As the weather heats up, families look for fun ways to enjoy spending time together. School will soon be out for the year, so now’s the time to start planning for spring and summer family fun in Lynchburg and beyond. You’ll find lots of family-friendly local events at the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid website. Sign up to receive a free weekly email update or visit the website any time to find out what’s happening around town.
This list will help you plan ahead for spring and summer family fun in Central Virginia. There’s also some day trip ideas and a few weekend road trip destinations the entire family will love.
Things to Do in Lynchburg
Lynchburg Hillcats home game — various dates April through September
Food Truck Thursdays at Miller Park — Thursdays from 11-2 from April through October
Take family photos at the LOVEwork sculpture at the Percival’s Island trailhead downtown
Movies in the Park — Riverside Park on May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19 and September 16
Miller Park Pool – weekends starting May 29, daily June 10 – August 14 (Monday-Saturday from 12-6, Sunday from 1-5)
Sprayground at Riverside Park – open daily from 11-7 May to October
Shaved ice at Rita’s in Forest
Summer Reading at Lynchburg Public Library – starting the week of June 13
Riverfront Park Fountain – open daily from 11-7 May to October
Register for summer activities through Lynchburg Parks & Recreation
Ivy Creek Park canoe and kayak rental – May through September on weekends (Saturdays from 10-5, Sundays from 1-5)
Trout fishing at Ivy Creek’s Clemmons Lake
Ice cream or frozen treats at MayLynn’s Creamery in Boonsboro Shopping Center
Tennis lessons through Lynchburg Parks & Recreation Department — starting in June
Swim lessons at Miller Park Pool — starting in May
The Nature Zone – Friday and Saturday from 12-4 at the Miller Center
Ice cream or frozen treats at Monkee Joe’s in Forest
Relay for Life in Lynchburg – May 20 with additional Relay events on various dates in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell and Nelson counties
Great Outdoors Month in June
WonderCamp Day Camps at Amazement Square
Ice cream or frozen treats from the ice cream truck in your neighborhood
National Parks & Recreation Month in July
National Picnic Month in July
Kids Cove at Thomas Road Baptist Church
Bike or hike at Percival’s Island
Indoor fun at Amazement Square
Celebrate America! at Thomas Road Baptist Church – Date and time to be announced
Play at Bounce About in the River Ridge Mall
Ice skate at LaHaye Ice Center, Liberty University
Ice cream or frozen treats at I Scream, You Scream
Visit Lynchburg Museum
Summer events at Lynchburg Public Library
Visit the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College
Play mini golf at Tiny Town Golf
Enjoy a picnic at one of Lynchburg’s parks
Visit the Anne Spencer Garden
Ice cream or frozen treat at Mister Goodies on Timberlake Road
Visit Old City Cemetery and swing on the big swing
View the history of Lynchburg at the CityArts Mosaic Mural at 9th and Jefferson streets (across from Amazement Square)
Ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery on Wards Road
Go bowling at Fort Hill Bowling Center
31st Annual James River Batteau Festival – June 18
Visit Dairy Queen — several locations
Play at your child’s school playground
Go bowling at AMF Lynchburg Lanes
Play mini golf, ride go carts, bumper cars and bumper boats at Putt-Putt Fun Center
Discover Lynchburg Kids Summer Camp – June 20-24
Skate and play at FunQuest Family Entertainment Center
Ski, snowboard or snow tube at Snowflex
Disc golf or mountain biking at Peaks View Park
Hike the Alpine Trail or play on the Play Core playground at Riverside Park
Ride bikes on Blackwater Creek Bikeway
Central Virginia Day Trips
National Trails Day – June 4 with activities at many local, state and national parks
Uncle Billy’s Day in Altavista – June 3-4
Learn about D-Day and World War II at National D-Day Memorial
Day trip to the Peaks of Otter
Visit the Museum of the Confederacy in Appomattox
Day trip to Crabtree Falls
Swim or boat at Holliday Lake State Park
Feed the big fish at Bridgewater Marina at Smith Mountain Lake
Visit Appomattox Court House National Park
Take a day hike in a Virginia State Park
Hit the beach at Smith Mountain Lake State Park
Day trip to Otter Creek on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Hot Air Balloon Rally in Lexington – July 3-4
Independence Day at Poplar Forest – July 4
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway – bring a picnic lunch
Independence Day Parade in Concord – July 4
Independence Day Bike Parade in Lexington – July 4
Day trip to Chuck-E-Cheese in Roanoke
Day trip to Green Valley Book Fair near Harrisonburg
Drive the Skyline Drive
Visit the Children’s Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
Go see the Roanoke star on Mill Mountain
Rent paddle boats or canoes at a Virginia State Park
Visit the Children’s Museum of Richmond
Road trip to North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro
Visit Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville
Road trip to Splash Valley Water Park in Roanoke
Visit Charlottesville’s Virginia Discovery Museum
Visit Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond
Take a day hike on the Appalachian Trail
Visit Danville Science Center
Visit Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke
Visit Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke
Weekend Family Getaways
Road trip to Virginia Beach
Go camping at a Virginia State Park
Road trip to Washington, DC
Road trip to Myrtle Beach
Road trip to Smoky Mountain National Park
Road trip to New York City
Cross-country road trip
Visit the Inner Harbor in Baltimore
Visit family or friends who live far away
Take the family to Disney World
Make time in every season to enjoy family fun and make memories your family will treasure. Stay close to home and explore Lynchburg or plan a day trip or weekend getaway. Whether you prefer outdoor fun or time spent indoors, spring and summer days are the perfect time to enjoy cool family fun.
