Programs
Programs & Special Events
Listed below is a sampling of the activities that are offered through our programs section. Please call our office at 276-634-4645 for the most up-to-date information on our current offerings. Please use our registration form to enroll in any of our programs.
Canoe Fun Floats
Canoe lessons and trips are offered throughout the year on the bodies of water in our area.
Smith River Fest
Smith River Fest is an annual event that celebrates outdoor recreation and the Smith River. This event is held in August at the Smith River Sports Complex. The festival features a mud run, boat race, rock climbing wall, outdoor vendors, duck race, canoe trips, petting zoo and great food. Visit the Smith River Fest website.
Group Fishing Pole Loaner Program
Groups can check out fishing poles at no charge to use for special events and outings on the lakes and rivers in our area. Contact the parks and recreation office to reserve the fishing poles.
Elementary Cheer Program for Boys Basketball
A cheerleading program is offered for girls in grades 3 through 5. This introductory program teaches girls the basics of cheerleading and provides opportunities to cheer at the games involving the elementary boys basketball teams.
Kite Festival
A Kite Festival is held each March at Jack Dalton Park. This fun festival let children experience the many aspects and uses for wind. There are many hands-on activities as well as various vendors throughout the day.
Holiday Crafts
Craft programs for children are offered around several holidays throughout the year. Children will get to make and take home crafts related to that particular holiday.
Valentines for Vets
Each year our department collects valentines from area citizens and deliver them to the US Veterans Hospital in Salem. The valentines may be dropped off at the Henry County Parks & Recreation Office. Please turn cards into our office by February 7th.
Daddy / Daughter Dance
A daddy daughter dance is held each February and participants get to enjoy a special night of music, games, food and dancing.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Children can search for over 5,000 prize filled eggs at Jack Dalton Park. Special Door Prizes will be awarded and Easter Egg Hunting bags are furnished to each participant. The hunt is normally held on the Friday before Easter.
Dick and Willie Rail Trail
Get in shape on the new Dick and Willie Rail Trail. This new 7.5 mile paved trail is now open and is a great place to bike, walk, run or rollerblade.
The trail can be accessed at one of six locations:
- 1094 Virginia Avenue, Martinsville, VA 24112
- 699 Liberty Street, Martinsville, VA 24112
- 220 Doyle Street, Martinsville, VA 24112
- 815 Fisher Street, Martinsville, VA 24112
- 1900 Spruce Street, Martinsville, VA 24112
- 1000 Irisburg Road, Axton, VA 24054
Geocaching Program
We have hidden a series of geocaches in some of our parks and these are available for people to search for at any time. We also offer kids geocaching activities during the summer where we teach the children about geocaching and take them to the parks and let them search as a group to find these hidden caches.
Tennis Lessons
Our department offers a variety of tennis lessons and camps for children and adults each summer.
Kids Fishing Day
Henry County Parks and Recreation sponsors a Fishing Clinic each spring for children ages 8 to 12. This is a multi-generational event that links youth with experienced anglers to introduce them to a sport that can be enjoyed for the rest of their lives.
Chalk It Up
Chalk It Up is a program that is offered in conjunction with the National Recreation and Park Society. It is held each July at Jack Dalton Park.
Summer Movies in the Park
We show a blockbuster movie in Jack Dalton Park one Friday night a month in the months of June, July and August. You can bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a movie outdoors on a giant screen.
Camps
Each summer parks & recreation offers a variety of day and week camps. Camps that are typically offered include: Art, Bowling, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Cooking, Rocket Building, Geocaching, Tennis, Crafts and Nature Camps. Please call 634-4645 to see what will be offered this year.
Spirit Squad Program
A spirit squad program is offered for middle school girls during the fall for the tackle football program and in the winter for the boy's basketball season for elementary and middle school girls. Tryouts for the football squads are held when school starts in the fall, and registration for the basketball squads are held in October.
Pumpkin Carving Contest
A Pumpkin Carving Contest is held each year at Jack Dalton Park during the week of Halloween. Adults and children are welcome to bring their pumpkin and choose from a variety of patterns to carve their favorite design on their pumpkin.
Great Goblin Gallop 5K Race
The Henry County Parks and Recreation Office in conjunction with the City of Martinsville sponsors the Annual Great Goblin Gallop 5K Race each October. The race course is a beautiful fairly level loop around Lake Lanier in Martinsville.
Christmas Card Contest
A Christmas Card Contest is held each year for local school children. Prizes are awarded for the best cards and the overall winning card will be the official Christmas Card for the Parks and Recreation department. Cards are due to the Parks and Recreation office the end of November.
Letters From Santa
Through special arrangements with the North Pole, children may receive a personalized letter from Santa's Workshop. Application forms will be available mid-November and will need to be returned to HCPR no later than the first week of December.
Henry County Photography Club
Local photographers from novice to professional, meet monthly for open discussion about photography. Membership is free. Please bring your camera and/or photographs to share with the group. This club meets on the 1st Monday of each month at 7 pm in the Henry County Administration Building.
Patrick Henry Patriots RC Club
AMA Chartered Club meets monthly to promote and encourage remote control model aviation hobbyists. Winter meetings are held in the Henry County Administration Building and during warm weather, meetings are held at the "Patriot RC Field" located just beyond the recycling convenience center on Jack Dalton Road. This club meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm.
Bike Club
This club is open to mountain bike and road racers of all skill levels. There are club rides each month. Visit the Bike Club website.
Start Smart Sports Programs
Our department offers all of the National Start Smart Sports Programs. These sports include Start Smart Golf, Football, Baseball, Soccer and Basketball. These programs are designed exclusively for 5 to 7-year-old children.
Hunter Safety Course
Our department offers these courses throughout the year in conjunction with the Spencer Ruritans.
Adult Basketball League
An adult industrial basketball league in offered each spring and games are played at the Collinsville YMCA.
Adult Flag Football League
An adult flag football league is offered each fall.