Memorial Day Celebrations and Family Events

memorial dayMemorial Day celebrations are all around us in the Richmond area. Richmond is home to lots of history, historical sites, and events. It starts with Monument Avenue and extends to the Richmond National Battlefield Park, The Museum of the Confederacy, the Richmond National Battlefield Park, St. John’s Church, a short drive to Williamsburg and Yorktown, and much more!

Get out, celebrate, and have fun!

All Weekend

Valentine Richmond History Museum.  Take a Richmond History tour.

Butterflies LIVE!  Opens at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.  Visitors have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these amazing creatures – watch them fly, feed and flutter all around you.  Free with Garden Admission.

Maymont Park. Nature & Visitor Center, 10am-5pm Maymont Mansion, 12-5pm Maymont’s indoor exhibits, including Maymont Mansion and the Nature Center, will be open for the holiday. (Indoor exhibits are normally open Tuesday-Sunday).  For information, call 804-358-7166, ext. 310.

Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday – The Children’s Museum of Richmond,  Science Museum of Virginia and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Enjoy waterplay and water fun at the Children’s Museum of Richmond’s Central location, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, and the water fountains at Stony Point Fashion Park – wear your swimsuits and bring a towel!

May 25th – 27th. Kings Dominion pays tribute to our brave military service men and women by offering FREE park admission to any active, inactive or retired United States Service men and women with a valid military I.D. Enjoy an All-You-Can-Eat Picnic on May 25, 26, & 27 for only $17.50 per person. This Picnic in the Park includes Fried Chicken, Hot Dogs, Beans, Potato Salad, Ice Cream Treats, Soft Drinks and Iced Tea. Picnic meals are served from 1:30 – 2:30 pm in the Catering Pavillion.

Friday, May 24th

Richmond’s Homefront: Dinner With Jefferson Davis.  6pm-8pm.  Walkerton Tavern.  For ages 12+. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Come eat a historically authentic dinner set in 1863 Richmond while listening to period music. Special guest of the night will feature Jefferson Davis portrayed by notable Davis interpreter Bill McGourty who will share with you the current state of wartime Richmond. Dinner is a partner program with the Henrico Historical Society. Register at www.henricohistoricalsociety.org and look under the “shopping” tab.  Fee.

Richmond Kickers Soccer Game. 7pm. City Stadium. Fee.

Saturday, May 25th

The Science Museum of Virginia has two new IMAX films opening on the 25th.    To The Arctic  & Flight of the Butterflies.

Richmond’s Homefront: Confederate Cemeteries of Richmond.  10am-3pm.  Departs from Dabbs House Museum.  For ages 12+. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Nearly 2% of the United   States population, over 600,000 soldiers died during the Civil War. In addition, an unknown number of civilians died due to war-related causes. Come learn what happened to the southern dead as we visit many of the final resting places for these Confederate soldiers and civilians. The tour will visit Oakwood Cemetery, Shockoe Hill Cemetery, and Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Register at www.henricohistoricalsociety.org and look under the “shopping” tab. Fee.

From Foundry to Fire.  2pm.  American Civil War Center.  Come learn about the importance of the cannon manufacturing capabilities of Tredegar Ironworks, as well as, the role field artillery played in the Civil War. A costumed artillery crew will explain the process of making and testing the cannon and then demonstrate its use on the battlefield!  Fee.

Richmond Raiders Indoor Football Game.  7pm.  Richmond Coliseum.   Fee.

Saturday, May 25th – Sunday, May 26th

Memorial Day Shootout. LC Bird Complex, RF&P, Dumbarton Complex. SoftballNation Fast Pitch Nationals Qualifier.

Summer Sounds at Stony Point Fashion Park. 4pm-8pm. Enjoy Kings of Swing.

