5 Things for Families

This is a great weekend for food festivals, but that’s not all going on around town.

May 29, 2013; 7:04 AM • by Kelly Gerow

1. Westover Hills Carnival

This is the second year for this community carnival hosted by Westover Hills Elementary. Plans for the event include pony rides, a petting zoo, bouncy houses, games, and carnival-style food. I’m not saying that the Westover Hills/Forest Hills area is the best in Richmond, but with half of Richmond at the South of the James Market plus a community yard sale plus a fun carnival with a petting zoo…it’ll at least be the best neighborhood this Saturday.

• Saturday, June 1st, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Westover Hills Elementary School, 1211 Jahnke Road
• Free admission with small fees for activities

2. National Trails Days

We do have a beautiful park system right in the city that gets a lot of our love, but there are many state parks perfect for day trips that also need some TLC. This Saturday the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the American Hiking Society have teamed up to sponsor special activities to encourage volunteers to spruce up the parks and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Check out this link to see how you and others can put in some time to help out the parks we all enjoy, including Pocahontas and Bear Creek Lake. Or, just show up later in the afternoon to appreciate the efforts that others made.

• Saturday, June 1st
• Virginia State Parks
• See the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation website for individual park admissions and event times

3. Run Like A Girl

This women’s-only four-mile walk/run takes place at Pocahontas State Park (which is the place to be this summer, apparently) and benefits the HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation, which supports ovarian cancer awareness. Not quite ready to run? There’s another race in Richmond on October 20th.

• Sunday, June 2nd, 9:00 AM
• Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road
• $40

4. Summerland Tour 2013 Alternative Guitars featuring Everclear, Live, Filter, and Sponge

Remember what our parents have always said that we will someday tell our kids: if you just wait for 15-20 years the band you like a lot but can’t afford to see will come to Innsbrook After Hours. I’ve been saving my nickels ever since I first heard the opening chords of Everclear’s “Santa Monica,” and I think I have enough saved to finally see them.

All jokes aside, I saw Live almost 18 years ago, and I remember it as one of the best shows ever, so maybe they’re that much better now.

• Wednesday, June 5th, 6:30 PM
• Innsbrook After Hours, 4901 Lakebrook Drive
• $20-$30 (ages 10 and under have free admission in the lawn seats)

5. Museum time

It’s supposed to be a hot weekend with lots of things to do outside–including at least three food festivals. This makes it a perfect weekend to check out exhibits in the non-children’s museums; since they’ll be less crowded than on a typical weekend–your less-than-quiet child(ren) will have less people to potentially bother!

Reader challenge: I’m a pro at navigating the VMFA with a toddler, but I’d love to know suggestions for which attractions in Richmond that aren’t marketed for kids that your kids enjoy. Let me know in the comments.

Photo by: grant_loy

May 29, 2013 7:04 AM 3