Top 40 Festivals and Events in the James River watershed

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the James River Association. To celebrate this anniversary we’ll be releasing Top 40 lists throughout the year celebrating some of the awesome experiences the James River watershed has to offer. 

This month, we have surveyed our staff to bring you the Top 40 Festivals and Events in the James River watershed. So here they are, in no particular order, 40 places to celebrate our beautiful watershed.

1. Mountain Magic Festival – Buchanan 
2. Maple Festival – Monterey 
3. Apple Day – Clifton Forge 
4. Roanoke GoFest – Roanoke 
5. Floyd Yoga Jam – Floyd 
6. FloydFest – Floyd 
7. Wine and Garlic Festival – Amherst 
8. James River Rundown – central Virginia 
9. James River Batteau Festival – Lynchburg 
10. James River Splash & Dash – Lynchburg 
11. Lynchburg Friday Cheers – Lynchburg 
12. Lockn’ Music Festival – Arrington 
13. The Festy Experience – Arrington 
14. Virginia Craft Brewers Festival – Roseland 
15. Tom Tom Founders Festival – Charlottesville 
16. Virginia Film Festival – Charlottesville 
17. Scottsville Second Saturday Art Walk – Scottsville 
18. Appomattox River Compnay Big Demo Day – Farmville 
19. Powhatan's Festival of the Grape – Powhatan 
20. Amelia Bluegrass Festival – Amelia 
21. Grayhaven Winery South African Food & Wine Festival – Gum Spring 
22. Field Day of the Past – Goochland 
23. Banff Film Festival – Chesterfield 
24. Pocahontas Live – Chesterfield 
25. James River Splash & Dash – Richmond 
26. Friday Cheers – Richmond 
27. Richmond Folk Festival – Richmond 
28. RVA Earth Day Festival – Richmond 
29. James River Week – Richmond 
30. King of the James – Richmond 
31. Richmond International Dragon Boat Festival – Henrico 
32. Varina Lion’s Club Canoe-a-Thon – Varina 
33. Westover Lawn Party – Charles City 
34. Cap2Cap Ride – Richmond to Williamsburg 
35. James RiverFest – Williamsburg 
36. Pork, Peanut and Pine Festival – Surry 
37. Bacon, Bourbon & Beach Fest – Smithfield 
38. Bacchus Wine & Food Festival – Newport News 
39. RiverFest – Norfolk 
40. Norfolk Summer Brewfest – Norfolk 

Top 40 Picnic Spots in the James River Watershed

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the James River Association. To celebrate this anniversary we’ll be releasing Top 40 lists throughout the year celebrating some of the awesome experiences the James River watershed has to offer.

Now that spring has arrived, we have surveyed our staff to bring you the Top 40 Picnic Spots in the James River watershed. So here they are, in no particular order, 40 places to enjoy a meal al fresco.

1.       Teddy J. Dressler Wayside Park on the Jackson River in Covington

2.       Humpback Bridge in Covington

3.       Sharon Park on the Cowpasture River in the Townof Sharon

4.       Blue Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Rock

5.       Rockbridge Baths Wayside in Rockbridge County

6.       Picnic area at Goshen Pass in Rockbridge County

7.       Jordan’s Point Park in Lexington

8.       Buchanan Town Park in Buchanan

9.       Picnic area at boat launch in Glasgow

10.   Percival’s Island Park in Lynchburg

11.   Riversedge Park in Amherst

12.   Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison

13.   Darden Towne Park in Charlottesville

14.   Riverview Park in Charlottesville

15.   James River State Park in Gladstone

16.   Van Clief Nature Area in Scottsville

17.   Canal Basin Square in Scottsville

18.   Powhatan State Park in Powhatan

19.   Tucker Park at Maidens Crossing in Goochland

20.   Robious Landing in Midlothian

21.   Maymont in Richmond

22.   Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond

23.   42^nd Street Rocks in Richmond

24.   Virginia State Capitol in Richmond

25.   Belle Isle in Richmond

26.   Pony Pasture in Richmond

27.   Libby Hill Park in Richmond

28.   Deep Bottom Park in Henrico

29.   Osborne Landing in Henrico

30.   Grapevine Bridge in Henrico

31.   Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park in Charles City

32.   Appomattox Court House in Appomattox

33.   Appomattox Riverside Park/Ferndale Park inPetersburg

34.   City Point in Hopewell

35.   Chickahominy Riverfront Park in Williamsburg

36.   Jamestown Beach in Williamsburg

37.   Chippokes Plantation State Park in Surry

38.   Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield

39.   Huntington Beach in Newport News

40.   Fort Monroe beach in Hampton

Top 40 Hikes in the James River Watershed

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the James River Association. To celebrate this anniversary we’ll be releasing Top 40 lists throughout the year celebrating some of the awesome experiences the James River watershed has to offer.

In honor of Earth Month, we have surveyed our staff to bring you the Top 40 Hikes in the James River watershed. So here they are, in no particular order, 40 places to take a hike!

