5 Things for Families

I come to you from the future (by “future” I mean “upstate New York”) where it was chilly and sunless and no one had weather-appropriate clothing to last a long weekend. Believe me: we are not ready for fall and winter. Embrace the warm weather while you can!

September 18, 2013; 7:14 AM • by Kelly Gerow

Take off that scarf, wear short sleeves, and dump out everything you have with pumpkin pie spice in it. Here are some activities that will mostly keep you out and active. Summer forever!

1. Field Day of the Past

The Field Day has demonstrations and activities of rural living in the past held in designated areas on the show grounds like the Short Pump Grocery, the Rideout Cottin Gin, Sorghum Mill, and Pullman Railroad Car & RF&P Caboose (basically a historical reenactment of a county fair). This old-timey, good-timey weekend includes tractor pulls, guitar making demos, pig races, livestock, and food vendors (kettle corn and smoked meats = crepe and fusion taco trucks of the 1920s). Bring canned goods for the “Truckin’ For Hunger” food drive.

• Friday, September 20th through Sunday, September 22nd • Gates open at 8:00 AM
• Intersection of Rte. 623 and Rte. 622 (Goochland)
• $10-15 (thirteen and under are free, rides and other attractions not included in ticket price)

2. St. Benedict Oktoberfest

This fundraiser for the church and its affiliated schools brings German food, dance, beer, and shopping (Christkindlmarkt is a fun word to look at/pronounce incorrectly) to the Museum District.

• Friday, September 20th through Sunday, September 22nd • See website for times
• St. Benedict Catholic Church, 300 N. Sheppard St.
• Free

3. Free for All 9 High School Marching Band Demonstration

Twenty-one high school marching bands will compete at this all-day event which promises “All the fun of halftime without the football.” But if you need the football after hearing marching band versions of popular songs of today and yesterday, I’m sure you’ll be able to find it somewhere (or just watch Friday Night Lights on Netflix until that need for football passes).

• Saturday, September 21st • 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• J.R. Tucker High School, 2910 Parham Road
• Free

4. Opening Day at Chesterfield Berry Farm

OK, fine. Autumn is coming. And we will need pumpkins. Luckily, the Fall Festival season begins this Saturday at Chesterfield Berry Farm. Admission to the farm is free and includes access to play areas, but some activities (including hayrides, moon bounce, corn mazes) are priced separately with different activity packages for value-packed farm fun. There’s so much happening that you might forget about the pumpkins (which are 39 cents a pound).

• Saturday, September 21st • 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
• Chesterfield Berry Farm, 26002 Pear Orchard Road (Moseley)
• Free entry (paid packages available starting at $9.95)

5. Children’s Museum of Richmond Short Pump’s Grand Re-Opening

The Short Pump branch of CMOR debuts five new exhibits this weekend: a stage, mechanic shop, grocery store, Silver Diner, and wind tubes.

• Saturday, September 21st • 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• 2200 Old Brick Road
• $8 (free for members)

Photo by: Paul-W

September 18, 2013 7:14 AM 0