ShamROCK N' ROLL in Norfolk

Even if your blood lacks an ounce of Irish descent, you must admit that it’s hard to fight the fun of St. Patrick’s Day!

For the Family

Roanoke’s Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration and McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade is one giant festival the whole family will love. Enjoy pipe bands, the Bonniest Knees and Classiest Lass Contests, inflatables, face painting, the Wells Fargo “Buffalo Bill” Stagecoach, Celtic dancers, cloggers, and lots of great music.

For the Athletes

Abingdon plays host to the Shamrock 4-Miler - a brand new run with a great ending – a post-race party with BBQ from Bonefire Smokehouse and beer from Wolf Hills Brewery. Go ahead and dress in your favorite green garb … they’ll be judging.

Down on the Boardwalk of Virginia Beach this weekend’s highlight is the 40th running of the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon. Included is the marathon, half marathon, 8K, and running events for children, too. Post-race parties will include Murphy’s Irish stew and Yuengling, of course!

For the Partiers

Block Party? The merry ol’ section of Norfolk known as Ghent brings you Shamrockin’ in Ghent 2012! Party Friday evening with traditional Irish sounds by local bands, food by Belmont House of Smoke, and various beverages. Wear your green and get your party on.

In Richmond, Shamrock the Block in Shockoe Bottom is the place to be … with 20,000 of your closest friends! It’s a free event, so enjoy the live music, purchase lots o’ food, and choose from plenty o’ frosty beverages. Noon to 6 p.m.

In Norfolk, the AT&T ShamROCK N’ ROLL event includes bagpipers, Irish fair, and all things green. Held at TowneBank Fountain Park at the waterfront, this weekend looks to be perfect for it.

For the Tasters

Nellysford is celebrating at two wineries! Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery invites you for a wine and food pairing. Wear your green and you’ll take home a free logo glass with your purchase. At Wintergreen Winery, the party is on with Irish music, dancing, mayhap a leprechaun, and of course – wine.

A buffet of Irish-inspired delights will be available for your grazing pleasure at the Natural Bridge Hotel, as will Virginia micro-brews and Irish beers. Take a walk beneath the natural wonder of the Bridge itself before the festivities kick off at 3:30 p.m. Or, stay the night for $139/couple.

In Berryville, Veramar Vineyard is breaking out the mischief AND the Blarney Stone. It’s rumored that a leprechaun may be lurking in their parts, too. Expect music, fun, wine, and yummy potato soup.

Irish dancers kick their toes to traditional music while you sip the fine wines of Potomac Point Winery in Stafford. An Irish menu will be offered all weekend long.

A special Irish food and wine pairing awaits you at Fox Meadow Winery in Linden. It’s called Pot of Gold Tasting and includes an elite array of gold medal-winning wines.

Find more St. Patrick’s Day events and family fun on the Virginia.org Events Calendar.

Alpengeist is just one of the thrilling coasters at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.

If you’re crazy for coasters and lament the loss of Busch Gardens’ Big Bad Wolf in 2009, no worries. Verbolten is a brand new thrill ride through the Black Forest of Germany that you’re sure to love.

Busch Gardens writes …

The last piece of Verbolten’s track was installed on January 17, 2012, completing the 2,835 feet of the ride. With special effects and thematic to-do’s left to complete, look for Verbolten to open late spring. Get a flavor for the ride by watching the clip below.

Kings Dominion in Doswell has a couple of fun new things to show you this season as well – most notably, WindSeeker, a 301′ spinning tower of swings. Take a friend up with you to enjoy the two-person swing, and hold on tight. Kings Dominion writes …

WindSeeker at Night, Kings Dominion

At 25-30 mph, tilting at a 45-degree angle, and more than 300 feet in the air, I’m not sure that I would call WindSeeker relaxing. (If I try it out, I’ll let you know.) One thing KD claims and I feel confident in, is this …

The view from on-high must be epic. With an 18-mile view, you just might be able to see Richmond’s skyline.

For information about Virginia’s theme parks, visit Virginia.org/ThemeParks.
Be sure to see family friendly packages that include theme park visits, too!

With the unseasonably warm temperatures Virginia has had over the past bit, the trees will be budding in Shenandoah National Park in no time. Plan your weekend drive up to the Park around an event or travel package. Here’s a quick overview of what’s coming up this spring.

Take a Spring Ride!

Be the early bird that catches the worm when you book the Early Bird Spring Special to stay at Skyland Resort or Big Meadows Lodge! Book your one-night stay for sometime between March 29 and June 21 to lock in a $119 room rate. The stay includes breakfast for two.

