Mathews County Visitor Center

Tidewater Regatta
2017-04-01 08:00 - 16:00 UTC | Williams Wharf Landing, 1039 Williams Wharf Road, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Mathews High School Crew Regatta; Open to the Public; $8 per car; food available

Maritime Lecture: Adonia
2017-03-16 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Mathews Maritime Museum, 482 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Ed Tillett will present an overview of his work on renovating motor vessel Adonia at the next Mathews Maritime Foundation Speaker’s meeting. His 60 foot 1947 John Trumpy & Sons diesel cruiser was launched in 1947 as contract #330. The vessel’s home port is now Urbanna, VA, after spending the past 40 years on Long Island Sound. Ed, his wife and various crew spent the summer of 2016 sailing over 1,200 miles in the Chesapeake Bay and south along the Intracoastal Waterway aboard Adonia. Ed’s presentation will recount the special places that they visited, a few harrowing experiences encountered along the way, and offer insight into why a 70 year old wooden boat feels right at home on Chesapeake Bay.
Ed is an award winning film and video producer, author and journalist.

Casino Night
2017-03-11 18:00 - 23:00 UTC | Abingdon Ruritan Club, 8784 Guinea Road, Hayes, VA, 23072, United States
Join us for the annual Casino Night, Vegas by the Bay held at the Abingdon Ruritan Club on Saturday, March 11th to benefit the Gloucester-Mathews Care Clinic. The sponsors pre-party begins at 6:00 p.m. and general admission is at 7:00 p.m. Casino Night has something for everyone including a silent auction, a live auction, 50/50 raffle, heads or tails and raffle prizes. Don’t forget about casino games, they include: Texas Hold’em, roulette wheels, poker, black jack and much more. All casino games are played with funny money.
Food will be provided by local restaurants and businesses in the Middle Peninsula area. Drinks will also be available at a cash bar.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and the different sponsorship levels can be found on the GMCC website, www.gmcareclinic.com. Tickets for this event can also be purchased online by going to the GMCC website.
For questions or more information on Casino Night please contact Colleen Jenkins at GMCC at 804-210-1368 Ext. 203.

Opening Reception: Joe Allen, Dead Man's Curve
2017-03-11 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | #FFFHEX Contemporary Art Gallery, 20 Church Street, Suite 3 & 5, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
An exhibition of new work by acclaimed Texas-based artist Joe Allen. Opening reception Saturday March 11, 5-7PM. On view through March 31.
#FFFHEX contemporary art gallery is pleased announce Dead Man’s Curve, an upcoming solo exhibition of new work by acclaimed Texas-based artist Joe Allen. When shopping for art supplies, Allen has been known to frequent the back alleys of lumber yards and auto parts stores, selecting mixed-media materials ranging from battery cables to corrugated steel in order to create his 3-d objects.
One of Allen’s prints “Twilight Time” adopts the title of a fifties doo-wop song by the Platters. Pokemon computer game characters, in concert with the Ghost of John Lennon, bring a mysterious warning to earth. In other work, Jim Morrison and other since-passed-on personalities also appear as “rock and roll clairvoyants coming to warn us” of possible impending doom.
Joe Allen (born 1949, Texas) has exhibited widely at venues including the Sharjah International Biennial, Studio DTFU in Dallas, the Santa Barbara Contemporary, and the San Antonio Museum of Art. He was awarded a NEA-Mid-America Arts Alliance grant in 1994 which he used to purchase video editing equipment, creating his first body of multi-media work. Allen’s art is included in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, McNeese State University, and private collections in the United States and abroad.
There will be an opening reception for the public on Saturday, March 11 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Dead Man’s Curve will be on view through March 31. #FFFHEX will have gallery hours Saturdays 2:00 to 5:00 PM for the duration of the exhibition, and also welcomes appointments outside of posted hours.

