Free in Midlothian: coal mine ruins at Mid-Lothian Mines Park, Henricus Historical Park, a splash pad, library story times and free county festivals.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Details come from Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation, the Chesterfield County Public Library and each organizer’s own page, linked below. “Free” means the organizer says it is free; some free programs still need registration.

Most of the best things to do in Midlothian cost nothing. None of the county parks below lists an admission fee, so the coal mine ruins at Mid-Lothian Mines Park, the James River landing at Robious Landing, the dog park at Rockwood and the new splash pad at River City Sportsplex cost nothing to visit. So are Henricus Historical Park, the library’s story times and the county’s big seasonal parties.

Good to know

  • Parks and Recreation: 804-748-1623
  • Midlothian Library: 100 Millworks Crossing, 804-751-2275
  • Not free: Pocahontas State Park charges a daily parking fee

Free parks and history

Place Address Why go
Mid-Lothian Mines Park 13301 N. Woolridge Road Grove Shaft ruins of the Mid-Lothian coal mines, pond boardwalk; 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Henricus Historical Park 251 Henricus Park Road, Chester Living history site of the 1611 Citie of Henricus; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wed.-Sun.
The Park at River City Sportsplex 13030 Genito Road Playgrounds by age group, splash pad in season, trails
Rockwood Park 3401 Courthouse Road Nature center, Ruff House Dog Park, 5.5 miles of trails, archery range
Robious Landing Park 3800 James River Road James River canoe and kayak launch, fishing, 3.4 miles of trails
Huguenot Park 10901 Robious Road A Playground for Katie and Friends, azalea garden

Henricus Historical Park re-creates the Citie of Henricus, founded in 1611, with 14 re-created colonial buildings; admission is free, with last entry at 4 p.m. Mid-Lothian Mines Park tells the story of the mines that, the county says, produced the first commercially mined coal in America; call 804-751-4946 about tours. See our Midlothian Village guide and history guide.

Free at the library

The Midlothian Library runs free story times on weekday mornings: Baby Story Time at 10 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, Toddler Story Time at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Pre-K Story Time at 10 a.m. Fridays, on its fall 2026 calendar. It also hosts book clubs, chess and tabletop games, Reading Buddies for young readers and a filmmakers’ movie night; check the calendar for registration. Full details are in our kids’ activities guide.

Free events this season

Date Event Where
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Spooktacular! River City SportsPlex, 13030 Genito Road
Saturday, Oct. 24, 5 to 8 p.m. Halloween Main Street Costume Stroll Westchester Commons
Thursday, Nov. 26, 9 a.m. Chesterfield Alumni Run (registration required; park parking fee applies) Pocahontas State Park
Friday, Dec. 11, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Stonebridge Winter Wonderland Stonebridge Recreation Center
Friday, Jan. 1, 10 a.m. to noon First Day Hike at Dutch Gap Meets at Henricus Park

More on our Halloween, holiday lights and New Year’s Eve pages.

Free every year

  • Midlothian Day, the third Saturday of October: a parade and a free festival at Midlothian Middle School, 13501 Midlothian Turnpike, run by Sanctuary Rescue with the county. See midlothianday.com.
  • The Miracle of Christmas at the Metro Richmond Zoo, 8300 Beaver Bridge Road, Moseley: a live nativity pageant with free admission and parking; in 2025 it ran Dec. 20-22.
  • District tree lightings: the county’s supervisors host free lightings each December, including the Midlothian District lighting at Mid-Lothian Mines Park. See our tree lighting page.
  • Fourth of July fireworks at the county fairgrounds, with free entry and parking; see our fireworks page.

Frequently asked questions

What is free to do in Midlothian, Virginia?

Mid-Lothian Mines Park and its coal mine ruins, Henricus Historical Park in Chester, the splash pad at The Park at River City Sportsplex in season, Midlothian Library story times and county events such as Spooktacular and Midlothian Day are all free.

Is Henricus Historical Park free?

Yes. Henricus Historical Park, 251 Henricus Park Road, Chester, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, last entry 4 p.m., and admission is free, according to Chesterfield County.

Is the splash pad at River City Sportsplex free?

Yes. The county says admission to The Park at River City Sportsplex and its splash pad is free. The splash pad runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in season, late spring through summer.

Is Pocahontas State Park free?

No. Virginia State Parks charges a daily parking fee at Pocahontas State Park.