Ridge District Events

Milepost 0-106

 

Ridge District Crew Prepares for Summer 2008 on the Blue Ridge Parkway

 

Bluegrass Music

Peaks of Otter, Milepost 86
Evening music outdoors in the amphitheater.

Cultural Demonstrations, Livestock Exhibits and Demonstrations

Humpback Rocks Pioneer Farm, milepost 5.8

The events listed below are made possible through funding from the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  All programs unless otherwise noted are free and open to the public. The above schedule is subject to changes and/or cancellations. For information regarding programming call 540-943-4716.  Interpretive programming at Humpback Rocks is  funded in part by:   FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc. and Eastern National.In case of an emergency call Parkway Emergency: 1-800-PARKWATCH

 

 

 

Humpback Rocks (MP 5.8)

Interpretive programming at Humpback Rocks is  funded in part by FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc. and Eastern National.

June 2008

Thursday, June 26, 2008 SHAVING A HORSE??
A shaving horse---an essential tool of the mountain farm.  Come watch Ranger Bob Maruca demonstrate the shaving horse and draw knife as basic skills for mountain farm living.  Feel free to ask questions!

Friday, June 27, 2008  HIGH POINTS and LOW POINTS
Know the lowest  point on or near  the Blue Ridge Parkway?? The lowest?  Think James River—649 feet above sea level, MP 63.6—or travel to NC for Mt. Mitchell, tallest point east of the Mississippi.  Enjoy the Parkway!!

Saturday, June 28, 2008  KITCHEN CRAFT
Farm-related activities, including 1800’s KITCHEN UTENSIL DEMONSTRATION ongoing from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  

Sunday, June 29, 2008  GRASSY RIDGE – Music featuring Pam Ward
2:00 – 4:00 PM,  Mountain Music under the Walnut Tree.
Bring your own lawnchair.  As on every weekend day, there will be
Farm-related activities on-going from 10:00AM until around 4:00PM.

6/28 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Children's Workshop - Storytelling
6/28 Youth VIP Day
6/29 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Grassy Ridge - Pam Ward

July 2008

7/6 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Farm Descendants Day, Draft Horse Demonstration & Blue Grass Music
7/13 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Grassy Ridge - Pam Ward
7/20 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Loose Gravel Mountain Music
7/27 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Nonesuch - Mel Lee

September

9/27, 28  10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Farm Fest Days, multiple demonstrations and activities throughout the weekend.

Farm & Cabin Tours daily from 5/24 through 11/1, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Blue Grass and “Ole Timey” Music every Sunday throughout the season

Demonstrations every weekend throughout the season including: basket weaving, wool carding, spinning, open hearth cooking, livestock on display, early gardening techniques, cloth dying, wash day demonstration, candle-making, use of herbs, apple cider making, apple butter making, quilting and Appalachian toy demonstrations.

Workshops on announced weekends to include: chair caning, playing the dulcimer & fiddle, quilting, spinning, basketry, story telling and “flat-footing”. 

James River

5/24 to 11/1/08:  Campfire programs every Saturday night at 8:00 p.m.

Peaks of Otters Activities (MP 86)

June, 2008

8:00 PM  Evening Programs at the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center
Saturday, June 28: Starry, Starry Night: Join National Park Volunteers Martin DiLeggi and Alan Pipkin as they explain the night skies and constellations in the Flat Top Room of the Peaks of Otter Lodge. This will be followed at dark by star gazing and a close up view of the heavens in a nearby field.  Bring binoculars.

July 2008

Fourth of July weekend Activities!  Annual Walk up Sharp Top to View Fireworks!!!

7:00 PM   Friday, July 4
Meet Park Rangers at the Nature Center to walk the 3-mile bus road to the summit of Sharp Top Mountain to enjoy fireworks from a bird’s-eye view.  Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and a flashlight for this moderately strenuous 6-mile round trip hike.  Plan to be back at vehicles around 11:30 PM.  This event is weather permitting.

Fourth of July Weekend Music Program6:30 – 8:30 PM    Saturday, July 5 Breakin’ Nu Ground
The Blue Ridge Parkway is pleased to present a musical performance in the Peaks of Otter Amphitheater featuring the old-time string band, Breakin’ Nu Ground.  The band’s music is rooted in traditional mountain and dance music, but they also play in a variety of musical styles such as gospel, blues and swing. Breakin’ Nu Ground has won 1st place twice in an old time band competition at the Maury River Fiddlers Convention in Buena Vista, Virginia. Following the concert, there will be a ranger-led night hike.

Programs at the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center
8:00 PM EVENING PROGRAMS
Saturday, July 12: Of Yonder Saunders: Join National Park Ranger Cory Watkins as he presents a skit interpreting the history of the Saunders farm through the eyes of a family member.

Saturday, July 19: Birding Basics:  Join National Park Ranger Tonya Meyer as she teaches the basics of bird watching and how to be a better birder.  

Saturday, July 26: Of Yonder Saunders Join National Park Ranger Cory Watkins as he presents a skit interpreting the history of the Saunders farm through the eyes of a family member.

Night Hike:  Following each Saturday evening program, join a National Park Service Ranger for an evening of nighttime exploration.  Bring a flashlight and wear sturdy shoes.

At Johnson Farm Daily  9:00 AM  - 5:00 PM
Hike the trail to the farm to discuss with Park Rangers and volunteers mountain living and to discover how a Blue Ridge Mountain family lived, worked, and played.  Join in some of the games and activities! Living history demos available on weekends.
  