Gilbert Klingel: Man of Steel
2017-03-07 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Gwynn’s Island Civic Center, 1996 Old Ferry Rd., Gwynn, VA, 23066, United States
Film Director/Producer Dave Miller to introduce his newest film project: “Gilbert Klingel: Man of Steel” on Tuesday, March 7 at 7 pm at the Gwynn’s Island Civic League building.
Next Tuesday there will be a special event at the Civic League building to preview the upcoming PBS documentary about the sailboat “Freya” project and Gwynn’s Island boatbuilder, Gilbert Klingel. Director/Producer Dave Miller will be there to show the film trailer and talk about this project. The film will feature Gwynn’s Island and the legendary Gwynn’s Island Boat Yard built by Klingel in the early 1950’s. It will tell the story about Gilbert’s life and works and the goal of bringing his steel hulled sailboat “Freya” back to the island where she was built in 1953. This vessel will be available for future generations to learn from and enjoy. When the boat arrives at the Gwynn’s Island Boat Yard in May, we plan to have a celebration and would appreciate the ideas you may have on how to celebrate.
Local residents will appear in this documentary and our local museums, the Mathews Maritime Foundation and the Gwynn’s Island Museum are supporting our efforts. We hope you can join us on March 7 and see how you too can become involved. You will be quite amazed at what we have achieved so far but we’ll need the help of everyone to make this film a big success.
Other Chesapeake Bay films by Dave Miller include: Journey on the Chesapeake (2016) and Oysters, Boats, and Men (2013).

American Legion Post 83 Flag Disposal Service
2017-03-05 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Mathews, 23109
American Legion Pots 83 Flag Disposal Service, 73 Hookemfair Rd. 725-7422

Eyes On The Prize - Part 3
2017-03-02 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Mathews Memorial Library, 251 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
An award-winning documentary series on the civil rights movement that illuminates the struggle for racial equality and social justice in America.

Open Arts Community, Through Special Eyes
2017-02-24 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Bay School Community Arts Center, 279 Main Street , Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
An annual exhibition featuring the art work of The Bay School Community Arts Center’s Outreach Programs.
Reception Friday, February 24, 2017 5-7pm

Eyes On The Prize - Part 2
2017-02-23 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Mathews Memorial Library, 251 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States

Braving the Wartime Seas
2017-02-16 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Mathews Maritime Museum, 482 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
The book Braving the Wartime Seas is the subject of this month’s Mathews Maritime Foundation Speaker Series. Presented by the author, Tom Schroeder, it is a tribute to the Cadets and Graduates of the US Merchant Marine Academy who died in World War II, honoring the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Of the estimated 243,000 men and women who served in the Merchant Marines, it is estimated that 8,421 were killed at sea, as prisoners of war, or died from their wounds later on shore. German and Japanese submarines and aircraft sunk 1,768 ships during the war. Over 400 Cadet-Midshipmen were Kings Point survivors and they formed an exclusive club called the “Tin Fish Club.”
Mr. Schroeder, now retired, is a 1957 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Long Island, NY, and served in the US Navy from Aug. 1957 to Mar. 1958.
The public is invited to enjoy this presentation on Thurs., Feb. 16th at 7 PM, at the MMF Museum, 482 Main St. in Mathews Court House, VA.

Eyes On The Prize - Part 1
2017-02-16 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Mathews Memorial Library, 251 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States

Prehistoric Mathews County, Part Two: The Tools Used by Prehistoric People in the County and Artifact Identification
2017-02-14 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Kingston Parish Hall, 370 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
The lecture will cover the three periods of Indian occupation in Mathews County: Paleoindian, Archaic, and Woodland.
The lecture will be followed by an artifact identification session by a panel of experts from the Longwood University Longwood Institute of Archaeology and the Nansemond Chapter of the Archaeological Society of Virginia. The information will be integrated into a computerized database which will permit us to have a better understanding of who, what and when prehistoric people lived in Mathews. Although the location of the finds will be recorded, they will not be made public in compliance with the guidelines from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
The series is co-sponsored by the Gwynn’s Island Museum, the Mathews Maritime Foundation, the Fairfield Foundation, and the Mathews Historical Museum.

Sweetheart's Tea Dance
2017-02-12 15:00 - 17:00 UTC | Mathews Memorial Library, 251 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Featuring Phil Johnson Combo
Come and dance or sit and listen to your old time favorites!

