Right Around the River Blog
Rocketts Red Glare Attracts Thousands
Post Date: 06-07-2012
We planned a celebration and Richmond sure turned out for the fun! On Memorial Day weekend, we hosted our inaugural Rocketts Red Glare celebration at Rocketts Landing, and we're pleased to announce the event was a huge success -- with nearly 4,500 people gathering along the James River to enjoy the festivities.
Families and friends (and the occasional canine companion) lounging on picnic blankets and chairs painted the lawn all the way from the riverfront at Conch Republic Rocketts to the stage near our marina's entrance, and by the evening's end, hardly a seat could be found. Many attendees also enjoyed great views from the riverfront patios at Conch Republic and The Boathouse.
As soon as the event began, excitement and good times prevailed. Singer-songwriter Colin Healy rocked the crowd with his original pop tunes followed by the catchy sounds of Kings of Swing, who also provided the musical backdrop of patriotic anthems for our Rocketts Red Glare fireworks show. Local craft beer and wine vendors were also on-site, serving up delicious Virginia-based beverages, including ales from Richmond’s own Legend Brewery and Hardywood Park Brewery, as well as Star Hill and Devil’s Backbone.
In addition to offering tasty drinks for revelers to enjoy, the event’s beverage sales helped raise funds for the Neighborhood Resource Center in neighboring community Fulton Hill. Thanks to our thirsty event-goers, we donated nearly $2500 to support their array of programming and resources benefitting Fulton residents.
But one of Rocketts Red Glare’s main highlights was the awesome (and Richmond’s only) Memorial Day fireworks display above the James River. With the city skyline in the background, Dominion Fireworks lit up the sky in an array of colors, creating a perfectly celebratory Rocketts Landing moment.
“It was amazing to see so many families come together along the river to just relax and enjoy the holiday,” explains Robert Hensley, Rocketts Red Glare event coordinator and vice president of WVS Companies. “This is Rocketts Landing as we have always intended it to be.”
So, friends, thank you for coming out and making Rocketts Red Glare such a wonderful occasion. We also thank our residents and commercial tenants for their patience and help in bringing such revelry to our community. And mark your calendars for next year, because we’re certain a new Richmond Memorial Day tradition was just born down at Rocketts Landing!
