Destination Recreation Brochure
Parks & Recreation welcomes you to fall and to a new world where the great outdoors, more than ever, can also be great medicine in these challenging times. The Fall 2020 edition of Destination
Recreation highlights all of the department’s offerings through December…so many opportunities to have fun and get fit. Our outdoor community is a treasure, so get outside for nature walks and talks, adventure programs and tours of our local and state parks as well as a host of special events (see below). When temperatures cool, come inside our centers for a variety of fitness and wellness programs plus classes, activities and events for all ages. If you feel safer at home, sample some of the virtual programs in this edition or visit us online for a complete list of offerings. As the impacts of COVID-19 continue to be felt, we ask for your patience, flexibility and support. We depend on you, our patrons, to follow safety and social distancing guidelines as regularly released by the Governor of Virginia, the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Please spend a few minutes with this edition of Destination Recreation and share it with your family and friends. If you choose to participate in our programs or visit our parks, you can improve your health and sense of well-being and engage in new activities and unique opportunities to play and to learn individually or as a family. Listed are highlights of our upcoming Special Events! For the complete list of Parks & Recreation programs and events and registration information for all activities, please visit our website.
Upcoming Special Events!
Scarecrow Row • All ages/families
Saturday, Oct. 17*, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Jamestown Beach Event Park (event field)
$20/scarecrow (includes all supplies)
Come out for this social distanced and FUN event making a scarecrow with your family. Make the biggest, the best, and maybe the only scarecrow in your neighborhood! Families must preregister for their scarecrow by Friday, Oct. 9. Fee includes all supplies including hay, clothes, paints, brushes and your space on the event field. Not able to make the event or prefer to make your scarecrow at home? Select the “at home kit” and we’ll package your supplies for pick-up on Monday, Oct. 19, 4-6 p.m. at the park.
Fortnite Duos Tournament • Ages 12+ NEW! FREE!
Gameplay begins the week of Oct. 23.
Calling all Fortnite gamers! Register now for the Fall 2020 Duos Double Elimination Fortnite Tournament. This tournament is double elimination which means if you lose once, you’re still in the running until you lose twice. Matches will feature “Fortnite Friday” rules with players teaming up as a duo against other teams for six weeks of gameplay. Teams will have one week to play their match up for that week and report scores into the website. Gameplay is available across the following platforms - Xbox, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC. For more information, email sarah.oreilly@jamescitycountyva.gov. Register by Oct. 11, 5 p.m. by visiting https://bit.ly/3frRNPX.
Live Well Week • Ages 55+ FREE!
Monday-Friday, Nov. 2-6 (no program Nov. 3), 8-10 a.m. daily
James City County Recreation Center
Seniors ages 55+, we invite you to join us for Live Well Week! Swing by the James City County Recreation Center on one of the listed days between 8-10 a.m. to pick-up a “Live Well” bag containing information from local organizations and agencies who specialize in health care, nutrition, leisure services and more! Enter our raffle to win a special “Live Well” basket with lots of goodies! Flu shots will also be available on Friday, Nov. 6; however, you must sign up. Please call 757-259-5353 to register for your flu shot. During your appointment and throughout your visit at the Recreation Center, facial coverings are required and social distancing measures will be in place.
Bike the Bridge – Half Century Ride • All ages
Saturday, Nov. 7*, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
$20; $25 after Oct. 25
Starting location is the Virginia Capital Trail, Mile Marker 0
Join James City County in the first annual Bike the Bridge event! The full route will start in James City County, cross the Chickahominy River on the Judith Stewart Dresser Memorial Bridge and enter into Charles City County along the Virginia Capital Trail. Starting location will be mile marker 0 of the Virginia Capital Trail and include various ride lengths of 15, 25 and 50 miles; route and rest stop locations will be available closer to the race date. Light refreshments at rest stops, a T-shirt and lunch are included in the registration fee. Registration closes Friday, Nov. 6 at noon. To register, visit Runsignup.com/bikethebridge.
Santa Calling • Ages 9 & younger FREE!
Tuesday, Dec. 8 • 5:45-8 p.m.
Parks & Recreation is sponsoring “Phone Calls from Santa” for children ages 9 and younger living in James City County and Williamsburg. Arrangements have been made with the North Pole for Santa and/or Mrs. Claus to personally call each child who returns their completed form by Tuesday, Dec. 1. Santa/Mrs. Claus will attempt to call children between 5:45-8 p.m.; however specific call times cannot be guaranteed due to their holiday schedules. Registration forms available beginning Nov. 1 at the Recreation Centers, Satellite Services in Toano, Chickahominy Riverfront Park and online.
Breakfast (or Brunch) with Santa • All ages/families
Saturday, Dec.12 • 8:30-10 a.m. or 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
$12/person; ages 2 years & younger FREE
James City County Recreation Center
You and your family are invited to enjoy a morning of “holly-day” cheer with Santa! To maintain social distancing, we’ve limited seating capacities and only families will be seated together. Socially distanced photo opportunities available. Registration required by Dec.1. Max 50 people per seating. Please register everyone who is attending (adults and children) to ensure their seat. Fee includes special gift for each attendee! !
Jr. NBA Skills Challenge • Ages 6-13 FREE!
Saturday, Jan. 16 • 10-11:30 a.m.
Abram Frink Jr. Community Center
This nationwide program is a fun way to lace up your basketball shoes and test your skills against other local players! The competition consists of a one-minute timed drill and shots from multiple, pre-determined locations around the court. The top three participants in each age group are eligible to move on to the regional tournament and from there to an all-expense-paid trip to the skills challenge championships! Aging date for each participant is their age on Aug. 31, 2021, not their current age. Preregistration is highly recommended as spaces are limited. Ages 11 & younger (born on or after 9/1/2009).
Fitness Open House • All ages FREE!
Save the date! Jan. 16
It’ll soon be a new year (thank goodness) and time for a new healthy routine! Meet our instructors, preview classes and receive information on all that James City County Health & Wellness has to offer. Look for details in December in the local media. Please call 757-259-4176 for more information.
Family Health Fair • All Ages FREE!
Saturday, Jan. 23, 9 a.m.-noon
James City County Recreation Center
Join The Arc of Greater Williamsburg at the James City County Recreation Center and learn about the health benefits that our community has to offer to you and your family! Enjoy activities for all ages, healthy recipes and cooking demonstrations, giveaways, nutrition workshops and Zumba and Yoga demonstrations. If you’re interested in presenting as a vendor or would like more information, please email Pam McGregor at pam.mcgregor@thearcgw.org.
For more information visit us online or call 757-259-4200. Copies of the brochure can be downloaded or picked up at the James City County Recreation Center, the Abram Frink Jr. Community Center, the Satellite Services Office in Toano, County parks, public County government offices and at the James City County and Williamsburg libraries. If there’s a program you don’t see but would like to see offered, please email parks.rec@jamescitycountyva.gov. We’re focused on you – providing outstanding customer service through our professional team of employees and outstanding facilities.
Parks & Recreation has also launched a new registration system – PerfectMind! Registration for programs, events and activities is quick, simple and efficient! To get started, visit jamescitycountyva.gov/recreation and look for the PerfectMind logo!
*Outdoor events, weather permitting. Please call the Activities Hotline at 757-259-3232 if inclement weather is in the forecast.
Special Event Sites
Abram Frink Jr. Community Center, 8901 Pocahontas Trail
James City County Recreation Center, 5301 Longhill Road
Jamestown Beach Event Park, 2205 Jamestown Road
Media Contact:
Veda McMullen, Senior Communications Coordinator
757-259-5415; veda.mcmullen@jamescitycountyva.gov