MVRS 4th Annual Super Bowl Chili Cook-Off
2017-02-04 16:30 - 19:00 UTC | Piankatank Ruritan Club, 7138 Buckley Hall Road, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
The 4th Annual MVRS Chili Cook-Off features six (6) non-profit civic groups competing for the BEST CHILI in Mathews County! Always held the day before the Super Bowl, this is the event NOT to miss during the long winter months! Besides great all you can eat food, this is a time to catch up with others who also might have “cabin fever”! The majority of the proceeds benefit the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad and every organization also raises funds for their charity causes. Our motto is “HELP US, HELP OTHERS!” as all funds raised go back to help Mathews citizens! Everything is provided and you get to be a voter for the People’s Choice Award. The Award is the Judge’s Award and is decided by a panel of professional food judges. There are door prizes and if you purchased 10 tickets are more or are a sponsor, you have the chance to win an Automated Emergency Defibrillator (AED)! Bring the entire family and join us for a great evening and take home some chili for your own Super Bowl party.

"Story Tellers" go back to the beginning, back to where the artistic journey began
2017-01-27 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Bay School Community Arts Center, 279 Main Street , Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Opening Reception is Friday January 27, 2017 5:00pm-7:00pm
This Show will be up January 27-February 18
Let’s go back to the beginning. Back to where your artistic journey began and where creativity sparked passion…
Join us for “Storytellers”, an Art Speaks Gallery exhibition that shares the creative stories of Bay School Community Art Center’s Teaching Artists.
Storytellers will feature the works & writings of:
Paul Blais-
Linda Brent – Linda graduated from VCU with a BFA from the Crafts Dept. She is the art teacher at Ware Academy and has lived in the area for 30 years. She enjoys the freedom to expand what she teaches children at Ware to adults here.
Steph Brown – Steph has been self-employed as a graphic designer since 1985. Originally from Pennsylvania, she has always had a love of the arts. Pencil drawings, pen & ink and watercolor are her favorite mediums, which led to teaching classes in PA at the art supply and framing shop she owned from 1999-2006. Her background includes trades show exhibit design, drafting, architectural design, print design and corporate identity development. She enjoys teaching more than anything else, and feels that anyone who has the desire can create- it’s just a matter of helping the hand communicate what the heart feels.
Adele Castillo – Adele Castillo uses a contemporary style to create her animal portraits and pet paintings. She is an artist who has found a niche painting animals in rich, bold color. She teaches acrylic painting and color workshops.
Saraya Cheney – Saraya believes that the healing and uplifting powers of art can make a real difference in people’s lives. She considers herself a “creative tinkerer” as she enjoys working in all artistic media. Her more recent works explore the vast world of acrylics with intuitive painting and hand-built ceramics.
Virginia Coyle – Virginia is self-taught in all her painting and other skills. Her favorite medium to work with is watercolor, because it is so unpredictable. Virginia loves to paint mermaids, children and folk art scenes. She also enjoys being creative by drawing, sewing, and participating in other forms of artistic projects
Gary Edmondson – Gary began painting in 1984, after being inspired and taking classes under the guidance of Barkley Sheaks. Gary’s work has also been heavily influenced by MAXFIELD PARRISH, JEAN-SIMONE CHARDIN, ODILON REDON, CHARLES ETHAN PORTER and SANFORD ROBINSON GIFFORD. Gifford was a member of the HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL. Gary’s works have been shown in the Morales Art Gallery in Nags Head, North Carolina, as well as The Gallery on the York, Christopher Newport College, and the Bay School Community Arts Center. He has won many awards.
Janet Griffin – retired art specialist from Gloucester County Public Schools. I’ve taught in Hampton City Schools before staying at Petsworth Elementary School for the last 25 years. I continue to be a guest teacher at other Gloucester Elementary schools. I certainly enjoyed my teaching of art to young children. I have always been amazed how children can teach me! Now I look forward to learning from adults. I grew-up in a military family, so everything was organized! I graduated from Old Dominion University, Magna cum laude, (that means I worked very hard and had no social life). My work is balanced between the 60” Macomber and 30” Leclerc Looms. My favorite weaving is Theo Moorman’s tapestry technique. I live in Gloucester Courthouse with my husband, Jim and two crazy cats.
Linda Hollett-Bazouzi – received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in art from Radford University. She is a landscape painter, represented by galleries in Richmond, Ashland, and Lexington. Hollett-Bazouzi taught art in Henrico County Public Schools for over 35 years. During that time she was awarded recognition at the local and state levels for her art program, and achieved National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Art in 2002. She is a member of Oil Painters of America (OPA), the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS), and the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association (MAPAPA). A devoted en plein air painter, Hollett-Bazouzi is currently lead artist for the Virginia Plein Air Painters. She is a docent at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Kathleen Noffsinger – is an award-winning watercolor artist from Deltaville, Virginia. Her colorful paintings include lively renderings of wildlife and nature from the Chesapeake Bay, the Florida Keys and Bermuda. Working with “purist” watercolor techniques in a style that she calls” impressionistic realism”,Kathleen’s goal is to capture on paper a memorable and creative moment in time. Her limited edition prints are found at many fine art galleries on the East Coast and her paintings have been purchased for both private and corporate collections throughout the world.
Dale Peterson – 20 years with professional Pottery Studio and 30 years in various High Schools – presently I teach Adv. Art and Digital Media at Christchurch School near Saluda. I have a lot of portfolios available on-line at http://dalepeterson.us — these include pottery, Computer CAD, Traditional Painting and Drawing — lately I have been very involved with 3D pen drawing.

