Historic Garden Week in Richmond, Virginia

Virginia�s Richmond Region invites visitors to experience a rich mosaic of some of the country�s finest properties during Historic Garden Week, April 16- to 23, presented by the Garden Club of Virginia. 

Visitors will help celebrate 78 years of preserving Virginia�s heritage with three tours in the Richmond Region. 

During �America�s Largest Open House,� the Richmond Region will highlight four centuries of design with three tours that will feature more than 30 different homes, gardens and grounds:

� April 19, Hampton Gardens/Cary Street Road Tour: Guests will tour stately homes designed in the Georgian Revival, English Tudor, and Colonial style. A highlight of the tour includes a brick and frame Colonial, constructed in 1923, that is one of the oldest houses in Hampton Gardens.

� April 20, Monument Avenue Tour: Guests can visit handsome townhouses more than a century old, lining Monument Avenue, long regarded as one of the most beautiful avenues in America. Adorned with monumental statues of historic figures, Monument Avenue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark District.

�April 21, Westmoreland Place/Windsor Farms: Guests visiting Windsor Farms will see one of Richmond's first planned neighborhoods, with homes mostly designed in the Colonial Revival and Cape Cod styles.

All are walking tours through some of Richmond�s most historic neighborhoods. 

For more information about top events in Virginia take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Virginia. 

Tickets for the Historic Garden Week tours range from $15 to $40 per event and may be purchased on the day of the tour at any of the open properties, at designated information centers and in advance at www.VAGardenweek.org

Virginia Celebrates Three Major Anniversaries in 2011

World-class art exhibits, outdoor landmarks and new amusement park thrills keep visitors coming back to Virginia � and in 2011 they�ll be back to help Virginia celebrate three major anniversaries including the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War and Emancipation. 

More Civil War battles were fought in Virginia, by far, than in any other state. The stories of the people caught up in the cataclysmic event of their time are told at some of America's best museums and historic sites throughout Virginia. The anniversary commemoration of the battle of First Manassas in July 2011 kicks off a four year event in Virginia.

One of America's great natural treasures celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2011. Shenandoah National Park and its main artery, Skyline Drive, have been a favorite destination for travelers for generations. The park's abundant wildlife, stunning vistas and beautiful landscapes are legendary. There is a full slate of special programming by park rangers.

And finally there is the 75th Anniversary of Virginia State Parks which began as projects of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. From Atlantic seashore to Appalachian mountains, Virginia's 35 state parks include the best of nature, camping, fishing, boating and hiking � along with some big surprises. At Virginia State Parks visitors can see bald eagles in the wild, attend a festival, explore a Civil War battlefield, spend the night in a yurt, go tubing on a river, explore an abandoned gold mine, go for a bike ride on 57 miles of an abandoned railroad bed, look for prehistoric sharks' teeth or go camping with their horse.

For more information about top events in Virginia take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Virginia. 

For more information visit Virginia at www.Virginia.org

Norfolk�s Array of Cultural, Music and Food Festivals

The beautiful seaport city of Norfolk, Virginia has kicked off its festival season � the annual showcase of the region�s sounds, sights and tastes through more than 100 public events, the majority of which are free and open to the public.

Town Point Park, which has served as the scenic backdrop to many of the events in the past, will continue to host beloved festivals with a fresh face following a multi-million dollar renovation.

Among the early Festival favorites are The Virginia Arts Festival (through to May 30), Virginia International Tattoo (April 30 � May 2), an exhibition of marching bands, massed pipes and drum teams, gymnasts, Scottish dancers, choirs, and more, International Azalea Festival: A Salute to NATO (April 26 to May 1), the Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival (May 8), the Virginia Beer Festival (May 15), and Harborfest� (June 11 to 13), Hampton Roads� largest summertime event featuring an astounding 700 international tall ships, sailboats, battleships and cruise ships; national, regional and local entertainment; children�s activities; fireworks and more.

Not only are Norfolk�s events and offerings easily accessible, they are affordable with the Sail into Savings promotion, where many Norfolk hotels offer discounts on admissions to the Norfolk Botanical Garden, Chrysler Museum of Art, numerous sailing expeditions such as the American Rover, Victory Rover and Spirit of Norfolk and much more.

For more information about top events in Virginia, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Virginia at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-virginia.html

A comprehensive list of events and information about Norfolk�s cultural venues, world-class restaurants and historical landmarks and museums can be found at http://www.visitnorfolktoday.com

JANUARY EVENTS AND FESTIVALS ACROSS VIRGINIA

Virginia is for Lovers and visitors will love the many events and festivals awaiting them there in January ..... and for the rest of the new year.

Southern Virginia
Usher in 2010 with a visit to the past in Martinsville in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where The Virginia Museum of Natural History will host its 5th annual Dino Day Festival on January 23.

The festival includes a variety of dinosaur exhibits, displays and programs for visitors of all ages. The festival features a Dino Dig Pit, Dino Films, Costumed Dino Characters, and educational activities for visitors of all ages.

Heart of Appalachia
In Richlands on January 24, Citizens for the Arts presents Laura Ingalls Wilder. One of America's most beloved authors shines brightly in ArtsPower's heartfelt musical about the pioneerin' adventures of Laura Ingalls and her loving family as they search for the perfect little house they can call home.

Central Virginia
There�s a Ghost Watch at Historic Centre Hill Mansion in Petersburg on January 24. Travel back in time and tour the house while listening to the "ghostly stories" associated with the mansion. Hear the Civil War soldiers as they clamber up and down the staircase with swords rattling. Learn how a young boy woke up and discovered a woman dressed in white in his room.

Shenandoah Valley
Contestants from around the United States compete for national recognition in the IPRA sanctioned Salem Stampede Championship Rodeo in Salem from January 8 � 10. Events include bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping, steer wrestling and bareback and saddle bronc riding among others.

The Stonewall Jackson Birthday Celebration at the Stonewall Jackson House in Lexington on January 21 will include birthday cake, hot apple cider, and free tours of the Stonewall Jackson House � the only home the famous Confederate general ever owned.

Hampton Roads
The James River Plantation Progressive Candlelight Winter Tour is scheduled for Williamsburg on January 16, 23, 30. Visitors can explore collections of antiques and historic buildings while touring Piney Grove at Southall's Plantation. This special evening includes very special "Tours-by-the-Owners�, with cider and cookies fireside in the elegant dining room of Ashland.

Blue Ridge Highlands
Damascus hosts Winterfest on the Virginia Creeper Trail on January 16. There will be dogsleds on the Virginia Creeper Trail, Alaska lumberjack competition, daschund race and more. Teams of dogsleds will relay "serum" a total of 16 miles to the park in Damascus. there is magic and more outdoor entertainment for the entire family.

Northern Virginia
Celebrate the 283rd anniversary of Hugh Mercer's Birthday in Fredericksburg on January 17. You'll learn from Dr. Mercer's assistants what combination of herbs, extracts and barks were used to cure what ails you. Take a walk in the herb garden. Leeches, lancets, snakeroot, and crab claws made up just some of the remedies.

For more information about top events in Virginia, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Virginia at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-virginia.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Virginia at www.virginia.org/