James River Week
September 9th – 16th, 2023
James River Week is a week long celebration of Virginia’s most incredible natural asset!
This week is the culmination of many like-minded groups coming together to offer recreational, environmental, and educational activities in, on and around the James River. James River Week not only encourages participants to enjoy the James’ many benefits, but also brings awareness to the critical issues it faces. Whether volunteering, experiencing your first batteau trip, participating in a paddle adventure, or devouring delicious oysters, we encourage you to spend some time this week connecting with the James and your fellow river-lovers.
2023 James River Week Schedule At-A-Glance
All Week Long — Seafood for the James — Restaurants throughout our watershed.
Sat. Sept. 9; 12-4 pm — James River Week Kick-Off — Hardywood Park Craft Brewery – West Creek, 820 Sanctuary Trail Dr, Richmond, VA 23238
Sat. Sept. 9, 10, 16, 17 — The Great Return of the Atlantic Sturgeon Pontoon Boat Trips — JRA, Rocketts Landing
Sat. Sept. 9 — James River Regional Cleanup — James River Advisory Council, Watershed-wide
Sat. Sept. 9; 9 am — River Trail Hike — Powhatan State Park – Powhatan, VA
Sat. Sept. 9; 10 am — Run of the River — Maymont Foundation, Robins Nature Center at Maymont, Richmond, VA
Sat. Sept. 9; 11 am — James River Urban Wildlife in Pictures with Bill Draper — Maymont Foundation, Robins Nature Center, Richmond, VA
Sat. Sept. 9; 7pm — Family Night Hike at Maymont — Maymont Foundation, Farm at Maymont, Richmond, VA
Mon. Sept. 11; 11 am— Toddler Time — Maymont Foundation, Robins Nature Center at Maymont, Richmond, VA
Tus. Sept. 12; 12:30 pm — Hike with Blue Sky Fund — Blue Sky Fund, Reedy Creek, Richmond, VA
Sept. 12; 9:30 & 10:30 am, Sept. 13; 9:30, 10:00 & 10:30 am — James River Story Time — Several locations – Chesterfield County Public Libraries
Wed. Sept. 13; 10 am — Homeschool Days: James River Week at Maymont— Maymont Foundation, Robins Nature Center at Maymont, Richmond, VA
Thurs. Sept. 14; 10:30 am — Introduction to Rain Gardens — Maymont Foundation, Robins Nature Center at Maymont, Richmond, VA
Thurs. Sept. 14; 12:00 pm — The River City: Why is Richmond where it is? — Maymont Foundation, Robins Nature Center at Maymont, Richmond, VA
Fri. Sept. 15; 4:30 pm — Screening of “A Sturgeon Story: Searching for Giant Leaping Dinosaur Fish” — Robins Nature Center at Maymont, Richmond, VA
Sat. Sept. 16; 9:00 am — Litter cleanup — Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, VA
Sat. Sept. 16; 11:00 am — Conservation Photographer: Lori A. Cash — Henrico County Public Library, Henrico, VA
Sat. Sept. 16; 12:00 pm — The River City: Why is Richmond where it is? — Maymont Foundation, Robins Nature Center at Maymont, Richmond, VA
Sat. Sept. 16; 4:00 pm — “AGUAS” performed by the Latin Ballet — Maymont Foundation, Near the Robins Nature Center at Maymont, Richmond, VA
Sat. Sept. 16; 9:15 pm — Wonders of the James River Watershed — Chester Library – Chesterfield County Public Libraries
Sat. Sept. 16; 11:15 pm — Wonders of the James River Watershed — Clover Hill Library – Chesterfield County Public Libraries
2022 James River Week Programing
Seafood for the James
Each restaurant will be offering a delicious seafood or fish dish from September 9th-16th in which 10% of all sales from the dish will be donated to JRA to help protect the 10,000 miles of our James River watershed. Be sure to ask about it when you go! For a full list of restaurants, click here. Our sincere thanks to the following participating restaurants:
Milano’s Enoteca • The Water Dog • Brambly Park • Jardin • Rappahannock Oyster Co • Shagbark • Toast, New American Gastropub • Southbound • Alewife • Legend Brewing Co • The Boathouse — All four locations • Upper Shirley Vineyards • Craft 31 • Tazza Kitchen
James River Regional Cleanup
Saturday, September 9, 2023: 9am
Join the James River Advisory Council in its 25th year of cleaning up the James River and its shorelines! The cleanup is a cooperative, regional event spanning more than 75 miles of the James River at 13 sites. Walkers, powerboats, paddle craft, and hikers will participate in a limited capacity.
James River Week Kick-Off
Saturday, September 9, 2023: 12pm
Join us and our friends, the James River Association, to kick off James River Week! We’ll be toasting a Great Return to the Atlantic Sturgeon and our years-long partnership with the JRA. The JRA will be on-site to answer all of your James River questions and we’ll have live music to celebrate.
The Great Return of the Atlantic Sturgeon Trips
Celebrate James River Week and the Great Return of the Atlantic Sturgeon with the James River Association! Join staff members on an outing on the Spirit of the James, the James River Association’s pontoon boat. Participants will learn about the natural resources of the James River and the endangered Atlantic sturgeon, which make an annual migration up the James River in late summer where they often can be seen breaching out of the water! $35 per participant.
