Calendar

Immerse yourself in the rich history and natural beauty of Stratford Hall Historic Preserve in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Join us for Hands-On History Day as we experience Stratford Hall and its people through the lenses of history, science, and culture! Spend the day exploring the historic area while participating in special activities provided by our education and interpretive staff. Pack a picnic lunch for the family and relax at one of the numerous picnic areas throughout the site. Take a nature walk, go for a hike, enjoy bird watching, fishing, or hunting for sharks’ teeth along the Potomac River.

Tickets are available for prepurchase and at the gate. This program is free for Friends of Stratford members. 

For questions, contact Kelly Childress, Director of Education, at kchildress@stratfordhall.org or (804) 493-1972.

Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

Discover what life was like in colonial Virginia while taking a self-guided audio tour of the Great House and historic area.
Experience an 18th-century carpentry demonstration with Harold Caldwell as he crafts furniture in our historic carpenter’s shop.
Take part in an interactive African drumming demonstration while exploring the cultural and historical influences of the music of the African Diaspora.
Learn about common plant and animal fibers that were produced at Stratford Hall and experiment with natural dye stuffs.
Engage with a knowledgeable museum educator about the geology of Stratford Cliffs and get an up-close look at our paleontology collection.
Make a scented castile soap ball to take home as a souvenir of your visit!

This program is made possible in part by a gift from The Tidewater Foundation.

Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

Discover what life was like in colonial Virginia while taking a self-guided audio tour of the Great House and historic area.
Experience an 18th-century cooking demonstration in the historic kitchen while learning about the Transatlantic trade, colonial foodways and the influences made by enslaved cooks on American cuisine.
Take part in an interactive African drumming demonstration while exploring the cultural and historical influences of the music of the African Diaspora.
Play with common colonial toys and games of the 18th-century.
Engage with a knowledgeable museum educator about the scientific study of Archaeology at Stratford Hall and how we use it to tell stories.
Make a hand-dipped bees wax candle to take home as a souvenir of your visit! Please note that this activity involves open flame, and we highly encourage participants to wear closed-toe shoes.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Savor the flavor of local wines at the Tavern's annual Wine Fest. $12 admission fee includes a complimentary wine tasting glass.
Come early for the season-opening Heathsville Farmers Market, 9 am to 1 pm. Over 50 vendors will be on-site selling local produce, meat, eggs, plants & flowers, baked goods, and unique handcrafts. Free.
Enjoy lunch in the Tavern Café. Browse the Tavern Gift Shoppe, which offers the wares of over 100 local artists and artisans. Tavern Guilds will also be open and demonstrating. See Blacksmiths in the Forge, Quilters, Woodworkers in their colonial era workshop, Spinners & Weavers.

Savor the flavor of local wines at the Tavern's annual Wine Fest. $12 admission fee includes a complimentary wine tasting glass.

Come early for the season-opening Heathsville Farmers Market, 9 am to 1 pm. Over 50 vendors will be on-site selling local produce, meat, eggs, plants & flowers, baked goods, and unique handcrafts. Free.

Enjoy lunch in the Tavern Café. Browse the Tavern Gift Shoppe, which offers the wares of over 100 local artists and artisans. Tavern Guilds will also be open and demonstrating. See Blacksmiths in the Forge, Quilters, Woodworkers in their colonial era workshop, Spinners & Weavers.

The Tavern is a nonprofit historic landmark run entirely by volunteers.

If there were one word to describe Soul Expressions, it would be presence. Commanding the stage with their powerhouse singing and tight musicianship, Soul Expressions knows how to have a good time – and make sure that everyone in the audience does too. The band covers everything from classic rock-n-roll to your favorite tunes from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and today, along with a few other gems thrown in to keep the celebration on its feet this show will focus on their Motown sound.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Savor the flavor of local wines at the Tavern's annual Wine Fest. $12 admission fee includes a complimentary wine tasting glass.
Come early for the season-opening Heathsville Farmers Market, 9 am to 1 pm. Over 50 vendors will be on-site selling local produce, meat, eggs, plants & flowers, baked goods, and unique handcrafts. Free.
Enjoy lunch in the Tavern Café. Browse the Tavern Gift Shoppe, which offers the wares of over 100 local artists and artisans. Tavern Guilds will also be open and demonstrating. See Blacksmiths in the Forge, Quilters, Woodworkers in their colonial era workshop, Spinners & Weavers.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Historic Garden Week is coming to the Northern Neck on Wednesday, April 24th! Stratford Hall is offering free grounds admission to all Northern Neck ticketholders for a tour of the restored 18th-century East Garden, led by Stratford Hall landscapers and gardeners. Tour times 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Join the Stratford Hall's Director of Preservation & Maintenance for a Preservation Tour of the Great House.  The tour will focus on the main floor of the house and the most recent room restoration projects that span the past 15 years. The exterior and lower level will also be discussed. If you have ever wondered what it takes to preserve and restore a historic house like the Great House, now is your chance to hear the stories.  You might even be able to see areas that are not normally seen by visitors.  What better way is there to celebrate Preservation Month! $30 per person - limited spots available. Free for Friends of Stratford Members. Register at https://www.simpletix.com/e/preservation-tour-behind-the-scenes-tickets-159244.

