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Special Events
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James City County Parks and Recreation offers a variety of large special events that provide unique year-round experiences for residents and tourists. Below is a list of annual events – for more specific information about dates of current offerings, please refer to the Special Events section of the Destination Recreation Activity Brochure.
Fitness Open House - Jan. 12
Now is the time! It’s a New Year, time to start new healthy habits! Land and aquatic instructors will be available to discuss their classes, formats and typical modifications with you in a personal setting. Participate in mini classes throughout the morning. Sentara nurses will be available to administer health screening. Raffle prizes and more! No registration required.
Fido Fest - March 16
Typically held on a Saturday in mid-March from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Jamestown Beach Event Park. Don't miss the PAW-ty! Grab your leash and get to the park with your furry friend for a great time! Family and dog-friendly activities, games, fabulous food ($) and more awaits you! Merchandise ($) and community vendors will also be present. Contests that day include: Fido Fashion Show (best overall, best couple, funniest, most creative), Best Trick and Dog Photo Contest. To enter, submit a high-quality photo of your dog to parks.rec@jamescitycountyva.gov by March 13. Be sure to include the name of your pet in the email. Patrons vote onsite and winners will be announced at the event.
Family Fun Night - March 30
If preregistering, please register everyone who is attending!
Break out of the winter blahs and have some FUN with your family! Join us for a night of family entertainment – enjoy structured games in the gym, create various craft projects together, splash in the pool, play racquetball, play old-fashioned board games and more! Pre-registration recommended but not required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Skate Jam - April 5
Held on a Friday at 5 p.m. at the Skate Park adjacent to the James City County Recreation Center. Check out the Skate Park during a special night of competition. Participants will be divided into experience categories and judged on style, flow and difficulty of the run. Registration and warm-ups begin at 5 p.m. Spectators are free and welcome. Preregistration recommended but not required.
Summer Camp Fair - April 12-13
Two-day event, typically held on a Friday evening or Saturday morning in late April at the James City County Recreation Center. Still need to sign-up the kids for summer camp? Looking for something new this year? Learn about great camps and register your kids at the same time! Goodie bags for first 200 guests! Camps include:
- Day (full-time and part-time) and overnight camps
- Sports, adventure, scouting
- Dance, music, arts and theater
- Vacation bible schools, special needs
- Academics – science, foreign language, history
- Preschool to high school camps and more!
Family Fun Fest - May 18
Typically held the 3rd Saturday in May from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Enjoy petting animals, hands-on activities, inflatable rides, family entertainment with music and contests too! “Touch-a-Truck” is back for all ages! Stop by the “Good for You Zone” and see why being healthy can lead to loads of fun. Oh, and be sure to participate in the Fun Run! Grab some lunch provided by our food vendors and visit all of our local craft and business vendors! Offered in partnership with Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and Colonial Roadrunners.
Movies Under the Stars
Typically held 2-3 times each summer at 8:30 p.m. at Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Enjoy some of the great box office titles out under the stars in a James City County Park!
Karaoke in the Park
Typically held 2-3 times each summer from 7-9 p.m. at Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Sing the night away while enjoying the evening breeze crossing the Chickahominy River. All ages welcome. 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Tails on the Trail - June 1
Typically held the first Saturday in June from 9-11 a.m. at Greensprings Trail. Are you up for a summer-long trail adventure with your dog? Join the Heritage Humane Society for this kick-off event! This self-guided adventure will start you off at one of the 8 trails for your exploration through the summer. Did you know the first Saturday in June is also National Trails Day? Get active with your pet! For more information, visit heritagehumanesociety.org.
Project FiveFortySeven - June 21
Out late or up early? Celebrate the longest day of the year by joining Parks & Recreation for the Longest Day of Play! On June 21, we cater to the sun and offer recreational activities all day long including extended hours, outdoor education, health and fitness classes and other unique programs. The day begins at 5:47 a.m. and continues with the Jamestown Jams summer concert series at 5:30 p.m. All programs and activities are free and first come, first served. Please contact sarah.oreilly@jamescitycountyva.gov with any questions.
Student Art Show & Exhibit - June 21-July 19
Typically held mid June –mid July at the Williamsburg Library. Anne Kushnick’s oil painting and pastel students will display their talents in this annual exhibit. View many unique pieces with some available for purchase.
Freedom Stories & More - June 22
Typically held the third or fourth Saturday in June from noon-3 p.m. at Freedom Park. Join Williamsburg native Dylan Pritchett, best known as “The Storyteller” along with other Virginia Black Storytellers (VirBS) as they share with you Freedom Stories at Freedom Park! The Free Black Settlement area is the backdrop for this special event. Also featured are unique crafts for kids, music and food available for purchase.
Movies Under the Stars
Typically held 2-3 times each summer at 8:30 p.m. at Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Enjoy some of the great box office titles out under the stars in a James City County Park!
Karaoke in the Park
Typically held 2-3 times each summer from 7-9 p.m. at Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Sing the night away while enjoying the evening breeze crossing the Chickahominy River. All ages welcome. 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Park to Park - July 6
Typically held on a Saturday in July from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Register early and save for this annual, self-guided bicycle tour! Choose from a self-paced family ride (ride as little or as much as you’d like), 15 miles, 30 miles or the Half Century ride (50 miles)! The 50 mile ride includes visits to Mid County Park, Powhatan Creek Trail, Freedom Park, Little Creek Reservoir Park and Upper County Park. Cool off after your ride with a dip in the pool at CRP. Preregistration forms available beginning of May at local bike shops, at the Recreation Centers, Chickahominy Riverfront Park, Freedom Park, the Satellite Services Office in Toano or online. Offered in partnership with Williamsburg Area Bicyclists.
