Making the Longest Day the Best Day: Join PADVA 2026!
Summer might feel far away, but at the Virginia Recreation and Park Society, we are already dreaming of the summer solstice! After the incredible success of our 2025 initiative, we are thrilled to invite your agency to participate in the third year of Play All Day VA (PADVA) on Sunday, June 21, 2026.
This statewide celebration is our collective chance to shine. By offering free programs and services from sunrise to sunset, we show our citizens the true heart of parks and recreation. Whether it is opening your pools for a free community swim or hosting a creative new event, PADVA is about removing barriers and inviting everyone to play!
A Look Back at Our 2025 Success
The momentum behind PADVA is growing every year! In 2025, we saw record participation across all VRPS service areas. Despite the intense summer heat, 47 agencies stepped up to deliver amazing experiences. Here are just a few highlights from last year that truly captured the spirit of play:
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Creative Community Events: From the Firetruck Duck Drop in James City County to a vibrant Foam Party in Staunton.
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Cultural Celebrations: Arlington brought the energy with Bollywood Dance, and Henrico hosted Beats and Treats.
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Inclusive Access: Many agencies, like those in Loudoun and Fairfax, opened their courts, fields, and aquatic centers for free, ensuring play was accessible to all.
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Unique Local Flair: We saw everything from a Balloon Glow in Wytheville to Junior Park Ranger programs in Chesapeake!
Why Your Participation Matters
When we play together as a state, we accomplish so much more than just a fun day at the park. PADVA serves several vital purposes for our profession:
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Trend Data & Analytics: Last year, 42 agencies provided metrics that help us understand community needs and successes across Virginia. This data is shared with all member agencies to help us grow together!
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Platform for Innovation: Use the solstice as a "test day" for a new program or service you have been considering. It is the perfect low-risk way to gauge interest.
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Statewide Visibility: PADVA enhances the VRPS presence, highlighting the collaborative efforts of localities big and small.
Ready to Play? Here is How to Join
We want to see your agency’s name on the 2026 list! It is never too early to start planning for the longest day of play.
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Register Your Agency: Please visit the VRPS website and register by April 1, 2026.
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Review the Toolkit: We have resources available, including recaps from the 2024 and 2025 events, to help you brainstorm.
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Spread the Word: Start hyping up the event within your agency and to your community. Let’s make 2026 our biggest year yet!
If you have questions or want to share feedback from previous years, the VRPS team is ready to help!
Let’s get ready to show Virginia how we play!