Events & Programs
Upcoming Events & Virtual Programs
2024 Fossil Hunting Excursions at Stratford Hall
Saturday, July 27 (Registration opens June 1st)
Sunday, August 4 (Registration opens July 1st)
Sunday, October 6 (Registration opens September 1st)
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 Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $40 per adult and $35 per child (ages 8 to 13)
Age requirements: 8+ years of age
Availability: 40 slots (35 adults, 5 children)
Additional information will be provided via email prior to your visit.
Ride for Valor Trail Ride
Saturday, September 14, 2024 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Proof of current negative coggins is required. Equine activities are done at your own risk and safety releases on all riders are required. Riders must provide their own helmets and be worn when mounted, regardless of age. No shaded parking or water will be available. Please provide your own water for horses. Owners will be required to clean up their trailer areas, including the removal of horse manure.
Registration Fee: $35
Hands-On History Day
Saturday, September 28, 2024
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 or (804) 493-1972.
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.
First Africans Day
Saturday, July 27, 2024 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Visit Stratford Hall for First Africans Day, commemorating the enslaved Africans and African Americans who built and sustained Stratford Hall and the Lee family for generations.
This will be a free, full day of remembering and honoring those enslaved at Stratford Hall and their descendants, through music, storytelling, special tours, and lectures.
This project was made possible by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund.
A NNK 250 Event
Wine & Oyster Festival
Saturday, September 21, 2024 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, September 22, 2024 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Virginia wineries, coastal oysters, local food trucks and breweries, artisan booths, live music, and more! Ticket sales begin in July.
Early Bird Tasting Ticket (on sale July 1st through September 19th): $35
Non-Tasting Ticket: (Early Bird & Day Of): $25
Day of Tasting Ticket: $45
Children ages 6-13: $10
5 and under free
Please note, Tasting Tickets are for wine tasting only.
Tickets are valid for one day only. To attend both Saturday and Sunday, please purchase one ticket per day (two total to attend both days per person). They do not include oysters or beer tasting.
This event is held rain or shine and tickets are non-refundable.
Interested in becoming a vendor for this year’s festival? Check out the Vendor Guidelines for more information and apply today.
First Africans Day
Saturday, July 27, 2024 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Visit Stratford Hall for First Africans Day, commemorating the enslaved Africans and African Americans who built and sustained Stratford Hall and the Lee family for generations.
This will be a free, full day of remembering and honoring those enslaved at Stratford Hall and their descendants, through music, storytelling, special tours, and lectures.
This project was made possible by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund.
A NNK 250 Event