Movies Under the Stars
Enjoy some of the great box office titles out under the stars in a James City County Park!
Karaoke in the Park
Sing the night away while enjoying the evening breeze crossing the Chickahominy River. All ages welcome. 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Drool in the Pool - Sept. 7
Let your dog make a splash at Drool in the Pool. Pool passes for your dog will be available at the gate that morning. This popular dog swim day is eagerly anticipated each year and is great fun for you and your dog. Music, refreshments and goodies will be enjoyed by all. For more information, visit heritagehumanesociety.org.
Harvest Festival - Sept. 21
Come enjoy some quality family time with various sights and activities at our annual Harvest Festival! Arts and crafts, food, games, moon bounces and much more! Our featured activity, Scarecrow Stuffing, will be back again! Make the biggest, the best, and maybe the only scarecrow in your neighborhood! First come, first served while supplies last. Don’t forget your camera!
James RiverFest
Held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Jamestown Beach Event park. Join us for free, fun and hands-on educational activities for the while family! Presented in partnership with the James River Association, James RiverFest is a family environmental festival promoting adventure, education and fun!
Capital Color Ride - Oct. 5
Pedal your way through the Virginia Capital Trail with color surprises at every turn! Add a little color to your day pedaling roundtrip from Chickahominy Riverfront Park to your “Color Pit Stop” of choice. Make tracks riding this beautiful scenic fall trail as a family or at your leisure. Load up your bike, wear your white T-shirt and Get Colored at “color pit stops” which feature refueling stations of water, healthy snacks and recreational fun. Multiple riding options available: PURPLE – the Family Fun marker (1-mile ride); GREEN – 2-mile marker (4-mile ride); BLUE – 4-mile marker (8-mile ride); or RED – 7-mile marker (14-mile ride); and return to Chickahominy Riverfront Park for the GOLD finisher color! Register your bikes and get bike safety checks by the James City County Police Department. Fee includes refreshments, maps,T-shirt, lunch and colorful FUN and biking vendors.
Boo Bash at the Beach - Oct. 19
Typically held on a Saturday in late October from 1-4 p.m. Enjoy a 'day at the beach' with a Halloween twist! Costumes welcome. Trick or Treating on site for children ages 12 and younger. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Also enjoy hands-on activities, pumpkin carving and decorating ($), first-come, first-served while supplies last. Event also features music, games, food for purchase and much more!
Bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks. Food available for purchase. Please dress appropriate for outdoor weather.
Skate Jam (After Hours) - Oct. 25
Held on a Friday at 5 p.m. at the Skate Park adjacent to the James City County Recreation Center. Check out the Skate Park during a special night of competition. Participants will be divided into experience categories and judged on style, flow and difficulty of the run. Registration and warm-ups begin at 5 p.m. Spectators are free and welcome. Preregistration recommended but not required.
Live Well Expo - Nov. 1
Pamper your mind, body, and spirit, while taking advantage of free preventive health screenings during this annual event! Learn about services for adults ages 55+ that are available in the community and get your vaccinations as well as vision, hearing, cholesterol and blood pressure screenings. Also take advantage of information provided about nutrition, home health care, pharmacies, leisure services, recreational activities and more!
Santa Calling - Dec. 10
Available in English and SpanishJames City County Parks & Recreation offers “phone calls from Santa” on Wednesday, Dec. 4, for children ages 9 and younger living in James City County and Williamsburg. Arrangements have been made with the North Pole for Santa and/or Mrs. Claus to personally call each child with a completed registration form by Tuesday, Nov. 28. Santa will attempt to call children between 5:45-8 p.m.; however, specific call times cannot be guaranteed due to Santa’s holiday schedule. Please be available and keep phone lines open during that time. Registration are available at the Recreation Centers, Chickahominy Riverfront Park, Satellite Services in Toano, Freedom Park Interpretive Center and online.
Breakfast with Santa - Dec. 14
You and your family are invited to attend our annual "Breakfast with Santa." Enjoy a pancake breakfast buffet and a morning of "holly-day" cheer with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Photo opportunities available. Registration required by the first Friday in December. Max 100 people. 3 years of age and older, $12/per person. Ages 2 and under, free!
Concessionaires
You are invited to be a community or merchandise concessionaire at our annual events. Events currently accepting applications are listed below.
Please note, community and merchandise concessionaires are accepted on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to be added to the concessionaire list and receive emails about upcoming events accepting applications, contact joy.johnson@jamescitycountyva.gov.
Community Concessionaire
A community concessionaire is defined as an organization or business wanting to provide information to the general public. This designation does not allow sales of any kind.
Merchandise Concessionaire
A merchandise concessionaire is defined as an organization or business wanting to sell products, to include, but not limited to: jewelry, clothing, custom artwork or crafts, oils, packaged goods, etc.
Food Truck & Table Top Concessionaires
Food trucks or table top concessionaires are also accepted at most events. If interested, please contact Special Events Coordinator, Joy Johnson, at joy.johnson@jamescitycountyva.gov prior to submitting an application.
Upcoming Events
- Please check back!