What is Next for Secretariat?

Yes! Secretariat is coming home to Ashland. NO! Fundraising is not over…

Thanks to the generous donations made by hundreds of supporters, the Ashland Museum can officially purchase Jocelyn Russell’s beautiful bronze monument - “Secretariat Racing Into History.” But Secretariat for Virginia’s fundraising isn’t over the finish line yet.

What is next for Virginia’s equestrian champion? Before the sculpture’s return to the Center of the Universe, the whole project has to be bought and paid for. Installation, landscaping, benches, donor plaques, and informational signage must be constructed.

If fundraising is completed, a dedication ceremony will be held in the Center of the Universe in the spring of 2024. Randolph-Macon College campus has been selected as the location of the Secretariat sculpture - just across from the Ashland-Hanover Visitors Center beside Ashland’s Amtrak Station.

For additional information on the Secretariat monument project and to make your donation, visit www.SecretariatforVirginia.com and www.ashlandmuseum.org.

Off the Rails Craft Beer Festival: Brews, Boos & BBQ

👻Ashland goes Off the Rails at the Brews, Boos & Barbecue Craft Beer Festival! The Hanover Arts and Activities Center has all the beer necessities to make your hops and dreams come true October 28 3-7pm. 👇

Drinks

🍺Beer Tasting Tents 

with Center of the Universe Brewing Company

and Origin Beer Lab

🍷Wine Tent 

with James River Cellars

Food
🐷Barbecue 

by Bourne Rogue Events

🍔Hamburgers

🌭Hot Dogs

🍽️Grilled Sausages 

by Ashland Rotary Club

Entertainment
🎵Live music 

by Buckville Hootenanny

☀️Cornhole

🏸Lawn Games

Costume Contests:

🎭Rocky Horror Picture Show Contest

🏆Win tickets to the Ashland Theatre’s shadow cast screening

💁‍♀️Taylor Swift Eras Tour Fits Contest

🏆Win tickets to the Eras Tour Movie at the Ashland Theatre

🧟‍♂️All Costume Contest

🏆Win prizes from RED VEIN Escape Room

Tickets
🎫 $15 entry (online tickets)

🎫 $7 full beer pours

🎫 $4 half beer pours

🎫 $8 full wine pours 

🎫 $25 per wine bottle
Buy online at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center

Autumnal Adventures for Adults at Ashland Halloween

Tricks aren’t just for kids. Treat yourself to a weekend’s worth of autumnal adventures for adults during Ashland Halloween: Oct 27-31.

Spooky Spirits
Halloween Margaritas

12 PM all spooky season at Casa Herradura Family Mexican Restaurant

Hard Cider on Tap

12 PM all spooky season at Center of the Universe Brewing Company

Wine Tasting
5 PM Friday, October 27 at Caboose Market and Cafe

Adult Trick-or-Treat Bar Crawl

6 PM Friday, October 27 throughout Downtown Ashland

Off the Trails Craft Beer Festival

3 PM Saturday, October 28 at the Hanover Arts & Activities Center

Eerie Entertainment

Phobia Escape Room Challenge
1 PM all spooky season at RED VEIN Escape

Walking Ghost Tour

7:30 PM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all spooky season with Ashland Haunted History Tours

Main Street Station in Concert

8 PM Friday, October 27 at Huddle Up Sports Bar

The Rocky Horror Picture Show - with a shadow cast!

8 PM Saturday, October 28 at the Ashland Theatre

HonkyTonk Heroes in Concert

8 PM Saturday, October 28 at Huddle Up Sports Bar

Ashland Halloween’s Wicked Long Weekend of Events

🎃Trick or treat yo’ self to a wicked long weekend of eerie-sistible events this Ashland Halloween.👇 See our highlight list below, and access the full calendar here.

Friday, October 27

🍹 Halloween Margaritas at Casa Herradura Family Mexican Restaurant
🍷 Wicked Wine Tasting at Caboose Market & Cafe
🍻 Adult Trick-or-Treat Bar Crawl with Iron Horse Restaurant, Origin Beer Lab, The Caboose Market & Cafe, and Trackside Kitchen and Wine
👻 Spirits of Railroad Avenue by Ashland Haunted History Tours

Saturday, October 28

🍺 Off the Rails Craft Beer Festival at the Hanover Arts and Activities Center
🌻 Ashland Farmers Market
🐮 Farmview Creamery at Jessica Roberston’s Studio
🧙‍♀️ Hocus Pocus at the Ashland Theatre
🎃 Halloween at the Ashland Museum
🦇 Bats at the Library in the Ashland Branch Library
🎭 The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a shadow cast at the Ashland Theatre

Sunday, October 29
🍳 Harvest Brunch at The Depot
🥂 Hard Cider on Tap at Origin Beer Lab
😱 Phobia at RED VEIN Escape
💀 The Nightmare Before Christmas screening at St. James the Less Episcopal Church

Monday, October 30
🍹Halloween Margaritas at Casa Herradura Family Mexican Restaurant
🍗 Eerily Cool Special on Hot Wings at Ashland Sports Page
🍁 Sale on Antique and Vintage Fall Decor at Hickory Creek Antiques
🎥 Halloween screening at the Ashland Theatre

Tuesday, October 31

🗺️ Kids Trick-or-Treat and Scavenger Hunt hosted by Downtown Ashland Association
🍬 Candypalooza Lane hosted by New Community Church in the Caravati’s Architectural Salvage parking lot
🎃 Halloween at the Center

Ashland's Picturesque Fall Foliage

📸 Fall for picturesque foliage this autumn in Ashland. 👇

🍁 Ashland Trolley Line Trail

This scenic 2-mile linear trail lines up along the historic Ashland-Richmond Trolley Line, extending from 11644 Gwathmey Church Road at the southern end to the intersection of Maple Street and England Street in Downtown Ashland.

🏀 Carter Park

Carter Park contains one-half of a basketball court, a picnic area, a playground, and gravel trails through wooded areas.

🎣 DeJarnette Park

Eight acres of nearly untouched nature natural beauty fit for fishing and biking.

🛹 Kiwanis Pufferbelly Park

Roll up to Pufferbelly Park’s skate park, climb the renovated playground, lounge in the grassy play section, and admire the falling leaves in shaded picnic areas.

🧺 Railside Park and Trail

One acre of open space with a picnic table and benches is terrific for trainspotting.

🏀 South Taylor Street Park

This half-acre park packs in a playground, tot lot, picnic area, pavilion, grill, and one-half basketball court.

👟 Stony Run Trail

Bike, walk, hike, or run from the intersection of Ashcake Road and South Center Street over the creek and through the woods.

🎭 Town Hall Pavilion

Ashland’s ADA Accessible Pavilion hosts live performances during Downtown Ashland Association events, is available for rental and free to enjoy from the grass and picnic benches.

🚲 US Bike Routes 1 & 76

The United States’ two cross-country bicycle trails intersect in only one place: Ashland, Virginia.