1100 Blanton Ave.

· Friday, August 19
“Tangled”
Forest Hill Park
4021 Forest Hill Ave.

All movies will begin at 8 p.m. and are rated PG. The department's movie night series is co-sponsored by 106.5 the Beat.

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.

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.

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.

Historical Reenactment Commissioned

Richmond, VA – In honor of the Joseph Bryan Park 100th anniversary, the Friends of Bryan Park has commissioned local playwright and founder of Richmond’s African-American Repertory Theater Derome Scott-Smith to write and produce an historical reenactment about Gabriel, the slave whose life and death are forever entwined with the park’s history. The play, a one-man show, will be performed for free in the park on Friday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. and on October 1, 8, and 15, at 6:30 p.m. Local actor, Timothy L. Harris, who is an imposing 6 feet 6 inches tall, will portray Gabriel.

Gabriel planned a slave uprising in 1800, now known as Gabriel’s Rebellion, which was probably the largest conceived in the history of the South. During that summer, the insurrection's leaders met at Young's Spring, beside the creek that runs through Bryan Park. Saturday, Aug. 30, of that year was the night chosen for the uprising, but in a twist of fate, the plans were foiled by a rainstorm that caused flash flooding. The delay ultimately led to the capture and execution of 26 slaves, including Gabriel and his brother.

In the monologue, Harris will portray Gabriel while he was imprisoned awaiting his execution, speculating on his desire for the freedom of all men, his indignation at the injustice of slavery, the planning of his bold rebellion, and his thoughts while facing his own death.

The performances will take place outdoors beside the tennis courts near Picnic Shelter #1. Those planning to attend should bring a blanket or chair for seating. Signs will be posted to direct visitors to the parking area and performance site. In case of inclement weather, performances will be postponed.

The Friends of Bryan Park is a non-profit resident group founded in 1994 to protect and improve the park. The group works closely with Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and has organized the park’s centennial celebration, which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 25, from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, call 804-646-5733.

Outdoor movie, costume contest at Forest Hill Park

The department will show the Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog” on Friday, August 27, in Forest Hill Park. Forest Hill Park is located at 4021 Forest Hill Ave. The movie is the final installment of the season in the department’s free outdoor family entertainment series, Friday Pictures in the Park.

The movie will begin at 8:30 p.m., and will be preceded by a prince and princess costume contest for children 12 years old and younger which will begin at 7:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners of the contest.

Both the contest and the movie are free, and free popcorn will be provided while supplies last.

Those planning to attend are reminded to bring blankets or chairs to sit on and their own water or soft drinks to go with the free popcorn.

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.