Programs at the Nature Center—at the foot of Sharp Top Mountain
Daily  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Stop by our newest facility to talk with National Park Service Rangers or volunteers about the natural history of the Peaks of Otter area. Parkway staff will be available to answer questions and to present programs and demonstrations from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
   
JUNIOR RANGER CAMP: FUR, FINS, FEATHERS AND FUN:Join National Park Service Rangers from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM for three days of fun activities to earn your Junior Ranger badge.
July 9-11 Ages 6 & 7
July 16-18 Ages 8 & 9
July 23-25 Ages 10-11
Fee: $30 includes all materials and a T-shirt. For more information call: 540-586-4496

Junior Ranger Program at the Nature Center Patio
Saturdays  9:00 - 11:00 AM
Kids ages 3 to 14 are invited to participate in the weekly Junior Ranger program at the Nature Center. Join a National Park Service Ranger for a fun activity.

Demonstrations of Appalachian Culture at the Visitor Center and Peaks of Otter LodgeFriday, Saturday and Sunday
National Park Service Rangers and/or volunteers present demonstrations of the cultural history of the Southern Appalachians.  Come by to visit and to talk.  Demonstrations may include Appalachian toys or dolls, dulcimer playing, or basketmaking.  Contact the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center for specific times and locations of the demonstrations.

Night Hike:  Following each Saturday evening program, join a National Park Service Ranger for a nighttime exploration.  Bring a flashlight and wear sturdy shoes.

At Johnson Farm, Wednesday - Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM: Hike the trail to the farm to talk with Park Rangers and volunteers and to see how a Blue Ridge mountain family community lived, worked, and played.  Join in some of the games and activities!
  
Junior Ranger Activities at the Nature Center Patio, Saturdays
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Kids ages 3 to 14 are invited to participate in the weekly Junior Ranger Activities program at the Nature Center. Join a National Park Service Ranger for a fun activity to earn your Junior Ranger badge.             

Programs at the Nature Center—at the foot of Sharp Top Mountain, Daily except Tuesday
Stop by our newest facility to talk with National Park Service Rangers or volunteers about some of the natural history of the Peaks of Otter area.  The Nature Center is open to visitors 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Wednesday through Monday.  Parkway staff will be available to answer questions and to present programs and demonstrations from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Demonstrations of Appalachian Culture at the Visitor Center and Peaks of Otter Lodge,
Friday and Saturday
National Park Service Rangers and/or volunteers present demonstrations of the cultural history of the Southern Appalachians.  Come by to visit and to talk.  Demonstrations may include Appalachian toys, Appalachian dolls, dulcimer playing, or basketmaking.  Contact the Peaks of Visitor Center for specific times and locations of demonstrations.

All programs unless otherwise noted are free and open to the public. The above schedule is subject to changes and/or cancellations. For further information, contact the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center at (540) 586-4496.  The Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, at milepost 86, is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM through October.

Funding for interpretive programs provided in part through the generous donations of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Eastern National.

 In case of an emergency call Parkway Emergency:
1-800-PARKWATCH

July 2008

7/4 Hike up Sharp Top to view fireworks in 7 cities below, 6:30 p.m.
7/5 Blue Grass Music presented by Breakin’ Nu Ground, Peaks Amphitheater 7:00 p.m.
8/16 “Nature Fest” featuring VDGIF & several VA Master Naturalists, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
8/23 Poetry Readings featuring several local authors & poets, Peaks Amphitheater 7:00 p.m.
9/21 Music Workshops (location to be announced) 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Johnson Farm tours available daily from 5/24 through 11/1. Hike the trail to the farm to talk with Park Rangers and volunteers and see how a Blue Ridge Mountain family community lived, worked and played. Join in some of the games and activities.

Nature Center open daily from 5/24 through 11/1. At the foot of Sharp Top Mountain. Open to visitors 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Evening Programs every Saturday evening at 8:00 at the Peaks of Otter Amphitheater followed by a “night hike” (bring a flashlilght and wear sturdy shoes.)  Programs are 45-60 minutes dealing with the natural or cultual history of the Peaks of Otter area.

Demonstrations every weekend at various locations at the Peaks of Otter
National Park Service Rangers and/or volunteers present demonstrations of the cultural history of the Southern Appalachians.  Come by to visit and to talk.  Demonstrations may include quilting, gourd carving, Appalachian toys, Appalachian dolls, dulcimer playing, or basketmaking. .

Interpretive programming at the Peaks of Otter is  funded in part by FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Inc. and Eastern National.  All programs unless otherwise noted are free and open to the public. The above schedule is subject to changes and/or cancellations. For further information, contact the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center at (540) 586-4496.  The Visitor Center, at milepost 86, is open daily from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. through October.

Junior Ranger Program:
 Any child can become a Junior Ranger by completing the Junior Ranger booklet, available at any Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center.  Completion is self-paced and age adjusted.  As part of the Junior Ranger process, the certificate requires a child to attend an interpretive activity, demonstration, or program on the Parkway.

For further information, contact the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center at (540) 586-4496.

All programs unless otherwise noted are free and open to the public. The above schedule is subject to changes and/or cancellations. For further information, contact the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center at (540) 586-4496.  The Visitor Center, at milepost 86, is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM through October.