Once per month from April through November, Skyland Resort hosts a Vintner Dinner - a four-course meal paired with wines. The best part about this dinner is that an overnight stay for two, delicately etched Shenandoah wine glasses, and breakfast the following morning are included!

• $359/couple
• Call 800-788-7852 to make your reservation. Seating is limited.
• Dates: April 13, May 18, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, and November 9.

Perhaps wine without the dinner and stay is what you fancy. If so, the Park offers a weekly wine tasting at both Big Meadows Lodge and Skyland Resort. Tastings are Thursdays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and include assorted chesses and a handcrafted glass for you to keep. The fee is $15.

When those flowers finally break loose, be among the group who enjoys a narrated walk or workshop all about the woodland wildflowers. May 5 and 6 is Wildflower Weekend in the Park.

Look up to the skies. What do you see? Take a walk into the “big meadow” at dusk for a Twilight Hike with Shenandoah Mountain Guides. At 3,500 feet, no light pollution or haze will interrupt your view! $10/adult and $8/child 12 and under. Select Saturdays June through September.

Join Jeff Alt, author of “A Walk for Sunshine” and hiking commentator for ESPN’s “Inside America’s National Parks,” for a one-hour presentation about his personal 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail journey on June 23, July 14, August 11, or October 13 at 4 p.m. in Big Meadows Lodge.

If it’s entertainment that you’re after – authentic Virginia entertainment – check out the cloggers! Two groups perform at the Park. See Hi-Horse Cloggers of Stanardsville on the third Thursday of each month (April through October). Hi-Horse are known for their traditional clogging. Come see them for free from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Park regulars are the Shenandoah Valley Cloggers who dance to bluegrass, country, old time rock, pop, and more. See them every Tuesday (April through November) from 8 to 9 p.m. for free.

If Southern Appalachian music appeals to you, don’t miss the concerts by Possum Ridge String Band the fourth Thursday of every month (April through November) from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The traditional sounds of the fiddle, mandolin, and banjo pair up for a few Irish and Scottish tunes, too. The concerts are free.

Shenandoah National Park has an entry fee of $15 per car, however, there are select days throughout the year when the fee is waived: April 21-29, June 9, September 29, and November 10-12 are the 2012 fee-free dates.

Discover more upcoming events in Shenandoah National Park at Virginia.org and put LOVE at the heart of your mountain vacation!

Celebrate new beginnings with a festival and a deep breath of fragrant air.

• Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, Winchester – April 25-May 1
• Vinton Dogwood Festival, Vinton – April 30
• Heart of Virginia Festival, Farmville – May 2
• Culpeper Day, Culpeper – May 7
• Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour, Mount Vernon – May 13-15
• Art on the Half Shell Fine Art & Fine Crafts Festival, Urbanna – May 14
• SpringFest, South Hill – May 21
• Virginia Wine & Craft Festival, Front Royal – May 21
• Warrenton Spring Festival, Warrenton – May 21
• Spring Wine Festival at The Plains, The Plains – May 21-22
• Dr. Ralph Stanley’s 40th Annual Memorial Weekend Bluegrass Festival, Coeburn – May 26-28
• Gathering in the Gap Roots Music Festival, Big Stone Gap – May 28

See More Spring Events

Plan your spring Virginia getaway at Virginia.org or order our free Travel Guide by calling 1-800-Visit-VA.

Wait. Do you have Spring Fever, too?

When a warm day like yesterday comes along, it only makes us long for more of them. Be prepared for the next glorious day with these warm-weather suggestions.

• Take a hike in the nearest Virginia State Park. With 35 to choose from, you’ll find one close by. All said, there are more than 500 miles of trails and in this 75th Anniversary year, there is no time like the present to enjoy a few of them.
• Dust off the clubs and hit the greens along the brand new Virginia Golf Trail. While ever-growing, current courses on the Trail include the likes of Cannon Ridge in Stafford, Keswick near Charlottesville, and Heritage Oaks in Harrisonburg.
• Pump up the tires for a mountain bike ride. Trails are plentiful across the Commonwealth. From the inspiring (and breathtaking – literally) Mount Rogers Loop near Damascus and the notable 35-mile Virginia Creeper Trail to the trails of Dirty Dancing famed Mountain Lake Hotel, your choice will be hard to make!

For more ideas on ways to enjoy the Outdoors in Virginia, see Virginia.org.