RVAHub Guide: 4th of July in Richmond

RVAHub’s four tips for the 4th

Further down the page, you’ll find out where to go and what to do, but here are our top four tips for getting the most out of the 4th:

1. Get to Grilling – Head to your favorite grocer, garden, or butcher and stock up. Fire up the grill, review these 13 Tips from Eating Well, If you choose to ignore this sage wisdom and decide to go out to eat, first check this list of restaurant closures by RTD.

2. Get Wet – The forecast is “surface of Mars” which is slightly cooler than today’s “surface of Sun”. The best way to stay cool, besides staying in your basement in the water. Head for the pool, river, or lake of your choice. I’ll be heading to the pool because nature scares me.

3. Hollywood – Nothing is more American than sitting in the dark watching movies. In no particular order, here are our Patriotic Binge Watch Fest-O-Rama recommendations:

• WestWorld on HBO (not patriotic I just want you to watch so you can explain it to me)
• Wonder Woman (It’s not about deserve, it’s about what you believe. And I believe in love.)
• Independence Day (Okay, boys, let’s give Mr. Casse some cover. Gentlemen, let’s plow the road!)
• The Postman (Wouldn’t it be great if wars could be fought just by the assholes who started them?)
• The Patriot (You know, it’s an ugly business doing one’s duty… but just occasionally it’s a real pleasure.)

Last Year’s Picks:

• Patton (Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.)
• Glory (Give ’em Hell, 54!)
• Band of Brothers (We’re paratroopers, Lieutenant. We’re supposed to be surrounded.)
• Turn: Washington’s Spies (You lying, lascivious wench.)
• Top Gun (Tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a flyby.)
• Rocky IV (He is not human, he is a piece of iron.)
• Red Dawn (Wolverines!)

4. Reason for the Season – The Virginia Museum of History and Culture helps remind us why we’re donning our red, white, and blue with their Independence Day Celebration. There will be extended hours, a large-scale citizenship naturalization ceremony.

From last year:

Where to watch things go BOOM

Over on the RVA Reddit there is a Megathread created by u/Danger-Moose listing the local fireworks displays. I’m copying it here for your planning pleasure. You should, however, go to the thread on your own to make sure there isn’t new information and of course, give a pat on the back to the appropriate people in the form of an upvote or two.

Origination Point: The Diamond
More info: https://www.richmond.com/sports/flying-squirrels/no-ticket-to-the-diamond-on-july-squirrels-gladly-share/article_6b1e5012-72b4-554f-8a37-b68b105bedf8.html

Origination Point: Dogwood Dell (1300 Blanton Ave. Richmond, VA 23221)
More info: https://www.virginia.org/listings/Events/DogwoodDellFourthofJulyCelebration/

Where: Rockett’s Landing
More info: http://rockettsvillage.com/blog/06/2018/celebrate-july-4th-at-rocketts-red-glare

Where: Dorey Park
More info: https://henrico.us/calendar/red-white-and-lights/

Where: Chesterfield County Fairgrounds, 10300 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield
More info: http://www.chesterfield.gov/EventDetails.aspx?id=8590144850

Where: Virginia Museum of History and Culture* (428 N Boulevard Richmond, Virginia 23220) More info: http://www.virginiahistory.org/events/programs-and-activities/social-events/independence-day-celebration?start=2018-07-04T09:00
*No fireworks directly here, but lots of activities and a mass naturalization proceeding! Welcome new citizens on the 4th!

Where: Goochland High School (3250 River Rd W, Goochland, VA 23063)
More info: https://www.richmond.com/news/local/central-virginia/goochland/goochland-gazette/fireworks-dazzle-thousands-at-hidden-rock-park-on-th/article_46a9bba6-57e7-5c89-afa0-9d2dfae0076f.html

Where: Castleburg Brewery (1626 Ownby Ln, Richmond, VA 23220)
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/383822765434917/ (1-9 for non-Facebook, with free beef hotdogs while supplies last)

Where: Williams Stadium (836-898 Lee Avenue Fort Lee, VA 23801)
More info: https://www.petersburgarea.org/events/fourth-at-the-fort-3

Special shout out to /u/Plautus for this cool Google Map of everything listed above!

Style Weekly has a more general list of events some of which go Boom and others which do not go boom.

Don’t be stupid, read the fine print

In Virginia, fireworks that explode and rise into the air are illegal without a permit. That includes firecrackers, roman candles, torpedoes, and bottle rockets. In Richmond (as well as in Chesterfield and Henrico Counties), fireworks of any kind, including sparklers are prohibited. The penalties for breaking these laws can include fines of up to $2,500 and jail time.

Also, don’t shoot your gun into the air. I’m, frankly, amazed this needs to be said, but I’m equally confident that the folks most likely to shoot their guns in the air will not change their behavior until one of those bullets land on their own head or someone they know and love. This very action took the life of a seven-year-old child at Sunday Park in Midlothian in 2013. Seriously, don’t do it.

Take Care of Fido and Fluffy

Did you know that more pets are lost on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year? Take care of your furry companions and keep an eye out for your neighbor’s critters, too.

Closings

Too many restaurants and businesses to list will be closed or have modified hours, so be sure to check Facebook pages before going to your favorite watering hole or other local business.

• City and county offices: Closed.
• City and state courts: Closed.
• Public libraries: Closed.
• Parking: Meters will not be enforced.
• Trash: Richmond and Henrico County collection, transfer stations and landfills will be closed. Central Virginia Waste Management Authority pickups will be delayed one day.
• State offices: Closed.
• Department of Motor Vehicles: Customer service centers closed.
• GRTC: Buses will run on a Sunday schedule. However, more buses will be out around the time fireworks start and end in order to meet passenger demand.
• Banks: Most are closed.
• Shopping malls: Open.
• ABC stores: Close at 6 p.m.
• Federal offices: Closed.
• Post offices: Closed.

From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, East Main Street and Old Main Street will be closed between Williamsburg Avenue and Orleans Street for “Rocketts Red Glare.” Nicholson Street will also be closed between East Main Street and Williamsburg Road.

There will also be no parking zones for the concerts and fireworks at Dogwood Dell. Many streets in the Byrd Park and Carillon neighborhoods will have restricted parking, including Douglasdale Road to McCloy Street, Pump House Drive and Park Drive.

A map of street closures and no parking zones can be viewed here.