WASHINGTON D.C., (Rocktown Now) — Volunteers across Virginia will join the American Battlefield Trust next weekend for the 30th annual Park Day, a nationwide spring cleanup event focused on preserving battlefields, museums and historic sites ahead of the busy tourism season.

Scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, Park Day coincides with Earth Week, National Volunteer Week and the America Gives initiative, highlighting community service efforts taking place across the country. Organizers say volunteers at more than 110 historic sites in 27 states and the District of Columbia are expected to participate.

The annual event provides communities with an opportunity to maintain and beautify significant landmarks while supporting local tourism and historic preservation. This year’s cleanup also comes as the nation prepares for America’s Semiquincentennial, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Virginia will host activities at 20 participating historic sites, including Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park, Brandy Station Battlefield, Cedar Mountain Battlefield, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Additional Virginia sites participating include Abingdon Muster Grounds, Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, Cannon Branch Fort, Chancellorsville Battlefield, Historic Endview, Historic Salubria, Historic Sandusky, Kernstown Battlefield, Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Patrick Henry’s Red Hill, Payne’s Farm, Malvern Hill Battlefield and Williamsburg Battlefield.

  • Abingdon Muster Grounds, Abingdon, 10:00 am
    Contact: Michael Henningsen at mustergroundscommittee@gmail.com
    Volunteers will be helping to clean up along Wolf Creek and the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. Learn more.
  • Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Appomattox, 9:00 am
    Contact: Alyssa Holland at alyssa_holland@nps.gov
    Volunteers will be helping to replace, scrape and paint a large section of a picket fence within the historic village of Appomattox Court House. After the program, volunteers are welcome to join a ranger or living history talk. Learn more.
  • Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park, Leesburg, 9:00 am
    Contact: Ben Bilko at bbilko@nvrpa.org
    Volunteers will be working on trail maintenance, cleaning signs and monuments, road and parking lot maintenance among other tasks. Battlefield tours will be offered to participants at 11:00 am and 1:00pm. Learn more.
  • Brandy Station Battlefield Graffiti House, Brandy Station, 9:00am
    Contact: Peter Mocarski at bsf4mocarskis@gmail.com
    Volunteers will be helping replace walkways by the Graffiti House and work on flower beds around the front of the Graffiti House. Tours of the Graffiti House will be available from 12:00 pm to 4:00pm. Learn more.
  • Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, Bristow, 9:00am
    Contact: Lance Russell at lrussell@pwcgov.org
    Volunteers will help clear brush, spread mulch and surface materials on walking trails, restoring historic tree line, litter pick up and more. Learn more.
  • Cannon Branch Fort, Manassas, 9:00am
    Contact: Christen Fox at cfox@manassasva.gov
    Volunteers will help with clean-up of the historic site. Learn more.
  • Cedar Mountain Battlefield, Rapidan, 9:00am
    Contact: Mark Sekol at u8sit@msn.com
    Volunteers will help with general cleanup of trails and interpretive signage. Learn more.
  • Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Orange, 8:30am
    Contact: Ashley Ranalli at ashley_ranalli@nps.gov
    Volunteers will help with general cleanup, painting and clearing algae from historic walls and stones. Learn more.
  • Historic Endview, Newport News, 9:00am
    Contact: Jamie Mesrobian at mesrobianje@nnva.gov
    Volunteers will help pick up trash around the site, clean historic markers, and clear mulch. Participants are welcome to take a tour of the historic house, if interested. Learn more.
  • Historic Salubria, Stevensburg, 9:00am
    Contact: Shannon Doherty at sdoherty@germanna.org
    Volunteers will help clean up the Salubria Community Cemetery, repair fences, clear brush, rake leaves and more. A behind the scenes tour with staff will be available for interested participants. Learn more.
  • Historic Sandusky, Lynchburg, 10:00am
    Contact: Greg Starbuck at info@historicsandusky.org
    Volunteers will help with general yard work and cleaning of the historic house. A free tour of the site is available for all participants. Learn more.
  • Kernstown Battlefield, Winchester, 9:00am
    Contact: Larry Turner at larrynt@comcast.net
    Volunteers will help sweep and dust buildings and artifact showcases, paint exterior window trims, mulch gardens, cleaning and weeding around interpretive signs and more. Tours of the battlefield property will be available between 12:00pm and 4pm for all participants. Learn more. 
  • Manassas National Battlefield Park,Manassas, 9:00am
    Contact: Liz Hokanson at elizabeth_hokanson@nps.gov
    Volunteers will help remove invasive species, plant saplings, pick up refuse and clean wayside exhibit signs. Learn more.
  • Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Abingdon, 10:00am
    Contact: Michael Henningsen at mustergroundcommittee@gmail.com
    Volunteers will help with general maintenance of the Muster Grounds. Tours of the Keller Visitor Center and tours of the grounds will be available. Learn more.
  • Patrick Henry’s Red Hill, Brookneal, 10:00am
    Contact: Michelle Seddon at info@redhill.org
    Volunteers will help clean up and general maintenance of the Dixon Trail. Learn more.
  • Payne’s Farm, Locust Grove, 9:00am
    Contact: Kevin Hunt at communications@fowb.org
    Volunteers will help move signs, clean up trash, clear out debris and general maintenance of the historical trail. Learn more.
  • Petersburg National Battlefield, Petersburg, 9:00am
    Contact: Kaitlyn at pete_vip@gmail.com
    Volunteers will help refresh the grounds by creating new flower and garden containers, help field clean-up, pick up debris and more. Learn more.
  • Richmond National Battlefield Park/Malvern Hill Battlefield, Richmond, 9:00am
    Contact: Sharon Ellison at sharon_ellison@nps.gov
    Volunteers will help pull invasive species around the battlefield. A one-hour history talk will be on the Malvern Hill battle will be available for participants. Learn more.
  • Stonewall Brigade Tract (Chancellorsville Battlefield), Spotsylvania, 9:00am   
    Contact:   Terry S. Rensel at executivedirector@cvbt.org
    Volunteers will help with the removal of old fence posts, general cleanup and landscape work. Learn more.
  • Williamsburg Battlefield, Williamsburg, 9:00am
    Contact: Don Kline at darkline@yahoo.com
    Volunteers will help with roadside litter pick up, removing fallen tree limbs, and planting flower beds. Learn more.

For a complete list of participating Park Day sites and more information, visit www.battlefields.org/parkday.