The past 400 years come to life with events in Henrico County this year

Celebrate the Nation’s Roots in Historic Henrico County, VA Throughout 2011

Richmond, Va. (Jan. 13) – Throughout 2011, Henrico County will commemorate 400 years of history in the Richmond Region as one of the state's eight original shires – the site of England's second permanent settlement in the New World. During the year-long celebration, Henrico County invites visitors to explore life in Henrico the past 400 years a with special events, contests, a new tourist information center and comfortable accommodations.

Visitors to Henrico County can explore the area’s beautiful yet ghostly Civil War battlefields and enjoy an assortment of free recreational and educational events for all ages that highlight the area’s vast history. From kite and harvest festivals to a “Hunt for Henrico History” there is an event for everyone this year in Henrico County.

To celebrate its milestone anniversary, Henrico County is offering two, two-night getaways to the area. The first contest runs through June 30 and includes accommodations at Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa Short Pump Town Center, dinner for two at Kona Grill, and a $400 gift card to Short Pump Town Center. Details of the second contest, which begins July 1, will be announced later this summer. To enter and enjoy a wonderful getaway to Henrico County visit henrico400th.com.

The Hunt for Henrico History, Jan. 29, will kick off the year-long series of events in Henrico County. Experience a unique look at Henrico County’s past with a day of living history presentations and historic displays highlighting Henrico neighborhoods, schools, churches and civic organizations along with special activities for kids. Visitors can take part in a unique “show and tell” project by bringing in a family photograph, document or memento that will be photographed or scanned for inclusion in a public archive preserving Henrico’s collective histories. Experts will also be on hand to offer advice for the care and storage of these family treasures. This free event will be open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Deep Run Recreation Center.

The 400th Anniversary events in Henrico County will continue throughout the year 2011. The following events will take a closer look at the history of England's second settlement in the New World. For more information about all events taking please visit henrico400th.com or call (804) 501-1611.

On Feb. 11 from 6-9:30 p.m. and again on Feb. 12 from 2-5:30 p.m. visitors can learn about Henrico’s African American community through photographs, music and stories that will educate and entertain. Choirs, performing groups and interpreters will all be on hand during African-American History of Henrico County in Music and Stories at the Henrico Theatre. An exhibit, Remembering Our Legacy: African American Trailblazers of Henrico County, will also be on view on the second floor.

A fun-filled day of kite flying, demonstrations, live music, exhibits, hot air balloon rides, contests and games is awaiting all visitors at The Kite Festival & The Taste and Sounds of Henrico County, March 5. Visitors can enjoy a variety of foods as vendors offer a taste of Henrico’s finest cuisine. Children under 12 (limit 6,000) will be given a free kite and 400 recycle bags and 400th anniversary lapel pins will be given out to those at the festival. Guests are invited to bring their own kites to the free event, open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Dorey Park.

At the Virginia Indian Cultural Program, March 19, Virginia Indian Tribes will demonstrate to visitors the art of dance and artistic expression. Contemporary Indian artists and artisans will be on-site to discuss and demonstrate their work to the public, including pottery, beadwork, leatherwork and painting. The event will culminate with an hour-long performance by The Virginia Indian Intertribal Dance Group and Drum at 6 p.m. The event will take place at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen from 3-8 p.m.

Visitors can enjoy an evening with well-known author and government consultant David Baldacci April 5 from 7-9:30 p.m. As a Henrico High School graduate and internationally-acclaimed author of 19 bestselling novels, David Baldacci is the selected author of the annual All Henrico Reads program. There will be a brief Q&A session and a book signing. The event will be held at the Glen Allen High School Auditorium.

Bring the family to Earth Day at Three Lakes Park, April 16, to enjoy live musical entertainment, educational booths and displays, a children’s puppet show, recycling games, the Henrico County Bookmobile, arts and crafts promoting litter pick-up, face painting, and more. The Wildlife Center of Virginia will be on hand with live animals to talk about animal rescue. This family-friendly event will open from 1-4 p.m. at Three Lakes Park.

On May 29, the new transportation exhibit, Moving Henrico Forward: Air, Road, Rail and Water, opens at the Virginia Aviation Museum. It will be on view through August 31. Additional activities on the opening day for the entire family include live entertainment, games, arts and crafts, a plane and antique car show and a cookout.

Celebrate the Fourth of July with an Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, July 4 from 1-5 p.m. at Meadow Farm at Crump Park. Celebrate America’s independence with an array of festive entertainment and activities like arts and crafts, face painting, children’s petting zoo, contests and games, pony rides and two spectacular sky diving shows with Uncle Sam.

Sept. 23-25 Henrico County will hold three events to commemorate the American Civil War and Emancipation. Henrico County - Gateway to Richmond, 1861 – 1865, Sept. 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., will be the kickoff for the Sesquicentennial Committee's commemoration, bringing together nationally-renowned authors and experts for a discussion of the crucial role played by Henrico County in the American Civil War. Encampment and Exhibits, Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., will include a ceremony to honor those who were Medal of Honor recipients for valor on Henrico soil and feature living history demonstrations and exhibits from leading Civil War organizations. Richmond National Battlefield Park will present Tours and Demonstrations in partnership with the National Park Service, Sept. 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with special living history and ranger-led programs at Fort Harrison.

Visitors will want to be sure to visit the Harvest Festival, Oct. 15. Hands-on activities and demonstrations depicting typical homemaking and farming tasks of the era, along with lively music, fun games for kids and giveaways will be from noon-4 p.m. at Meadow Farm at Crump Park.

To close out the year of events, Hunt for Henrico History, Nov. 5, will commemorate Henrico County’s diverse history with a day of living history presentations and unique historic displays highlighting Henrico neighborhoods, schools, churches and civic organizations along with special activities for kids. This free event will take place10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Dorey Recreation Center.

Also available for visitors is a new Henrico County Tourist Information Center.  As one of 61 certified visitor centers statewide, the center features multi-media information about county events, historical sites, cultural opportunities, local attractions and a new display highlighting four centuries of Henrico history. The center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit the new tourist information center at the historic Dabbs House at 3812 Nine Mile Road, next to the Eastern Government Center.

For visitors looking to spend a few days in Henrico County, accommodations run the gamut from historical to modern. Accommodations such as Aloft Richmond West, Hotel Sierra Richmond West, The Westin Richmond and The Wyndam Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center offer guests affordable rates with incredible amenities. Additional hotels in Henrico County can be found at henrico.rva.hotelicopter.com.

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The Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (RMCVB), the official destination marketing and tourism organization for the Richmond Region, is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Region to meeting planners, tour operators and leisure travelers. RMCVB operates three Visitor Centers located at the Greater Richmond Convention Center downtown, the Richmond International Airport and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Hanover County.

More than 5.7 million people visit the Richmond Region annually, contributing more than $1.8 billion to the local economy. Tourism generates more than 26,000 jobs in the Richmond Region. For more information, visitwww.VisitRichmondVA.com.

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