5 Things for Families

Stuff for your body, stuff for your brain, and stuff for your belly. Come on, Richmond families! Get in on this stuff!

March 26, 2014; 7:33 AM • by Valerie Catrow

1. Arena Racing USA

All the bumping, crashing, and flipping you get with regular stock car racing, just on a smaller track with cars that are half the size of standard racecars. Why they didn’t call this event Hot Wheels: Live! is beyond me. I mean, can you imagine the ticket sales if they’d gone that route? Anyway, the kids will love it. The evening is broken up into multiple short races (catering to those with gnat-like attention spans), and they’re also promising music, games for the spectators, and…A T-SHIRT CANNON. Added bonus: these smaller cars make way less noise, so no ear plugs are necessary. Yay for avoiding permanent hearing damage!

• Friday, March 28th • 7:30 — 9:30 PM
• Richmond Coliseum, 601 E. Leigh Street
• $7-$14 (see website for more information on ticket prices and fees)

2. Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k/Virginia 529 Kids Run

Literallly tens of thousands of people take part in the Monument Avenue 10k each year–why not you? There’s still time to get yourself registered and to sign your little speedsters up for the Virginia 529 Kids Run, a one mile loop that starts at Cathedral Place and ends in Monroe Park, right through the same chute used by the 10k-ers. And even if you don’t end up taking part in either race, come on out cheer on those who are planning to pound the pavement. But bring a poncho; it’s looks like it’ll be a bit soggy on race day.

• Saturday, March 29th • Kids Run starts at 8:00 AM; first wave of the 10k starts at 8:30 AM
• Kids Run starts at Cathedral Place, near Laurel Street; 10k starts at Broad and Harrison
• Walk-up registration at the Race Expo (March 27th and 28th at the Arthur Ashe Athletic Center near the Diamond) is $55 for the 10k and $30 for the Kids Run

3. Richmond Little League Opening Ceremonies

UPDATE: Opening ceremonies have been postponed due to the likelihood of rain.

Richmond Little League (RLL) is 75 years old this year, so come take part in the opening ceremonies and celebrate! Watch the first pitch of the season, enjoy some snackies (with proceeds benefitting RLL), and die from the cuteness of the tee ball players crying/wandering around with no clue as to what’s going on.¹

• Saturday, March 29th • 1:00 PM (There are games before and after the ceremony, too)
• North Field at Byrd Park
• Free!

4. University of Richmond Museums Family Day

Now how about something a little more “indoor kid”-friendly? Head over to the Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature on the UR Campus for a scavenger hunt, story time, refreshments, face painting, and hands-on activities, including crafts with clay and the chance to create your own fossils.

• Sunday, March 30th • 1:00 — 4:00 PM
• Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature, Boatwright Memorial Library at the University of Richmond
• Free!

5. RVA Swappers Food Swap and Potluck Dinner

Do you pickle? Can? Raise chickens that lay more eggs than you can possibly consume? Perhaps you have a family cookie recipe too good to keep to yourselves? Come to the RVA Swappers Food Swap and Potluck Dinner to share your homemade (or homegrown / homeraised / homewhatevered) goodies with your fellow food foragers. Please bring six of your item:² one for tasting and five to swap. And don’t forget to bring a potluck dish featuring your swappable ingredient!³

• Sunday, March 30th • 6:00 — 8:00 PM
• Little House Green Grocery, 1227 Bellevue Avenue
• Free–just bring something to swap (and make sure to register)

Photo by: Mike

March 26, 2014 7:33 AM 0