Fall RIVAH 2011 - The Rappahannock Record

31 t River Valley
National Wildlife Refuge, 336
Wilna Rd., Warsaw. One of four
refuges that comprise the Eastern
Virginia Rivers National Wildlife
Refuge Complex. It protects
20,000 acres of wetlands and
associated uplands along the river
and its major tributaries. Archeological
and historic sites are
abundant. At least four federallylisted
threatened or endangered
species may be found, including
the American bald eagle, peregrine
falcon, shortnose sturgeon,
and sensitive joint vetch. The
state’s largest wintering roost
for bald eagles is located within
the refuge. Shorebirds, neotropical
migrant songbirds, raptors,
and marsh birds rely on the
Rappahannock River’s corridors
during the spring and fall migration
periods. The Refuge hosts
three sites on the Virginia Birding
and Wildlife Trail.
s Totuskey Tricentennial Park
with boat landing, Rt. 3 at Totuskey
Creek Bridge.
s Wilna Pond, a 35-acre site, is
open to public fishing. The pond
is home to large mouth bass,
bluegill sunfish, fliers, yellow
32
bullhead catfish and American
eel. The Wilna Unit is open for
observation and photography
daily, sunrise to sunset. Access for
canoes and kayaks is available.
All other refuge units are open by
advanced reservation only. Headquarters
are open Mon.–Fri., 8
a.m.–4:30 p.m., except federal
holidays. From Tappahannock,
take US-360 E. toward Warsaw.
Follow US-360 E. for 4.1 miles,
then turn left onto Rt. 624/
Newland Rd. Follow Newland
Rd. for 4.2 miles, then turn left
onto Strangeway/Rt 636. Follow
Strangeway for ¼ mile, then turn
right onto Sandy Ln./Rt 640.
Follow Sandy Ln. for 1.1 miles,
then turn left into Rappahannock
River Valley NWR. 333-1470
Westmoreland
s A.T. Johnson Recreation
Center 18849 Kings Hwy.,
Montross. Aerobics, dance
classes, cooking programs, basketball,
gymnastics, volleyball,
enclosed batting cage, soccer
and baseball fields and small
auditorium. Meeting room and
patio available for rental.
s Castlewood Park on Castle-
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wood Dr. Permit required for parties
over 20 people.
s Hurt Field at Legion Park Rt.
3 west of Montross. Four-acre
public park adjacent to Chandlers
Mill Pond offering recreational
opportunities for county
residents.
s Oak Grove Park Rt. 205
between Oak Grove and Colonial
Beach. Eight-acre public park featuring
a sports field, playground
and picnic area.
s Robin Grove Park on Robin
Grove, off Monroe Bay Ave.,
Colonial Beach.
s Public Beach Colonial Beach,
sunrise to sunset.
One of the largest fall festivals
in the state, the
54th annual Urbanna Oyster
Festival, is set for Friday and
Saturday, November 4-5, in
the historic waterfront town of
Urbanna (population 600).
The food, activities, sights
and sounds of the festival usually
attracts 20,000 visitors on
Friday and 50,000 on Saturday.
The festival officially opens
at 9 a.m. on Friday as art, craft
and food vendors will line
Cross, Prince George and Virginia
streets, Rappahannock
Avenue and Taber Park. Oysters—served
raw, roasted, fried,
stewed and frittered—will once
again be the star attraction.
The waterfront at the
Urbanna Town Marina on
Urbanna Creek will be buzzing
both days with many visiting
vessels, musicians, exhibits
and activities for all ages.
Music stages will be at various
places throughout town
and Friday’s music schedule is
as follows: Speed 8 Limit, 10
a.m.-2 p.m.; Church Yard Grass,
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Keith Anderson
on saxophone, noon-1 p.m. and
2-3 p.m.; and Robert Keyes on
guitar from noon-1 p.m.
At 4 p.m. Friday in Taber
Park, the Urbanna Oyster Festival
Queen and Little Miss Spat
will be crowned.
The Fireman’s Parade takes
place in the downtown area at
s Voorhees Nature Preserve A
729-acre preserve on the northeast
bank of Rappahannock River,
next to Westmoreland Berry
Farm. It is home to the bald eagle
and many other birds. Four miles
of wooded trails for self-guided
walks. The difficulty level is moderate.
Trail map available at the
Westmoreland Berry Farm store.
Picnic sites, restrooms and pickyour-own
fruits and vegetables
at the farm. Open weekends, 8
a.m.–6 p.m., Apr. 22–Dec. 17.
(434) 295-6106
s Westmoreland Parks and
Recreation Department provides
recreation services to all
7 p.m.
Activities then move to the
grounds of the Urbanna Firehouse
for the Middlesex Volunteer
Fire Department’s annual
dance. Marna & Macy will perform
from 8 p.m.-midnight on
the firehouse stage.
Activities resume at 9 a.m.
Saturday. The Reapers will perform
from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and
3-5 p.m.; Robert Keyes, 9-10
a.m.; Keith Anderson, 9-10
a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon; Nate
Sparks & the Pamunkey River
Ramblers, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; and
the The Janitors, 1-5 p.m. at the
firehouse stage.
The official Virginia Oyster
Shucking Contest takes place
behind the firehouse at 11 a.m.
The general parade begins
Parks
county citizens and visitors. 493-
8163
s Westmoreland State Park
Six miles northwest of Montross
off Rt. 3. The park extends about
one and a half miles along the
Potomac River, and its 1,299
acres neighbor the former homes
of both George Washington
and Robert E. Lee. The Horsehead
Cliffs provide visitors with a
spectacular view of the Potomac
River. The park offers hiking,
camping, cabins, fishing, boating
and swimming. The visitor center
gives an historical and ecological
perspective to an important natural
area on the coastal plain.
Urbanna Oyster Festival
set for November 4-5
Saturday’s 2 p.m. Urbanna Oyster Festival parade features
about 80 units, including several marching bands.
at 2 p.m. on Saturday and
will feature marching bands,
antique cars, the Shriners, and
much more.
Some parking is available in
town but the town is closed to
traffic from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. both
days. There is ample parking
on fields at both the east and
west entrances to town. Parking
is $10 on Friday and $20 on
Saturday.
Those who come by boat
can rent a slip at the Urbanna
Town Marina at Upton’s Point
on Urbanna Creek, from one of
the many private marinas on the
waterfront, or simply anchor in
the creek and dinghy to shore.
Visit www.urbannaoysterfestival.com
or call 758-0368
for more information.