We have redesigned the traditional parade to a Reverse Parade format to be held on Saturday, December 5, 2020. Floats will be stationed along Gordon W. Shelton Boulevard and attendees will drive by. It will be similar to a free drive-thru light display. This reverse parade format will allow for spacing between parade entries and no direct contact with the public. Entry information is online here.

Location: Motts Run Reservoir

Fee: $25/person, kids under 12 are free

Earthquest will be visiting Central Virginia during the month of October 2020, and offering some amazing experiences to learn about Birds of Prey. On our Walk With a Hawk, we will take a hike through the woods while one of our educators teaches you about Hawks and what makes them so special. During our walk, our flighted, non-releasable Harris's Hawk will follow us through the woods in the trees. Participants are encouraged to take pictures and at the end of the program, our trainer will allow everyone to take turns standing for pictures with the hawk. During our walk we ask that everyone remain socially distanced to follow CDC Guidelines and keep everyone safe, masks are encouraged. www.earthquest.org Pre-registration is required. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Pre-Registration is required, register online or by calling 540-372-1086.

Location: Alum Spring Park.

Fee: $5/person

Gather under the trees at Alum Spring Park after dark for an evening of spooky, family-friendly stories. On October 22, we will be led by a storyteller through tall tales of all kinds. Bring a chair and maybe a blanket for this spookily fun evening. Family-friendly for ages 5 and up. Pre-Registration is required, register online or by calling 540-372-1086.

at Dorothy Hart Community Center Parking Lot. Admission is free

The Parking lot will open at 9:30am. Participants must remain in their vehicles at all times. Numbers will be called through radio and holding up signs. Call BINGO by honking your horn and then turning on flashers. Limited to the first 38 vehicles. Very limited walk up space will be available. Sponsored by Embrace. For info call 540-372-1086 x0.

at Dorothy Hart Community Center Parking Lot. $5 per player and pre-registration is required

Enjoy an evening of BINGO fun and win great prizes! The Parking lot will open at 6pm. Bring your own marker. BINGO cards will be provided. Participants must remain in their vehicles at all times. Numbers will be called through radio and holding up signs. Call BINGO by honking your horn and then turning on flashers. Sponsored by Embrace. Preregistration is required. Register online or call 540-372-1086 x0.

Gates open at 5:30pm. Movie starts at 6:15pm

Admission is FREE

Enjoy a fun family movie night sponsored by T-Mobile! Gates open at 5:30pm and movie starts at dark (6:15pm). Food truck on site with first 100 meals FREE! Wear your costume for a free photo at our T-Mobile photo booth. Each child will go home with a candy bag too! Movie will be announced soon!

Gates open at 8pm. Movie starts at 8:30pm

Admission is FREE

Let's have some trill and screams this Halloween with a scary movie in the park! Gates open at 8pm and movie starts at 8:30pm. FREE popcorn will be served! Movie will be announced soon! Event sponsored by T-Mobile.

Free for 7 – 12yrs

Join us for an afternoon of Halloween music and skating before you hit the town for trick or treating! Wear your best costume for the costume contest. Prizes will be given throughout the afternoon. Snacks and treats will be provided. Must bring your own skates. Pre-registration required. Location: Roller Hockey Rink at Dixon Park

4yrs-8yrs and 9yrs-12yrs

S.T.E.M. and cooking? What a great combination! This hands-on cooking workshop will help participants explore, learn, and develop S.T.E.M. skills while also creating delicious and nutritious entrees. A different S.T.E.M. principal will be explored in every workshop.

Recipes will be included. All safety protocols will be in place to create a fun-filled and safe experience for our participants. Instructor: Chef Wendy of Kidz R Cookin'.

4yrs-8yrs and 9yrs-12yrs

In this workshop participants will learn the fundamentals and science of baking. Every workshop will consist of mixing, folding, zesting, and more! This hands-on workshop will show our participants how easy, fun & DELICIOUS baking can be. Recipes will be included. All safety protocols will be in place to create a fun-filled and safe experience for our participants. Instructor: Chef Wendy of Kidz R Cookin'.