4-H Cloverbud Day Camp
2017-01-27 09:00 - 15:00 UTC | Contact Mathews County Extension Office, P.O. Box 569, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
“All About You” themed day camp for youth ages 5-8 as of September 30, 2017. Youth will participate in theater-based activities to learn about themselves, their emotions, and creativity in expression!

Maritime Speaker Meeting - Luna
2017-01-19 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Mathews Maritime Museum, 482 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
The construction of an 18th century Bermuda sloop named “Luna” will be the topic as presented by Mr. John Collamore. He will describe the current construction of the “Luna” as well as the history of this “coastal workhorse” that at one time hauled goods from one port to the next and spread the day’s news. Mr. Collamore and crew intend to sail her to historic ports from North Carolina to Maryland “to be able to tell the maritime history of the colonies and the seeds of the revolution that led to our freedom.”
John Collamore , is one of seven founders and now president of the Colonial Seaport Foundation in Deltaville, VA, where he grew up sailing and started building boats.
The public is invited to enjoy this presentation free of charge on Thursday, Jan. 19th. at 7 PM, at the MMF Museum, 482 Main St. Mathews Court House, VA.

Christmas Day Meals-on-Wheels Package & Deliver
2016-12-25 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | American Legion, Mathews Post 83, 73 Hookemfair Rd, Hudgins, VA, 23109, United States
Come and help American Legion Post 83 package & deliver meals on Christmas Day.

Bayside Youth Ballet Annual Christmas Performance
2016-12-18 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | Harry M. Ward Auditorium – Mathews High School, 9889 Buckley Hall Rd, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Bayside Youth Ballet will present their annual Christmas performance on Sunday, December 18 at 2:00PM at the Harry M. Ward Auditorium at Mathews High School.
The ballet company will be performing “The Enchanted Doll Shoppe”, with Marionettes, a Ragdoll and a Jack in the Box among the lively, dancing dolls. This performance marks the second presentation of the Enchanted Doll Shoppe by the company.
The premiere performance of “Journey to the Land of the Sweets”, Act II of the Nutcracker, will also be presented this season. The popular Sugar Plum Fairy, Waltz of the Flowers and other excerpts from this beloved classic will be performed by dancers from Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, Norfolk and West Point as well as guest performances by students from Diggs School of Dance. With 33 dancers ranging in age from 7 to 18, new and exciting choreography, and lavish costumes, the program is sure to be a family favorite during this Christmas season.
Tickets for the performance are $12 for adults and $7 for children under 10 and are available at Office Supply in Gloucester, the Mathews Visitor Center and Diggs School of Dance in Gloucester or email baysideballet@gmail.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Prehistoric Indians of Mathews County and the Chesapeake Bay area
2016-12-13 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Kingston Parish Hall, 370 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Professor Martin Gallivan of the College of William and Mary will give a talk on the prehistoric Indians of Mathews County and the Chesapeake Bay area.
Dr. Gallivan is perhaps best known for leading the archaeological investigation of Chief Powhatan’s home village of Werowocomoco. He has written several books on Virginia Indians and his most recent book, the “Powhatan Landscape” was published in August. His lecture will focus upon a number of the issues raised in the book, including an understanding of how prehistoric people adapted, viewed, experienced, and became one with the area.
Sponsored by the Mathews County Historical Society, the Gwynn’s Island Museum, the Mathews Maritime Foundation, the Fairfield Foundation, and the Mathews Historical Museum.

