Clifton tours
Lavender & Legacy: A 250th Celebration will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Clifton, 49 Clifton Avenue, Kilmarnock. The event will include tours of the historic estate, hosted by the Lancaster Virginia Historical Society and a state of Virginia archaeologist; tours of the Two Bees Lavender fields, a book signing by J. Clare.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Admission to Lavender & Legacy will be by timed-entry; reserve tickets at twobeeslavendar.com. A portion of the $25 ticket price will be donated to LVHS.
Genealogy
Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical and Historical Society will hold a virtual meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11. Genealogist Karen M. Skelton will present “FamilySearch’s Research Wiki–An Essential Companion.”
To receive an invitation, email mpaaghs.va@gmail.com, of call 651-8753.
Music by the River
The 2026 Music by the River summer concert series will continue Saturday, July 11, at Belle Isle State Park, 1632 Belle Isle Road, Lancaster. The concert will feature The Tidewinders from 6-8 p.m in the picnic area.
Upcoming concerts will include Jumbo Lump Daddy & The Backfin Boys July 18; The Windbags, August 8; and Ramona & The Holy Smokes, August 15.
Now booking
Book a sailing cruise on the historic skipjack Claud W. Somers. Sail dates are July 11 and 25, August 8 and 22, September 12 and 26 and October 10 and 24. The Somers leaves the Reedvile Fishermen’s Museum dock at 10 a.m. and returns at noon.
Tickets cost $30 for museum members or $35 for others. Ages 10 and older are welcome. To book a sail, call 453-6529 or email office@rfmuseum.org.
Faerie Tea
The Bay School Community Arts Center, 279 Main Street, Mathews, will host a Faerie Tea from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Bring a favorite teacup, or mug, and a related story.
Tickets are $40 for members and $45 for others. Purchase tickets at bayschoolarts.org, or the Bay School Community Arts Center.
Beekeepers
The Northern Neck Beekeepers Club meets at 7 p.m. on second Mondays at Heathsville United Methodist Church, 39 Courthouse Road, Heathsville.
Family reunion
The descendants of Dandridge W. and Naomi Bush Cockrell will hold their 42nd family reunion July 18 at Lebanon Baptist Church, 20 Alfonso Road, Alfonso.
Descendants are urged to bring an anecdote or humorous story from their ancestors that they can share with the family. They also are urged to contact the family at cows1956@gmail.com. Put “Family Reunion” in the subject line and name the known descendants and relatives.
Annual meeting
U.S. House of Representatives historian Matt Wasniewski will address the Northumberland County Historical Society annual meeting at 10:30 a.m. July 25 at 86 Back Street, Heathsville.
Wasniewski’s talk will include many little-known facts about the U.S. Capitol and the House of Representatives. The meeting is open to the public.
Chicken dinners
Chicken dinners will be available from 4:30-6 p.m. on first Mondays at American Legion Post #117, 39 School Street, Reedville.
Meals include fried chicken, mashed potatoes, choice of vegetables, salad, roll, dessert and drink. Dinners are $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 12 and younger, at the door.