4yrs-8yrs and 9yrs-12yrs

Luxurious body butters, lip balms, and bath bombs are but some of the awesome toiletries that will be prepared in this camp! Participants will utilize natural, organic, and wholesome ingredients to create their very own signature products. Recipes & certificates included. All safety protocols will be in place to create a fun-filled and safe camp for our participants. Instructor: Chef Wendy of Kidz R Cookin’.

4yrs-12yrs

Date night for parents = FUN night for kids! Our fun-filled night will include social distanced games and activities. An awesome dance party AND a delicious, hands on cooking activity. All safety protocols will be in place to create a fun-filled and safe evening for the kiddos. Instructor: Chef Wendy of Kidz R Cookin'.

5yrs-11yrs

Let's have some fun in Nature! We'll meet one Thursday a month from October - January. Each date will feature a different topic so be sure to catch them all. Wear appropriate outdoor clothing and bring a reusable water bottle (labeled). No non-registered siblings please. Pre-registration is required for this program.

All Ages

"Who, Who, Who cooks for you?" the Barred Owl calls. Gather at Motts Run Reservoir to discover more about owls and maybe hear a few. We can't guarantee they'll call but we're certain you'll enjoy an evening in the woods. This is a perfect opportunity to bring the whole family or leave the kids at home and enjoy a date night together. Wear sturdy shoes, feet you can keep quiet, and bring a flashlight.

3yrs-5yrs

Do you have a little one itching to get outside and play? Join a naturalist for some nature discovery, play time, a craft, and a story for four Mondays in November. This series is for preschool children ages 3-5. Dress for the outdoors/weather and bring a bag lunch if you want to stay after for a picnic. Each child must attend with a non-paying adult. No non-registered siblings, please!

5yrs and up

Discover the effects of these cool creatures on the environment as we gather together at Motts Run. Have fun as we explore the adaptations that make beavers the master builders they are.

5yrs and up

Did you know trees can tell a story? Over time, trees make records of the weather, animals’ lives, and the changes made by humans. Come along on a hike as we practice identifying trees, learning how to estimate the age of trees, and uncovering their hidden stories.

6yrs-12yrs

Fredericksburg STEM ClubX is an enriching and friendly program. In an informal setting dedicated to empowering young people, this program aims to inspire independent problem solving for our future STEMist. They will be given a chance to explore aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math which will require them to be creative, innovative and think strategically.

Wednesday Session Themes: Inventors of Tomorrow, Types of Energy Introduction, A to Z STEM Careers, Thanksgiving STEM, Chemistry Creations, Up! Up! Up! and Away

Friday Session Themes: Electricity and Circuits, Roller Coaster Engineering Challenge, Make it Move! STEM Challenge, Introduction to VEX IQ, Coding and Micro:Bit, Video Gaming Event

Students will receive certificates of completion, weekly STEM projects, STEM journals, daily incentives, and other STEM educational materials.

6yrs and up

Scientists need your help - yes, you! Even if you're not a professional scientist, you can contribute to studies going on all around the world! Join a naturalist as we discover new ways to take part in large nature studies from our own city, park, or yard. We will show you different apps you can use to report cloud cover to NASA, log all types of living things on online databases, and more. After this program, you will be able to be a citizen scientist wherever you go. This program is for everyone ages 6+; kids and adults both pay. Bring along a phone or other electronic device that can take pictures, access the internet, and download apps.

6yrs-9yrs

Everyone has a little superhero inside of them! Join us as we discover our superpowers and make Superhero costumes from scratch! Superheroes unite! Instructor: Talasha Carrington-Lewis of Sew What Kidz.