1.    Mt. Pleasant

2.    Spy Rock

3.    Crabtree Falls

4.    Beaver Lake Trail in Pocahontas State Park

5.    High Bridge

6.    Triple Crown

7.    Jamestown Island, footpath to Black Point

8.    Greensprings and Powhatan Creek Trail

9.    Hoffler Creek

10. Noland Trail

11. Appomattox River Greenway

12. Fort Monroe Seawall Trail

13. Balcony Falls Trail

14. Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest

15. James River Face Wilderness

16. Three Ridges Wilderness

17. Thunder Ridge Wilderness

18. James River State Park

19. Powhatan State Park

20. Douthat State Park

21. Governor's Land Conservation Easement (co-held by James River Association)

22. Chippokes Plantation State Park

23. Chapel Island (Great Shiplock Park)

24. Belle Isle

25. Pony Pasture

26. Huguenot Flatwater

27. Bear Creek Lake State Park

28. Van Clief Nature Area

29. High Bridge Trail State Park

30. Appalachian Trail

31. Ivy Creek Natural Area

32. Pocahontas State Park

33. James River Heritage Trail (Riveredge Park)

34. Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area

35. Canal Walk

36. Floodwall Park

37. Robious Landing Park

38. Crawford State Park

39. City Point

40. Virginia Capital Trail

Top 40 Breweries, Wineries, Cideries and Distilleries in the James River watershed

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the James River Association. To celebrate this anniversary we’ll be releasing Top 40 lists throughout the year celebrating some of the awesome experiences the James River watershed has to offer.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we have surveyed our staff to bring you the Top 40 Breweries, Wineries, Cideries and Distilleries in the James River watershed. So here they are, in no particular order, 40 places to toast to the James.

1.       Blue Ridge Vineyard

2.       Blue Mountain Barrel House/Blue Mountain Brewery

3.       Early Mountain Vineyards

4.       Veritas Vineyard and Winery

5.       Afton Mountain Vineyards

6.       Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company

7.       Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards

8.       Wild Wolf Brewing Company

9.       Flying Fox Vineyards

10.   Rebec Vineyards

11.   Silverback Distillery

12.   Blenheim Vineyards

13.   Albemarle Cider Works

14.   Starr Hill Brewery

15.   Jefferson Vineyards

16.   King Family Vineyards

17.   Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery

18.   Bold Rock Hard Cider

19.   James River Brewing Company

20.   Thistle Gate Winery

21.   King Family Vineyard

22.   Grayhaven Winery

23.   Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery

24.   Legend Brewing Company

25.   Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

26.   Isley Brewing Company

27.   Belle Isle Craft Spirits

28.   Stone Brewing Company

29.   Garden Grove Brewing Company

30.   Triple Crossing Brewing Company

31.   Ardent Craft Ales

32.   Blue Bee Cidery

33.   New Kent Winery

34.   Saude Creek Vineyards

35.   Williamsburg Winery

36.   Williamsburg Alewerks

37.   Smart Mouth Brewing Company

38.   O'Connor Brewing Co.

39.   Wharf Hill Brewing Company

40.   St. George Brewing

Top 40 Romantic Spots in the James River watershed

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the James River Association. To celebrate this anniversary we’ll be releasing Top 40 lists throughout the year celebrating some of the awesome experiences the James River watershed has to offer.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we have surveyed our social media following as well as our staff to bring you the Top 40 Romantic Spots in the James River watershed. So here they are, in no particular order, 40 beautiful places to spend time with your special someone.

1. Anywhere in a tandem canoe or kayak with your special someone
2. Taking a stroll across the Buchanan swinging bridge
3. Dinner at the Craddock Terry Hotel in Lynchburg
4. Sitting around the campfire at James River State Park
5. A weekend stay at the James River Inn
6. Enjoying the waterfall at Roaring Run Creek near Gala
7. Date night at Buchanan Theatre
8. A weekend stay at Natural Bridge
9. Sipping wine at Pippin Hill Vineyard
10. The view from the Appalachian Trail footbridge at Snowden
11. Secluded camping at James River Face Wilderness
12. The view from the top of Crabtree Falls
13. The view from Lynchburg’s Bluff Walk
14. Catching the sunset at Seven Islands in Fluvanna
15. Romantic getaway in Clifton Forge
16. Taking in the view at Blue Ridge Vineyards
17. Catching a concert at the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville
18. Attending a wedding at Historic Riverview on the James
19. A bicycle ride at High Bridge State Park
20. Stargazing at Historic Belmead
21. Horseback riding at Powhatan State Park
22. Date night at the Goochland Drive-In
23. Taking a stroll through Tucker Park
24. Picnic at Agecroft Hall
25. The ballroom at Richmond’s Pump House Park
26. Romantic dinner at the Boathouse in Rocketts Landing
27. Marriage proposal at Libby Hill Park
28. Picnic at Riverside Meadow in the James River Park System
29. Swimming at Pony Posture
30. Walking through the gardens at Maymont
31. Catching a concert at the Beacon Theatre in Hopewell
32. Sunset cruise looking for sturgeon on the Lower James
33. Attending a wedding at Westover Plantation
34. Dinner at Smithfield Station
35. Renting a cabin at Chippokes Plantation State Park
36. Enjoying the view from the overlook in the Governor's Land Preservation Area
37. Paddling College Creek off the Colonial Parkway
38. Swimming at Huntington Beach
39. Attending a wedding Kingsmill Resort
40. Waterfront dining at the Chamberlin at Fort Monroe