Spring is such a beautiful time of year at Sky Meadows State Park. The trees and wildflowers are beginning to bloom, the birds are courting and building their nests, and the warming breezes are blowing over the meadows. It is a time of celebration as we say “good-bye” to the long, cold winter and look forward to the coming summer. What better way to honor spring than with a day of activities celebrating the incredible egg?
The egg is a symbol of new life and also represents the agricultural traditions of Sky Meadows and the Crooked Run Valley. For our inaugural “Eggstravaganza” event, taking place on Saturday, April 23, we have a full schedule of egg-related programs. The festivities begin at noon with 19th Century egg games on the lawn of historic Mount Bleak House. Bring your own hard-boiled eggs from home and stop in to the Wash House. There, you’ll be able tocolor your eggs using natural dyes, just like the folks in the 1800s would have done it.
For a different take on a classic, try our Virtual Egg Hunt. Using GPS technology, locate a dozen plastic eggs at various locations throughout the park. Inside each egg, you will find interpretive information about the natural and historical treasures of Sky Meadows. Pick up your game card, complete with game instructions and GPS coordinates, at the Visitor’s Center. Bring your own GPS units or rent one from the park. Half-day rental is $6.00; full-day rental is $10.00 per unit.
At 2:00 p.m., Park Ranger – Naturalist Trish Bartholomew will present “The Best Nest,” an egg and nest identification program that also includes a fun nest-building activity for kids. This program will meet in the Carriage Barn and is open to visitors of all ages.
Our celebration would not be complete without music. We are pleased to welcome Mel Bay Publications and has recorded numerous CDs through the years. She will be performing on the Log Cabin porch from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. as part of the “Eggstravaganza” celebration.
All of the activities are free. A parking fee of $4.00 per vehicle is required. For additional information about this or any other Sky Meadows program, please call the park at 540-592-3556 or visit us online at www.dcr.virginia.gov. We hope to see you soon at Sky Meadows. Happy Spring!