9yrs-16yrs

Learning to make your own beautiful beaded necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are fun and easy! All you need are a few essential tools, beading wire, and a handful of pretty beads, and you're all set to create your handmade jewelry. Christmas is right around the corner, and who doesn't love a handcrafted piece of jewelry to wear or share? Instructor: Talasha Carrington-Lewis of Sew What Kidz.

6yrs-12yrs

With the holidays upon us, it is Slumber Party Season with your family and friends! Bust out the games, movies, and junk food before staying up late laughing and talking. But to top it all off, show up in fashionista style with your DIY matching Sleep Mask and Pillow! Instructor: Talasha Carrington-Lewis of Sew What Kidz.

6yrs-12yrs

Learn to use a Cricut Maker and Heat Press so you can make your loved ones custom holiday gifts! Tis the season for creativity and giving! You will go home with three custom made gifts perfectly wrapped and ready for the tree! Instructor: Talasha Carrington-Lewis of Sew What Kidz.

Beginner to Beginner Plus

6yrs and older

Our riding program progresses through beginner into beginner plus levels. Basic grooming, handling, safety leads straight into understanding the tack, adjustments & correct riding position & aid applications. Partnership with the horse requires patience and developing an understanding of becoming a fair, gentle leader. A shoe or boot with a heel is the only equipment you need; we provide the rest. Join us for fun and fresh air!! Pre-registration required. Location: White Buffalo Horse Farm. Have questions? Please email Judy [email protected]

Wednesdays, 4:00pm-5:00pm

Fridays, 4:00pm-5:00pm

Saturdays, 10:00am-11:00am

Sundays, 10:00am–11:00am

Mondays, 4:00pm-5:00pm

Tuesdays, 4:00pm-5:00pm

Saturdays, 9:00am-10:00am

Sundays, 9:00am-10:00am

October 27-November 23

November 27- December 23

$130/$140 (residents/non-residents)

* Horseback riding classes are for youth and adults! Pre-Registration is required.

6ys and up

Bring out the whole family and learn a new skill together. Join a naturalist to learn various ways to construct and start a fire and how to safely put it out. This will be great practice for campout! Bring your own s'mores stuff to enjoy after we make our own fires. This program is for ages 6+.

6yrs and up

Gobble, Gobble! Turkey Day is coming up so why not come out to learn all about this cool feathered friend? Join a naturalist as we discover more about the Wild Turkey, make our own turkey calls, and look for turkey scratches. For ages 6+; adults and children both pay.

Fee: $6/person. Pre-Registration is required.

7yrs – 15yrs

The purpose of this clinic is for players to improve their basic skills and knowledge of the game of roller hockey. Players will learn crossovers, stopping, stick handling, passing the puck, receiving the puck, and shooting along with other skills. Location: Roller Hockey Rink at Dixon Park.

Equipment needed: in-line skates, helmet with full facial protection, mouth guard, hockey gloves and stick, elbow and shin pads.

8yrs – 16yrs

The competition will have one player at each basket with a basketball. The object is for each player to score as many baskets as they can in one minute. There will be designated spots on the court that are worth different point amounts. The player with the most points scored at the completion of the one minute period will advance to the next round. Games are single elimination. A champion and runner-up trophy will be awarded in each division.

14 years and up

PetPro CPR and First Aid is a classroom, video based, instructor led course that teaches the basics of Dog CPR and Rescue Breaths. Recognizing the signs of cardiopulmonary arrest, hand placement and how to give effective rescue breaths. Pre-registration is required. Instructor: Sonja Johnson.

18yrs and above

Group Fitness is a great way to stay active and meet like-minded individuals. All fitness levels are encouraged to join. Each time you attend a class, it is one punch. Attend any class during the week with this monthly pass. Read details online here.

$35/person. Details online.

Our Parks, Recreation and Events team is excited to bring back safe, socially distanced programs for our fall season. Please note that the Dorothy Hart Community Center is closed to the public. However, we are enrolling online and ready to help you by phone for these new Fall Program registrations.

Please see our current COVID-19 Current Operating Status for a complete list of what's open and what's closed.