Sunday in the Park with Friends

On July 19, the Friends of Forest Hill Park and Council President Kathy Graziano will sponsor the Fifth annual Sunday in the Park with Friends. The totally free event will feature hot dogs, Graziano water, ice cream, water melon, kids games and activities, clowns from Clown Alley #3, police, fire, sheriff and emergency services participation, a moon bounce and misting tent, and a long list of environmental activities from a host of business and advocacy groups, and three bands, ranging from klezmer to country to blues.

Official Press Release with additional details

Balloons, bubbles, bounces, bands and more! The fifth annual “Sunday in the Park with Friends” will take place on July 19 from noon to 4 p.m. in Forest Hill Park. The free family event is sponsored by the Friends of Forest Hill Park and Kathy Graziano, President of Richmond City Council and Fourth District Council Representative.

In the spirit of Forest Hill Park’s former use as a 19th century amusement park, there will be plenty of old-fashioned fun with games, crafts, exhibits, tours, food and live music. Children will enjoy face painting, balloon animals, a bubble machine, moonbounce, sack races, carnival games, a corn pool, crafts, clowns, a juggler and nature hikes. There will be free hot dogs, watermelon, ice cream and bottled water.

Three local bands are lined up to perform: Klezm’Or’Ami’n, a klezmer band; Van Driver, a Celtic group; and Cy Taggart’s Blues Band. As an added bonus, the free monthly “Music in the Park” concert will follow “Sunday in the Park” with the Southern Blues group performing from 6 – 8 p.m.

Several area organizations will set up displays with an environmental or energy-related theme. Local Fire Trucks #17 and #20 will be on display (barring any emergencies) and the Richmond Police Department and Sheriff’s Department will be represented. Tours of the historic Stone House will be offered.

Additional sponsors and supporters of the event include: Dominion/Virginia Power, Westover Hills Merchants Association, Forest Hill Neighborhood Association, Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association, Ukrop’s Super Markets, Wal-Mart, Fulton Hill Properties, Sheriff C.T. Woody and Sue Durlak.

Families are welcome to bring their dogs to the park but must keep them on a leash at all times.

For more information about “Sunday in the Park with Friends,” call Debra McClane, co-president of Friends of Forest Hill Park, at 233-3890 or email her at d_mcclane@hotmail.com.