"This year marks a special milestone: it is Sanctuary Rescue's very first year hosting the Midlothian Day Parade and Festival!" That line comes from the parade information the Old Dominion Historical Fire Society posted on September 24 for its members. The same note adds that, to mark the change, parade entry is free for every participant this year.
So the host is new and the date is not. The official Midlothian Day site says the parade and festival are held "the third Saturday of October each year." Sanctuary Rescue runs it with Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation, and the site calls it a tradition of "nearly half a century." In 2026 that Saturday is October 17.
That same Saturday, Mid-Lothian Mines Day fills Mid-Lothian Mines Park with history tours, live music and trolley rides. The two events have different organizers and different websites. Their times fit together, though, as if they were planned as one day. The parade wraps up just as the festival opens, and the mines program keeps going after both. For anyone in The Grove, which is within walking distance of the Midlothian Library and the village shops, the useful move is to take the day in that order.
How the Day Is Timed
The schedules set the order of the day. Here are the times in sequence, from the 2026 listings:
- 8:00 a.m. Parade groups start lining up at Winfree Memorial Church, 13617 Midlothian Turnpike at Coalfield Road.
- 9:00 a.m. The parade steps off from Winfree Church and heads down Midlothian Turnpike toward AmFit Way, about 0.7 mile.
- 10:00 a.m. The parade is set to finish "just in time for the start of the Midlothian Day Festival," according to the participant notes.
- 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The festival runs on the grounds of Midlothian Middle School, 13501 Midlothian Turnpike.
- 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mid-Lothian Mines Day runs at Mid-Lothian Mines Park, per the Mid-Lothian Mines and Railroad Foundation.
The parade's start and the festival grounds sit on the same road, a little over a hundred address numbers apart. A family can watch the parade near Coalfield Road and then walk with the crowd to the school when the last float passes.
What the Festival Holds After the Parade Ends
The organizers describe the festival as "hundreds of crafters, local artisans, makers, food trucks, stage acts, children's activities and more." It's free and pitched to families.
This year's parade has a suggested float theme that fits the new host. Sanctuary Rescue proposed "Pumpkins, Puppies & Parton" to groups still choosing a concept, and invited entries to combine fall harvest, pets and Dolly Parton however they like. Prizes are planned, including one for the most creative take on the theme. The theme is only a suggestion, so not every entry will follow it. Coming from an organizer whose name includes "Rescue," the puppies part probably won't go unnoticed.
The Old Dominion Historical Fire Society has been invited to march, so historic fire apparatus may be in the lineup.
The Mines Program Is Built for the Afternoon
The Mines Day page says plainly that the two events belong together.
"Mid-Lothian Mines Day is offered in conjunction with Midlothian Village Day."
The program spreads its events across the day, so leaving the festival around lunch or mid-afternoon still leaves plenty on the schedule. Here is the foundation's 2026 lineup:
| Time | At Mid-Lothian Mines Park |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Event opens to the public |
| 10:30 a.m. | Tour of Mid-Lothian Mines Park |
| 11:00 a.m. | Trolley tour of First Baptist Church of Midlothian and Midlothian Elementary School; bagpipes by Pipe Major David Hinton |
| 12:00 p.m. | Park tour; Scealai Irish music performance |
| 1:00 p.m. | Trolley tour |
| 1:30 p.m. | Park tour |
| 2:00 p.m. | The Brass Web Quartet |
| 3:00 p.m. | Park tour; bagpipes by Pipe Major David Hinton |
| 4:00 p.m. | Event closes |
The trolley tours are the most distinctive part. They visit First Baptist Church of Midlothian and Midlothian Elementary School to cover African American history in Midlothian. Only two run, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The rest of the grounds offer living-history demonstrations, coal mining and railroad displays, period music and children's games. All of it is free.
That schedule suggests an order for the day. Catch the parade at 9, browse the festival through late morning, and get to the mines for the 1 p.m. trolley. The Brass Web Quartet plays at 2 and the last bagpipe set and park tour are at 3. A family that prefers the history first could reverse it. Take the 11 a.m. trolley, then reach the festival by early afternoon, since it closes at 3.
Two Details to Confirm Before October 17
Mines Day has two small discrepancies between sources. The foundation lists 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 13286 North Woolridge Road. Chesterfield County's October 2026 events calendar lists 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 13301 N Woolridge Road. Both put it at Mid-Lothian Mines Park on the same date. If the 10:30 park tour is the goal, call the foundation's number, 804-751-4946, or check midlomines.org that week. Parking is free on site, according to the foundation.
The second item is Route 60, where the clearest guide is last year. For the October 2025 parade, the county closed Route 60 in both directions from Village Place Road to the North Woolridge Road and Old Buckingham Road intersection for as long as the parade ran. If the county repeats that plan, the village's main road will be closed for the parade hour. Anyone who has to drive across the Turnpike between about 9 and 10 a.m. should plan to wait or take another route, and should check the county's announcements that week.
The Same Week Has More Going On in the Village
The parade and festival fall at the end of a busy week in the village.
- Wednesday, October 14, 5 to 6 p.m. Midlothian Library hosts "Cider and Stories with Haunts of Richmond," an adult program of cider and stories about Virginia ghosts and legends. Registration showed as full when checked, so a waitlist or a cancellation is the only way in.
- Wednesday, October 14, 6 to 8 p.m. Michael Hubbard plays at Triple Crossing Midlothian, 1101 Winterfield Crossing.
- Wednesday, October 21, 6 to 7 p.m. Something's Brewing plays at Triple Crossing.
- Wednesday, October 28, 6 to 8 p.m. Dylan Benjamin closes Triple Crossing's October Wednesdays.
Library programs often fill early. The ghost-story evening was full more than a week ahead, and if a second session is added, the library's event page is where it will be posted.
For Anyone Joining the Parade
The participant information conflicts in one place. The official parade page lists a $25 entry fee per group. The September 24 participant notes say Sanctuary Rescue is waiving entry fees for all participants in its first year hosting. A neighborhood group, scout troop or club planning a walking entry should confirm with the organizers through the parade page. The same notes say groups will get exact arrival times closer to the date, with staging starting around 8 a.m. at Winfree Church.
That leaves one item to settle before the morning of the 17th. Check the Mines Day start time with the foundation, then pick which trolley tour fits your day.
We're Midlothian neighbors too, and we keep an eye on village days like this one because we care how this place spends its Saturdays. If you have questions about The Grove or anything else happening around the village this fall, Team Hensley Real Estate would be glad to hear from you. Contact Us.
