Parade entries
The Town of Irvington seeks participants for its Hometown Parade at 11 a.m. Monday, July 3, along King Carter Drive, Irvington. Register by Friday, June 30, at visitirvingtonva.com/4thjuly.
Owners of antique, classic and collector cars are invited to join a post-parade car show from noon-2 p.m. on the Irvington Commons.
Community celebration
The Morattico Waterfront Museum will host an Independence Day Celebration, Saturday, July 1. Parade lineup will begin at 5863 Morattico Road. Decorated golf carts, bicycles, wagons, tractors, utility vehicles and walking shoes are welcome. To participate, contact John Henry Taylor, 794-0704, or johnhenrytaylor07@gmail.com.
A picnic will follow the parade at the museum, 6584 Morattico Road, Morattico. Grilled hot dogs, chips and drinks will be provided. Donations appreciated. Beer and wine will be sold. If attending the picnic, contact David Henley, 514-1830, or dwhenley1@gmail.com.
Flag-waving concert
The U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band will perform a flag-waving concert Saturday, July 1, on the Irvington Commons, 98 King Carter Drive, Irvington.
Concert sponsor Chesapeake Bank will offer free hot dogs, chips and desserts from 5:30-6:45 p.m. The concert, presented by the Village Improvement Association, will start at 7 p.m.
Holiday concert
The Festival Chorale will present a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 2, in the fellowship hall at Bethany United Methodist Church, 454 Main Street, Reedville.
The chorale is directed by Sharon Freude and accompanied by Carina Bly, pianist, and Jessica Guy-Haynie, flutist. Some 30 singers will perform a variety of patriotic classics as well as familiar favorites. The concert is free; however, donations will be accepted as well as food bank offerings.
Celebrate at Stratford Hall
Celebrate the Fourth of July at Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford. Enjoy $4 admission, 18th-century colonial games, outdoor yard games and a summer craft-making activity, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission for ages 4 and younger.
Explore the historic grounds, nature trails and Potomac River beachfront and tour the Great House with one of five self-guided audio tours. There will be music by Steve Hickman in the Great Hall from noon-3 p.m.
Shish kebabs
The Cooks Squad will serve a shish kebab mixed grill take-out dinner from noon-2:30 p.m. July 8 at the Mid-County Volunteer Rescue Squad Building, 7990 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville. The menu will include chicken kebab, beef kebab, Italian sausage, rice, grilled summer vegetables, tomato-cucumber salad and cowboy cookies.
The fee is $15. Order by July 5-6: 494-9534, or mcvrssales911@gmail.com. Proceeds benefit Mid-County Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Music on the Half Shell Stage
The Music on the Half Shell Stage concert series will continue from 7-9:30 p.m. July 7 at Town Centre Park, 150 North Main Street, Kilmarnock. Steve Bassett & The Mystic Soul Bubbas will perform Southern rock and soul music.
Admission is by season pass or individual show tickets, $10 each. Tickets will be sold at kilmarnockva.ticketleap.com and at the door.
Music by the River
The Music by the River concert series will continue July 8 with Magnolia Blues Jazz Band, 41st U.S. Army Band, and July 29 with Black Cat Murphy. The concerts will begin at 6 p.m. at Belle Isle State Park, 1632 Belle Isle Road, Lancaster.
Picnics are welcome. A limited number of picnic tables will be available. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. The show is free; however, there is a $5 parking fee payable at the park entrance.
Movie night
Gloucester resident Mary Bush Shipko will speak at Mathews Historical Museum Movie Night, July 14. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. at the museum, 200 Main Street, Mathews.
Shipko’s remarks will precede a showing of “Taking Flight—Stories of Modern Virginia Aviation, 1941 to Present Day,” Part II, produced by Dave Miller of Miller Productions of Virginia.
Summer Saturdays
Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, will offer special programming from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on third Saturdays in July and August. Learn about various facets of the 18th century from museum staff through paleontology, archaeology, collections and preservation demonstrations.
General admission is $15 for adults, $9 for ages 6-13, and free for ages 5 and younger. Through Labor Day, Stratford Hall offers free admission to active military personnel, National Guard and Reserve, and up to five family members.
History discussion
The Historic Christ Church & Museum (HCC&M) Readers will meet at 9:30 a.m. July 18 in the Chase conference room on the HCC&M Campus, 420 Christ Church Road, Weems.
Discussion will focus on The Summer of 1787 by David O. Stewart. To join the discussion, register by e-mailing Debbie Byram at dbyram@christchurch1735.org.
First African Day
Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. July 22, will host First African Day, commemorating the enslaved Africans and African Americans who built and sustained Stratford Hall, and the Lee family, for generations.
This will be a free, full day of remembering and honoring those enslaved at Stratford Hall and their descendants, through music, storytelling, special tours and lectures.