Sunday, May 26th

“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” Reenactment Series.  Historic St. John’s Church.   The Patrick Henry Committee invites you to bring your friends and family to a reenactment of the Second Virginia Convention of March 1775. In the presence of Washington, Jefferson, and other notable Virginians, Patrick Henry delivered his passionate call for liberty, uttering the immortal words, “Give me liberty or give me death!”   1:00 p.m. Doors open, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.  1:30 p.m. Music program.  2:00 p.m. Reenactment begins. Please call 804-648-5015 for more information.  This event is free and open to the public, but a $5 donation is suggested.

Rocketts Red Glare at Rocketts Landing. 5:30pm. Kings of Swing playing at 6:30pm. Fireworks planned for 9pm. Free.

Summer Sounds at Stony Point Fashion Park. 1pm-5pm.

Monday, May 27th

Memorial Day Festivities in Sandston.  Website the website for event times.  The American Legion Sandston Post 242 is hosting several ceremonies and events in honor of our veterans, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. This year’s theme is “Thanks To Our Veterans.

Memorial Day Parade and Service at Seven Pines National Cemetery. 12noon. Parade starts at 1pm. Music from 2pm to 3pm by Henrico county Concert band. Music by band called 4 of a Kind from 3pm to 6pm. Free hot dogs/ drinks/chips/water and activities for all ages. There will be a water slid and a misting tent as well.

Virginia War Memorial – Music at the Memorial.  2pm-3pm.   The Thomas Jefferson High School Corps of Cadets Alumni Band will offer an informal concert of patriotic music in the Shrine of Memory for visitors. Memorial Day brings hundreds of people to the Memorial, and this group of talented musicians will help us all remember our American patriotism and the costs of freedom. Free.

Virginia War Memorial – Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony.  10am-11am.  Co-hosted by 11th District, American Legion. Virginia residents will officially commemorate this national holiday to honor and remember our valiant men and women who gave their lives in service to America at this outdoor ceremony. This event is an inspirational tribute dedicated to the proposition that Freedom is Never Free and includes patriotic music, memorial wreath laying and the playing of Taps. Governor Bob McDonnell is the invited speaker. Free, open to the public and ample free parking. Rain or shine.

Carillon in Byrd Park Memorial Day Celebration4 p.m.. The concert, hosted by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, will feature a vocal performance by soprano Lisa Edwards-Burrs, associate professor of voice at Virginia State University who has performed extensively in recital, oratorio and chamber music. She will be joined by classical/jazz pianist Russell Wilson, who has also enjoyed a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician, as principal pianist for the Richmond Symphony, and performing with the Russell Wilson Quartet and the Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra.

18th & 19th Century Historic Tour of Cemeteries. 10am. Richmond’s East End, including St. John’s Church, the African Burial Ground, Shockoe, Hebrew, Oakwood, and Woodland Cemeteries and several others.  Learn about their layout, evolution as parks, artwork and notable tenants. Reservations: (804) 649-0711 x301. Meet at the History Center. $25 per person, $20 for History Center Members. Free for all Veterans.

Memorial Day at Ferry Farm. George Washington was 6 years old in 1738 when his family moved to a farm in Stafford County, Virginia. The Washingtons called this place the Home Farm but it later became known as Ferry Farm because people crossed the Rappahannock River on a ferry from the farm to the town of Fredericksburg. The Washingtons did not own or operate the ferry but used it frequently to get to and from town.

Memorial Day Commemoration at Pamplin Park. 1pm. Events include an artillery demonstration, color bearers, and the playing of TAPS in commemoration of fallen soldiers.

Memorial Day at Yorktown. 301 Main Street, Yorktown, VA. 12noon-1pm. Includes posting of colors, historical reenactors, guest speaker, the placing of flowers, and the presentation of wards to student winners of the “York County Remembers” poster essay contest. Call 757.890.3500. Free.

Stony Point Fashion Park free concert from Class Act . 1pm – 5pm. Bring a suit for the kids to enjoy playing in the water fountain. You can also enjoy lunch or an early dinner from Stony Point restaurants like Chipotle or Panera and fro-yo from the new Sweet Frog.