Run of the River
Saturday, September 9, 2023; 10:00 am
Themed “Run of the River”, The Robins Nature Center highlights the remarkable ecology of the James River located along Maymont’s southern border in Richmond. The experience emphasizes the natural history of the area and environmental stewardship opportunities for the community. The Robins Nature Center, a 29,000-square-foot attraction, is the largest facility of its kind in central Virginia and holds close to 30,000 gallons of aquaria showcasing animals of the James River and Chesapeake Bay.
James River Urban Wildlife in Pictures with Bill Draper
Saturday, September 9th, 11 am
Photographer Bill Draper will be presenting some of his wildlife photos taken at various locations on the James River and its tributaries. Locations include the James River Park System, Maymont, Hollywood Cemetery and Tuckahoe Creek Park. Draper will also share tips and advice on camera equipment for wildlife photography for beginners to professionals.
Family Night Hike at Maymont
Saturday, September 9, 2023: 7 pm
Ever wonder who stays awake while you sleep? Meet some of Maymont’s nighttime residents and learn about their nocturnal adaptations through experiments, games and a hike of the grounds for James River Week! Owls, bats, frogs and many other creatures of the dark will help shed some light onto their mysterious ways.
Toddler Time at Maymont
Monday, September 11, 2023: 11 am
Introduce your little explorer(s) to the joys and wonders of the James River at Maymont’s “Run of the River” exhibition. During this session, enjoy story time, a craft, and a visit with one of Maymont’s animals. Plus, you and your toddler might even make a few new friends! $15/parent and child
Hike with Blue Sky Fund
Wednesday, September 12, 2023; 12:30 pm
Join Blue Sky Fund for a short scenic hike around Reedy Creek – a great and central spot to access the many offerings of the James River. In addition to the hike, Blue Sky’s field educators will lead participants in a short team-building activity and place-based natural interpretation of local flora and fauna.
James River Story Time
Sept. 12; 9:30 & 10:30 am, Sept. 13; 9:30, 10:00 & 10:30 am
This early literacy storytime focuses on rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Hear stories, sing songs and make a craft! Ages 3-5 and their caregivers.
Clover Hill Library, 6701 Deer Run Dr, Midlothian, VA 23112
LaPrade Library, 9000 Hull Street Rd., North Chesterfield, 23236
North Courthouse Road Library, 325 Courthouse Road, North Chesterfield, 23236
Ettrick-Matoaca Library, 4501 River Road, South Chesterfield, 23803
Meadowdale Library, 4301 Meadowdale Blvd, North Chesterfield, 23234
Bon Air Library, 9103 Rattlesnake Road, North Chesterfield, 23235
Homeschool Days: James River Week at Maymont
Wednesday, September 13; 10-11:20am
Get your hands dirty and learn about the importance of wetlands! Use dip nets to safely capture and observe aquatic creatures, and learn about the importance of sub-aquatic vegetation for habitats and water quality. Through interactive technology, students will identify their watershed and discuss how wetlands are essential for a healthy James River. Designed for homeschool students ages 9-12 (4-7th graders).
Screening of “A Sturgeon Story: Searching for Giant Leaping Dinosaur Fish”
Friday, September 15; 6:30-8pm
In 2022, co-directors Justin Black, Will Gemma and Dietrich Teschner won Best Virginia Film at the Richmond International Film Festival with their film Headwaters Down, a story of 250 miles of “paddling, preservation, and misadventure” over 13 days on the James River. Now, their creative team produced A Sturgeon Story, which follows the adventures of three friends trying to film the epic breaching of the recently returned Atlantic Sturgeon in the James River during their seasonal run.
Introduction to Rain Gardens
Thursday, September 14; 10:30am
Learn how to plan, plant and care for a beautiful native plant garden while also managing stormwater runoff with Lorne Field, Environmental Outreach Coordinator, Chesterfield County Department of Environmental Engineering.
The River City: Why is Richmond where it is?
Thursday, September 14; 12 pm, Sat. Sept. 16; 12 pm
The rushing rapids of the James River are more than a natural solace to the hustle and bustle of downtown Richmond. The falls of the James played a significant role in Richmond’s development as a city. From millennia-old Native villages to the Great Ship Lock, Richmond’s location at the Falls made the area a center of human activity. Learn more about it from Jill Schuler, the Assistant State Underwater Archaeologist in Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources, who helps document and interpret cultural material from Richmond’s maritime past.
Litter Cleanup
Saturday, September 16; 9:00 am
Join the Virginia Living Museum for International Coastal Cleanup as we remove litter from our grounds and Deer Park to prevent it from becoming marine debris.
Conservation Photographer: Lori A. Cash
Saturday, September 16, 2022; 11 am
In this James River Week featured event, award-winning Conservation Photographer Lori A. Cash shares examples of her work, tips and techniques from the field, and resources for practicing photography in ways that respect the James River ecosystem.
“AGUAS” performed by the Latin Ballet
Wonders of the James River Watershed
Sat. Sept. 16; 9:15 pm
Do you know your watershed address? Come learn about the James River through fun, hands-on experiences and meet some live animals you might see along the river. Ages 5-10. Registration begins two weeks before each program.
Shop for the James
Get a JRA shirt and help us protect and restore the health of the James River.