Gloucester Parks, Recreation & Tourism Events

NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDEN – BEST YEARS TRIP (POP-UP TRIP-rescheduled)

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring a Best Years Trip to the Norfolk Botanical Garden on Tuesday, September 29th from 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM. This is the first week The Garden of Tomorrow is open to the public! Take a tram to explore various sections of the garden and visit the Summer Butterfly House, and The Perry Conservatory. The fee is $50 and the deadline is Friday, September 25th.

GAUTHIER VINEYARD – BEST YEARS TRIP

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring a Best Years Trip to Gauthier Vineyard for pizza and wine on Friday, October 2 from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM. The fee is $15 and the deadline to register is Friday, September 25th.

IKEA –BEST YEARS TRIP (POP-UP TRIP)

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring a Best Years Trip to IKEA in Norfolk on Monday, October 5 from 9:00 AM –2:30 PM. Enjoy a fun day our shopping without the hassle of the drive! We will visit IKEA in Norfolk, you'll have lunch on your own at their restaurant. Finish the trip with a treat from Cold Stone Creamery on the way home! The fee is $30 and the deadline is Monday, September 28th.

BELLY DANCE WORKSHOP

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring a Belly Dance Workshop for ages 16 and older on Monday, October 5 at the Stewart Building from 6:30-8:30 pm. In this introduction workshop you will learn the basics of Belly Dance. This workshop is designed to prepare you for the Intermediate Belly Dance session. The fee is $15 and the deadline is Monday, September 28th.

FREE FLOW YOGA

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring Free Flow Yoga on Tuesdays in September, October and November from 5:30-6:45 PM at Whitcomb Lodge.  Pay for the whole month or $9 per drop-in session.

INTERNATIONAL CUISINE CULINARY CLUB

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring a 4-week session of International Cuisine Culinary Club for ages 16 and older on Tuesdays from 5:00-7:00 PM, October 6 -27 at the Stewart Building.  You will explore international cuisine, characteristic cooking practices and traditions.  German, French, Italian, Turkish, Indian, Thai and Mexican to name a few.  The fee is $55 and the deadline is Friday, October 2nd.

INTERMEDIATE BELLY DANCE

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring Intermediate Belly Dance for ages 16 and older on Mondays from October 12th to November 30th at the Stewart Building from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. For dancers with a good foundation of belly dance basics. You'll learn a fun choreography dance that the group will perform together at the end of the session. The fee is $65 for the 8-week session and the deadline is Monday, October 5th.

YOUTH BASKETBALL 

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring Youth Basketball for ages 6-16-years-old, November 9 – February 20th.? Practices are two weeknights each week M-Th | 5-8 pm (practice times & locations vary from team-to-team). Games- Saturdays (times & locations vary from team-to-team). Please visit our website for more info. Fee $60/child and the deadline is Monday, October 5th.

FALL ON SKYLINE DRIVE – BEST YEARS TRIP

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring a Best Years Trip to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park on Thursday, October 22nd from 8:00 AM –7:00 PM. Come ride with us as we tour the scenic Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park via the Skyline Drive. This scenic Byway was built in the 1930’s and is known for its autumnal foliage. We will stop at some of the 75 scenic overlooks and have lunch at the beautiful Spottswood Dining Room at Skyland.  The fee is $45 and the deadline is Thursday, October 15th.

TOUCH A TRUCK

Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring is sponsoring Touch A Truck at Old Page Grounds on Sunday, November 1st from 12 – 4 PM. No registration is required for the general public. Trucks who are interested in participating visit us online to register.

For more information on these and other activities call PRT at 804-693-2355, email prt@gloucesterva.info or stop by our office 6382 Main Street.  For online registration visit https://gloucesterva.info/civicrec

The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 58, located in Gloucester VA, at 6265 Professional Drive, directly behind the radio station. Their Certified Claims Service Officers can assist ALL Veterans and their dependents with submitting claims to the Veterans Administration at no cost. No appointment necessary, you’ll need a DD214, hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 2pm and they can be reached at 804-695-1558.

For a ride to Richmond or Hampton for appointment, call Keith Davis at 757-728-3148 to make arrangements.

Gloucester County Unveils New Driving Tour Exploring the
1781 Battle of the Hook
The Gloucester Museum of History proudly announces the launch of the Battle of the Hook Driving
Tour, a new self-guided driving tour exploring the events, people, and key sites of the Battle of the
Hook, the largest cavalry engagement of the American Revolution and a crucial Franco-American
victory. The tour brochure is available at the Museum of History and Gloucester Visitor Center, at
no cost, and an online version is also available.
 

The October 3, 1781, Battle of the Hook is one of the most important episodes of the siege of
Yorktown, when the Duc de Lauzun's famous Legion of hussars with 300 troops of the "Infanterie
de Marine,” and Lieutenant Colonel John Mercer's Select Battalion of Grenadiers, under the overall
command of French Brigadier General Claude de Choisy, defeated Lieutenant Colonel Banastre
Tarleton's British Legion and a detachment of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The fighting at Gloucester
helped cut off British escape routes from Yorktown, directly contributing to their surrender just
sixteen days later, on October 19, 1781.
 

The driving tour guides visitors to pivotal locations throughout Gloucester County, including the
historic Tavern at Gloucester Courthouse (now the Gloucester Museum of History), Ware
Episcopal Church, Abingdon Episcopal Church, and Seawell’s Ordinary. Each site reveals how local
landscapes became strategic military positions during the final campaign for American
independence.
Additional highlights include the Second Surrender, memorialized at Tyndall’s Point Park, where
British troops garrisoned in Gloucester surrendered to French forces one hour after the October 19,
1781, capitulation at Yorktown. The tour also directs visitors to Abingdon Elementary School,
where they may experience interpretive signage and a new memorial honoring the five French
soldiers who fell during the battle.
“This tour invites locals and guests to explore Gloucester’s beauty and history while visiting
landmarks where decisive moments in America’s fight for independence unfolded,” said Robert
Kelly, Gloucester’s Historic Resources Supervisor. “As we commemorate the nation’s 250 th birthday,
the tour is a powerful way to connect Gloucester’s history and landscapes with the broader story of
America’s founding while also honoring the importance of the Franco-American Alliance.”

Registration is now open for 4-H Camp for Gloucester, Essex and Middlesex. Camp will be held June 8th-12th at the Jamestown 4-H Center.

Do you have concerns regarding your preschooler's development? Gloucester County Public Schools conducts screenings for preschool children as part of their Child Find Activities throughout the school year. Parents/Guardians should consider having their children screened if they are experiencing difficulty walking, talking, playing, and meeting developmental milestones. If you are interested in having your child screened, please contact your child's zoned school. Any further questions please contact the Special Education Office at 804-693-7880 or 804-693-7944.