Our 2025 Winter City Focus is full of City news, events, activities and important community updates and information! Look for the City Focus in your mailbox soon or view it electronically here!

Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks Receives Virginia Tourism Corporation Grant for Tourism Marketing

Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks received a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)’s Special Events & Festivals Sponsorship Program (SEF) for the 50th Annual Fort Clifton Festival.

Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks will supply $5,000 in matching funds to support marketing and promotion for the 50th Annual Fort Clifton Festival, a signature community event celebrating the city’s history, arts, and culture. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year, drawing both local residents and out-of-town guests to Colonial Heights. In addition to providing a free, family-friendly experience, the event generates increased visitation to local restaurants, shops, and attractions, contributing to overnight stays and measurable economic impact for the community.

Virginia Tourism Corporation will award more than $885,733 in matching grant funds to 88 special events and festivals during this grant round, ultimately impacting 324 combined partners. The VTC Special Events & Festivals Sponsorship Program is designed to increase visitor spending by maximizing limited marketing and event production dollars to stimulate overnight visitation through new tourism marketing and event expansion partnerships. The program also extends the iconic Virginia is for Lovers brand to drive special event and festival visitation. Each GO Virginia region is allocated 20 percent of available funds, creating a diverse portfolio of supported events across the Commonwealth.

In this funding cycle, local partners will commit more than $4.8 million in public-private funds to match VTC funding, generating more than $5.68 million in new marketing and event production activity focused on increasing overnight visitation to Virginia in 2026. In total, the awards will support 88 special events and festivals and impact 526 tourism-related partners statewide.

Using the hub-and-spoke tourism model to create multi-day itineraries, four Virginia entities partner financially to apply for funding. Partners may consist of Virginia cities, towns, counties, destination marketing organizations, restaurants, museums, attractions, and other tourism-related businesses. With the special event or festival as the main lure, the program encourages visitors to extend their stays to experience Virginia Main Streets, boutique shopping, distinctive dining, and historic sites, generating significant economic impact beyond the event itself. These partnerships have proven results in driving creativity among applicants and attracting new visitors to a destination.

“The Fort Clifton Festival is one of Colonial Heights’ most anticipated annual events and plays an important role in showcasing our city to visitors from across the region,” said Matt Spruill, Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks Director. “Support from the Virginia Tourism Corporation allows us to expand our reach, attract new audiences, and continue building a strong tourism economy that benefits local businesses and residents alike.”

Due to current and expected conditions at facilities and on roadways, the Recreation and Parks Department has the following closures and cancellations.

Park, Program, and Service Cancellations

• All parks will remain CLOSED until further notice
• The Senior / Community Center will remain CLOSED until further notice - this includes weekend rentals for Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1
• Senior Transportation services are cancelled for Friday January 30 and Monday February 2
• All youth basketball games scheduled for Saturday January 31st have been cancelled
• All other programs and activities scheduled for Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1 have been cancelled
• Please stay tuned for further updates for facilities and programs scheduled for next week

The safety of our residents, visitors, staff, and volunteers is our highest priority. All updates on closures and rescheduling of programs and activities will be posted on the City and Department website and through social media outlets.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Please stay safe and monitor local weather advisories. Contact Recreation and Parks at (804)520-9390.

Therapeutic Recreation Classes

Now twice a week! A supportive, inclusive program designed to promote social connection, personal growth, and meaningful recreation. Participants enjoy engaging activities, opportunities to build friendships, and a welcoming environment that encourages confidence, creativity, and fun.

The program is held twice a week:

• Tuesday afternoons (1:00 pm - 2:30 pm)
• Wednesday Evenings (5:30 pm - 7:00 pm)

The same program/activities will be run whenever possible twice a week to allow more people to participate.

City of Colonial Heights

 Public Works/Utilities

Saturday, January 31, 2026

Due to the recent winter weather, CVWMA has delivered a trash collection dumpster to the City Recycling Center for our residents to temporarily use for trash disposal.

The Recycling Center

2701 Conduit Road, Colonial Heights, VA 23834

Ph: (804) 479-7056

Hours

Friday, Saturday, & Monday 

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

(closed for lunch from 12:00 pm -1:00 pm)

CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS

PUBLIC LIBRARY NOTICE

Friday, January 30, 2026

The Colonial Heights Public Library will close today at 5:00pm and will remain closed all day on Saturday, 1/31/2026.