Together, the tenor, soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones played by the talented, often soloists, WAXQ quartet members evoke the refined sounds of a string quartet, the rich harmonies of an organ prelude, and the excitement of a jazz sax section. The ensemble taps into a rich repertoire from early music to newly commissioned works and draws on a wealth of experience to reach listeners of every age and background. This concert is supported by the Virginia Commision for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For additional information, go to rappahannockconcerts.org.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

The Rappahannock People have inhabited the Northern Neck since the beginning. It holds a special place in the Rappahannock story and contains some of the most spiritually and historically significant places to the Tribe. In this talk, Chief Anne Richardson graciously shares her thoughts on the Northern Neck and Power of Place.
As Chief of the Rappahannock Tribe since 1998, Chief Anne Richardson is the first woman to lead a Virginia Indian tribe since the early 1700s. As a 4th generation chief in her family, she was instrumental in obtaining state (1983) and then federal (2018) recognition for the Rappahannock—recognition that confers sovereignty and other rights.
https://www.nnk250.us/events

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of spring, where locally-crafted food and beverages, live music, artisan vendors, and colonial history come together against the backdrop of the c. 1738 Great House.

Early Bird Ticket Pricing Feb. 1 through May 9: $20

Day of Event Ticket Pricing: $30

Ages 7 – 12: $10

6 and under: free

Dating from the Miocene Epoch - approximately 17 to 10 million years ago, the Stratford Cliffs are part of a rare geological phenomenon ranking among the most important fossil research sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. Whether you are a seasoned collector, or this is your first experience, Stratford Hall is the place for you! Spend a day hunting for fossils along the shores of the Potomac, explore the Stratford Cliffs, and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the great outdoors!
Excursions are rated at a moderately strenuous to strenuous activity level requiring long periods of walking, hiking, standing, stooping, and bending. If you wish to access the further extremities of the beach, this will include climbing over or under washed up debris or felled trees. Minimum age requirements for all fossil hunting excursions are 8 years old. Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Event Dates: 
Sunday, May 12 (Registration opens April 1st)
Sunday, June 23 (Registration opens May 1st)
Saturday, July 27 (Registration opens June 1st)
Sunday, August 4 (Registration opens July 1st)
Sunday, October 6 (Registration opens September 1st)
Event Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $40 per adults and $35 per child (ages 8 to 13)
Age requirements: 8+ years of age
Availability: 40 slots per excursion
Fossil hunting excursions are weather dependent activities and Stratford Hall reserves the right to cancel excursions at any time. A full refund will be given unless the cancellation is due to inclement weather, in which case a reschedule date will be provided. All participant cancellations require a 48-hour email notice before the excursion takes place. Absence from an excursion is nonrefundable. Refunds are the sole discretion of Stratford Hall and will be considered in such cases where there is an illness or emergency. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to Kelly Childress, Director of Education, at kchildress@stratfordhall.org.
Pre-registration and pre-payment are required for all Stratford Hall fossil hunting excursion. Registration for each trip will open a month in advance. To register, please visit our website at www.stratfordhall.org. Under the Events tab, click on Events and Programs, then scroll down until you find paleo excursions. Once registration has opened on the specified date, a link to purchase tickets will appear beside the excursion date.
Additional information will be provided via email prior to your visit. Please contact Kelly Childress at kchildress@stratfordhall.org with any questions regarding Stratford Hall’s fossil hunting excursions.
 

Bring a piece of Stratford Hall into your garden! Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase throughout the month of April. A selection of heirloom vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Gift Shop.

Sam Reider is a pianist, accordionist, composer, and educator from San Francisco, whose work brings together various streams of American music, from jazz and folk tunes to popular song and contemporary composition. His unique compositional voice and melodicism runs throughout his eclectic projects, including his genre-bending acoustic ensemble The Human Hands, a virtuosic ensemble of acoustic musicians originally based in Brooklyn and described by the New York Times as “modern folk music with saxophone and accordion.”