Events
36th annual Carytown Watermelon Festival returns to Cary Street this Sunday
The popular annual festival will feature tons of vendors, live music, and of course, tons and tons of watermelon!
The Carytown Watermelon Festival returns to Richmond’s Mile of Style this weekend for its 36th year. The annual celebration of the watermelon takes place in the heart of Carytown on W. Cary Street.
Expect a bevy of local food and retail vendors, food and drink specials at many of Carytown’s unique and vibrant restaurants, live music, and of course, plenty of cold, fresh watermelon sliced up and served by the bowl.
Last year festival organizers estimate over 118,000 people attended and over 3,000 watermelons were consumed.
It all takes place Sunday, August 11th in Carytown, W. Cary Street between Nansemond Street and N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Check out the festival website for more information.
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Events
Virginia Capital Trail, East Coast Greenway Alliance announce first-ever Winter Warrior Challenge
The event challenges people to complete 282 miles along the East Coast Greenway and Capital Trail this winter.
The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation and East Coast Greenway Alliance have announced the first-ever ‘Winter Warrior Challenge’ virtual event to take place January 13th – March 31st.
The challenge is a great opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to virtually complete 282 miles along the East Coast Greenway, traveling from Washington, D.C., to Richmond via Greenway’s spine route and to the Virginia-North Carolina border along the Greenway’s historic coastal route. Participants have the option to tackle the challenge individually or in a team of up to four people and can choose to run, walk, bike, or skate their way across Virginia.
“With a shared vision of equitable access to trails and greenways for recreation and active transportation, we are thrilled to partner with the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation on the first-ever Winter Warrior Challenge,” shares Sarah Sanford, East Coast Greenway Alliance Virginia & North Carolina Coordinator. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people have flocked to trails and greenways to maintain mental and physical health. We hope that this event will encourage people to get outside, recreate responsibly on the Virginia Capital Trail and beyond, and support a great cause at the same
time.”
Registration is $40 and includes an individual and team leaderboard, interesting trail facts based on destination points along the route, an official event crewneck sweatshirt, and a fun virtual experience as you travel along one of Virginia’s most prestigious trail networks. Participants can break the route into segments and divide it up between team members or complete it on their own.
“Many people are unaware that the Virginia Capital Trail connects to the East Coast Greenway Alliance, which stretches across 3,000+ miles and 15 states,” mentions Cat Anthony, Executive Director of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation. “We are excited to inspire outdoor adventure as participants explore and learn more about trail networks across Virginia. We hope this event will bring awareness on how important pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is to our region and encourage people to take advantage of Virginia’s trail networks.”
Proceeds benefit the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation and East Coast Greenway Alliance for continued advocacy and regional trail expansion.
Registration is open here. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences using #WWC282.
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Community
Diversity Richmond Providing Thanksgiving Day Drive-Thru
Food will be distributed by order of arrival, no early arrivals will be accepted.
You’re invited to swing by a pick up a free delicious hot Thanksgiving meal catered by Ms. Girlee’s Kitchen, courtesy of Black Pride RVA and the Laughing Gull Foundation.
Food will be distributed by order of arrival. We will not accept early arrivals. To ensure the health and safety of our volunteers and community members, we will adhere to COVID-19 CDC guidelines. Please remain in your vehicle and open the window of your vehicle when it’s your turn in line. All COVID-19 protocols are in place for all people preparing and handling the food. See you then!
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Events
All Aboard, the Train Tradition Returns to Science Museum of Virginia
The three-day event features six different train displays with various scaled locomotives riding through intricate landscapes and miniature cities.
It wouldn’t be the weekend after Thanksgiving in Richmond without train-themed fun at the Science Museum of Virginia’s Model Railroad Show, presented by Dominion Energy. While the event will look different this year due to capacity limitations, the Museum is excited to host the model train club displays for the 43rd year November 27 through 29.
The three-day event features six different train displays with various scaled locomotives riding through intricate landscapes and miniature cities. Created by HO, O and N-scale model train enthusiasts from across Virginia, guests will also enjoy seeing the classic scenes in the displays of clubs that have participated in previous Model Railroad Shows for decades.
“The Model Railroad Show is a nearly half century Virginia holiday tradition,” said Chief Wonder Officer Richard Conti. “It was important to us to keep the tradition going, but to do so in the safest manner possible. Every change we’ve made to this year’s event is designed to help manage guest flow to create a safe and enjoyable event for families to create lasting memories.”
One of the most important changes for this year’s event is that all guests – including Museum members – must purchase tickets in advance through the website or by calling guest services. No walk-up tickets will be sold at the Museum. Tickets go on sale on the Museum’s website today, Nov. 10.
To manage the flow of guests, the Museum is offering timed entry both to the Museum and to the Model Railroad Show with a limited number of tickets available in each timeslot. When purchasing a ticket, guests will select their Museum entry time. Entry to the Model Railroad Show, held in the Dewey Gottwald Center, will be 30 minutes after guests arrive at the Museum.
The Museum will offer member-only hours each day from 8 – 9:15 a.m.; general public entry times will begin at 9:30 a.m. daily. The last ticket time slot will be 3:45 p.m. each day to allow guests time to experience the Model Railroad Show before the Museum closes at 5 p.m.
The Museum has adjusted operating procedures, including requiring masks, so guests are encouraged to review the reopening policies on the Museum’s website at www.smv.org/welcome before their visit. There is no reentry to the space housing the Model Railroad Show and/or the Museum all three days of the event.
While at the Museum during Model Railroad Show weekend, guests can take in free planetarium shows offered in the Dome at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day. Guests can also help with a collaborative railroad scene and make a conductor hat in The Forge. Museum educators will offer steam engine demos in various places around the building, and this year’s event also includes a display of historical Broad Street Station items from the Museum’s collection. In addition to the themed activities, the Museum’s “Speed,” “Boost!” and “Giant Insects” exhibits will all be open for guests to explore.
The Museum is grateful for Dominion Energy’s continued support of the Model Railroad Show as they return as presenting sponsor for the third year.
“We are especially pleased to sponsor this event again this year,” said Hunter A. Applewhite, president of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. “The expansive display of model trains will bring some much-needed joy and fun to our community as 2020 comes to a close.”
Model Railroad Show activities are free with Museum admission. Museum members and children two and under are admitted free. The Museum offers discounts for military, teachers and EBT cardholders. Qualifying guests should call 804.864.1400 for details about reserving those tickets with the discount code.
Planetarium shows in the Dome are free of charge all weekend, and seating is first come, first served. Each showing is limited to 50 people, and there is no food or drink allowed in the Dome. The Museum’s gift shop will be open each day of the show, but the café and concessions will be closed.