Third Annual Empty Bowls event at the Bay School
2016-12-11 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | Bay School Community Arts Center, 279 Main Street , Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
The Bay School and Hands Across Mathews are excited to be hosting our third annual Empty Bowls event. The hand-made bowls are starting to stack up on the shelves at the Bay School and more are being made as we speak. Check our Facebook page for opportunities to come make a bowl! An incredible assortment of hand-made soups, breads, and cookies will be served during the event. Familiar potters and chefs will be joined by some new hands, both novice and expert.
This is a ticketed event.
Tickets may be reserved on the Bay School website or purchased at the Bay School starting Thanksgiving week. All proceeds go directly to Hands Across Mathews, so cash or check only, please. Your $15 ticket gives you a hand-crafted bowl to be treasured or given as a gift; a simple lunch of soup and bread, to nourish you and remind you of all the empty bowls in the world; and the warm fuzzy feeling of having helped fill your neighbors’ empty bowls here in Mathews. We will sell as many tickets as we have bowls. Soup may be purchased for $5 a serving, and additional donations are of course welcome and appreciated.
We hope you join us!

Mathews County Christmas Parade 2016 - "Christmas Melodies"
2016-12-10 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | Thomas Hunter Middle School, 387 Church Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Mathews County Annual Christmas Parade, Saturday December 10 at 1pm. The parade will run from THMS to the Bank of America Building. Anyone interested in registering a float for the parade can obtain a registration form from the visitors center.

Mathews County Christmas Farmers Market
2016-12-10 09:00 - 14:00 UTC | Courthouse Square, Court St, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Come visit us at our first annual Christmas Farmers Market. While sipping hot cider, shop for interesting and unique handmade presents, and special Christmas goodies such as cookies, cakes, and other great foods.

Red Cross Blood Drive
2016-12-06 14:00 - 19:00 UTC | Piankatank Ruritan Club, 7138 Buckley Hall Road, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Legion Sponsored Red Cross Blood Drive
2pm – 7pm at Piankatank Ruritan Club

American Legion Post 83 Meeting
2016-12-05 19:30 - 20:30 UTC | American Legion, Mathews Post 83, 73 Hookemfair Rd, Hudgins, VA, 23109, United States

Donk's Theater at Mathews High School
2016-12-03 20:00 - 22:30 UTC | Harry M. Ward Auditorium at Mathews High School, 9889 Buckley Hall Road, Mathews , VA, 23109, United States
Smith Family and Friends Christmas Show

Community Christmas Tree Lighting
2016-12-03 17:00 - 18:00 UTC | Courthouse Square, Court St, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Join us at the Courthouse Green for the
Mathews Community Christmas Tree Lighting

Sponsored by Mathews County Visitor and Information Center
Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
Celebrate the holidays with our annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting! The tree is located in the court green area just across from Southwind Pizza.

Visits with Santa
2016-12-03 16:00 - 19:00 UTC | Mathews Visitor Center, 239 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Bring the kids for a visit with Santa at the Visitor’s Center. Don’t forget your list!
Santa will be here from 4-7 p.m.
Saturday, December 3rd, 2016

Holiday Open House - Puddin's Creek House & Tompkins Cottage
2016-12-03 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Step back to the 19th century! Puddin’s Creek (old Methodist Parsonage, 119 Church St.) and Tompkins Cottage (43 Brickbat Rd.) will be open to celebrate the Christmas season. Period decorations, costumed docents and holiday refreshments will make the holiday bright! Ornaments, publications and Capt. Sally Tompkins dolls will be offered for sale.

Deck the Halls
2016-11-27 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | Mathews Memorial Library, 251 Main Street, Mathews, VA, 23109, United States
Begin your holiday season in a magical, fairyland setting which you help create. Join with family and friends in decorating one of six library Christmas trees reminiscent of “Mathews Past” at the annual Deck the Halls party. Enjoy music of the season and holiday refreshments.
