Summer fun is calling: Get ready for Free for All! While most people can’t go on vacation every week, Henrico County has a jam-packed schedule for all ages, interests and abilities.
Henrico County Public Library and Recreation & Parks offer a wide range of free programming, courses and services to the public through August. From storytime with Pearl the Sheep, gardening classes, arts and crafts, speaker events, live music and more, there is something for everybody this summer during Free for All.
Connecting residents with no-cost resources has long been a driving force the departments, HCPL Program Director Rick Samuelson said.
“For a long time, people used to refer to the library as the people’s university. It’s there for everybody,” Samuelson said. “All of the resources are at their fingertips. But if people don’t know about it and they don’t use it, they’re missing out on just a great set of services and programs in their community.”
The annual Summer Reading Challenge kicks off June 1. This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story,” and brings a slew of dinosaur-related activities. Kids aged 7-14 are invited to compete in dinosaur spelling bees — practice “Micropachycephalosaurus” now! — as well as attend reptile and bird shows led by animal rehabilitators, hear from paleontologists and archeologists, and dissect “dinosaur droppings.” Participants can earn prizes donated by the Friends of Henrico County Public Library.
In addition to the reading challenge, upcoming library programs include weekly storytimes for children at various branches and locations, as well as courses for teens and adults to use the libraries’ digital media labs. Visitors can learn to produce a podcast or use editing software for photos, videos and more. Then, they’ll be able to practice those skills on their own time in the digital media labs.
“We have a one-touch studio [for podcasts]. You literally just push a button, and you can start talking,” Samuelson said.
Recreation & Parks will offer large annual events, such as the Juneteenth and Independence Day celebrations, as well as smaller gatherings for National Donut Day, bubble-paloozas and live performances. Being able to offer a fully no-cost experience for visitors is imperative, said Katie Jones, marketing coordinator for Recreation & Parks.
“Throughout the summer, families can come and enjoy free events with free admission and free parking,” she said. “Just come and enjoy yourselves.”
HCPL and Recreation & Parks also provide resources at no cost for the majority of their programs, such as crafting materials for art classes, cooking and baking supplies, and equipment for kayaking, archery and similar activities.
For teens and tweens, there are almost endless activities available. The popular babysitting workshop series will prepare teens looking to earn money while caring for youngsters. Because games are always popular, kids can access cards and board games, video game consoles and arcade games, all for free.
For kids and kids-at-heart, learning doesn’t stop during summer. Cooking and baking classes are available, including one offering step-by-step global cuisine for recipes like dumpling folding. There are also simpler activities like cookie decorating and chip taste-testing.
Participants can explore music and dance with new sessions for line dancing and learning the ukelele. Live music performances are scheduled at libraries and parks. Artists of all ages can create stained glass, origami, pottery, paintings, jewelry, nail designs, photography and more.
For green and black thumbs, gardening courses cover topics such as composting, supporting pollinators, propagating plants and identifying pesky garden pests. Garden planning sessions will focus on filling shady spots and prioritizing native species.
Animal lovers can look forward to guided bird-watching tours, snake hikes, wetland explorations, and Pig-sicle parties with the Meadow Farm hogs. Visit the livestock animals and their creepy-crawly counterparts at Meadow Farm and the Three Lakes Nature Center.
Programs are planned throughout the summer as part of the nationwide commemorations for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War. Henrico will screen Ken Burns’ American Revolution documentary series, explore the legacy of African names, explore Afrofuturism in art, host cemetery tours and play history bingo games. The “Historically Speaking” series will cover local historical figures and sites. HCPL is using its digital media labs to collect stories on the region’s history, which will be shared with the community.
Self-directed fitness offerings range from indoor gyms to outdoor exercise equipment and trails.
“You don’t have to get a pass,” Jones said. “It’s easy to just come into a park and use the equipment, and a lot of them have signs to show you how to use them, so it’s very accessible.”
Exercise options also include instructor-led classes and sessions on belly dancing, yoga, Zumba, Pilates, weight training and calisthenics. Sport offerings also include archery, sword fighting and canoeing, with all equipment provided.
Open Access Pass activities are available for badminton, mahjong, bridge, basketball and more.
Therapeutic and modified fitness classes reflect Recreation & Parks’ mission to enrich lives and connect communities, regardless of age or ability.
“We want to offer free programs for everybody of all abilities, just to foster well-being,” Jones said. “To be able to learn a skill, make a friend, just come and make our lives better. It’s pretty simple, but it’s important.”
How to access free programs and services
Visitors might be surprised to learn that identification, proof of residency or a library card are not required to enjoy parks, recreation centers or many programs. Community members are encouraged to use facilities as much as they wish and are welcome to bring friends and families visiting from out of town.
Some programs and services require registration or a library card.
To sign up for a library card, residents can begin the form online or in person, and then visit any location to complete their sign-up and receive their card. Residents of neighboring localities are also able to sign up for Henrico library cards with proof of an address in the city of Richmond as well as Chesterfield, Goochland and Hanover counties.
“Check out a show, hear some music, or connect with other people and socialize,” Samuelson said. “The library is a great place to go that doesn’t cost anything. I love that.”
A Henrico library card also gains card holders digital access to e-books, audiobooks, magazines, movies, show series and music for free. Download or visit Libby, Magzter and Hoopla to borrow content on mobile devices anywhere.
To register for Recreation and Parks classes and programs, create a free account online or in-person at a recreation center.
Complete summer program guides for June through August:
- Libraries 2026 Summer Program Guide
- Recreation & Parks 2026 Summer Program Guide
- Virginia 250 regional activities
Library daily amenities
Browse by service or location online.
- Henrico residents can sign up for a library card
- Regional residents from the city of Richmond and Chesterfield, Goochland and Hanover counties can also sign up for a Henrico library card
- Rent physical books, DVDs and more
- Borrow a prepackaged Book Club in a Bag for up to six people
- Use computers and free Wi-Fi
- Browse internet
- Access research databases of newspapers, scholastic sources and the law library collection
- Job hunting and career resources
- Reserve work spaces and conference rooms
- Digital media lab:
- 3D Printer
- Use Adobe creative programs
- Digitize photos and videos
- Audio recording
- Tax assistance
- Free digital and mobile resources using a Henrico Library Card:
Recreation & Parks daily amenities
Browse services by location online.
- Walking and biking trails
- Fishing
- Lake and river access for boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing
- Playgrounds
- Sports and open fields
- Skate parks
- Outdoor public courts for basketball, tennis, pickleball and more
- Open Access Pass programs for badminton, canasta, table tennis, volleyball and more
- Dog parks
- Spray parks – just press the button to turn the water on!
- Museums
- Historical sites
- Outdoor and indoor exercise equipment
- Register for fitness classes
- Visit animal exhibits at Meadow Farm and the Three Lakes Nature Center
- Free Wi-Fi available at recreation centers: Belmont, Deep Run, Dorey and Eastern Henrico
