Day at the Capitol
Fall Chamber Presentation
2026 Fall Day at the Capitol
Thursday, October 29, or Friday October 30, 2026 | Richmond
Join the HEAV team and hundreds of homeschoolers from across the Commonwealth for HEAV’s annual Fall Homeschool Day at the Capitol in Richmond.
A Virginia Legislative Experience
An immersive educational experience to remember! Watch Patrick Henry’s famous speech at the original site, sit in legislators’ actual seats, debate bills with other homeschoolers, and tour our beautiful Capitol building, designed by Thomas Jefferson.
Experience hands-on learning at its best.
The day begins at St. John’s Historic Church with a special reenactment of Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech. We will then proceed to the Capitol building for the chamber experience, “How a Bill Becomes a Law,” and guided tours of the historic Capitol building.
Watch a preview here:
Note: This is the only time Patrick Henry’s re-enactment will be offered. The winter Day at the Capitol will take place during the legislative chamber session and will not include a visit to St. John’s Church.
Registration Open for All
Members: Log in to get your $20-off discount code.
Not a member? Join now to save $20 on this event and get benefits all year long.
Thursday, October 29,
or
Friday, October 30
Pricing
Members: $49
Non-members: $69
Price includes all family members living in the same household.
Grandparents: $5 additional
Non-family members (adult or child): $10/person additional
Location:
Begins at Historic St. John’s Church
2401 E. Broad Street, Richmond Google map here.
The following events will be at the Virginia State Capitol at 1000 Bank Street, just over one mile away.
SCHEDULE
Tour Group Schedules
Tour Group A1
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. History reenactment at Historic St. John’s Church
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. House chamber presentation at the Capitol
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Guided Capitol tour
Tour Group A2
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. History reenactment at Historic St. John’s Church
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. House chamber presentation at the Capitol
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Guided Capitol tour
Tour Group B
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. History reenactment at Historic St. John’s Church
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Guided Capitol tour
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Senate chamber presentation
Additional Schedule
The following time slots will open as the earlier time slots fill. Families are invited to tour the Capitol grounds and have lunch during the gap between the reenactment and the Capitol events.
Tour Group C1
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. History reenactment at Historic St. John’s Church
1 p.m. – 12 p.m. House chamber presentation at the Capitol
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Guided Capitol tour
Tour Group C2
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. History reenactment at Historic St. John’s Church
1 p.m. – 12 p.m. House chamber presentation at the Capitol
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Guided Capitol tour
Tour Group D
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. History reenactment at Historic St. John’s Church
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Guided Capitol tour
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Senate chamber presentation
Event Schedule
8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Check-In and Tickets
Parents and students will meet at the Historic St. John’s Church at 2401 East Broad Street in Richmond to check in and pick up event tickets between 8:30 and 9 a.m.
Street parking is free at St. John’s Church for check-in, tour tickets, and the presentation. There are handicapped parking spaces and a drop-off zone for large parties at the corner of N. 24th Street and East Broad Street, and an elevator for handicap access to the church grounds on 24th Street.
Patrick Henry Reenactment
The event will begin promptly at 9 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, the original site of the heated debate for independence among colonial leaders prior to the War for Independence.
Costumed, professional re-enactors will sit among homeschoolers in the church sanctuary where the Second Virginia Convention was held. Their rousing debate for independence from Great Britain will take you back to 1775, culminating in Patrick Henry’s famous speech, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” You may find yourself seated beside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or Richard Henry Lee. This special performance is only for families registered for HEAV’s Day at the Capitol.
St. John’s Church is approximately a five-minute drive (1.1 miles) to parking for the Capitol entrance, located at 1000 Bank Street. Do not plan to walk, as Broad Street crosses I-95. At the end of the session at the church, you will need to drive to a parking lot adjacent to the Capitol. There is no outside, above-ground parking available on Capitol Square or at/near the pedestrian entrance to the Capitol at 10th and Bank streets.*
You’re the Legislator! A Virginia Chamber Experience
Participants will next move to the Virginia Capitol at 1000 Bank Street for the remainder of the day.
“How a Bill Becomes a Law” is a fascinating and fun interactive exercise for students and families. Participants become assembly members and are guided through the legislative process, which involves identifying a problem and recommending solutions through debate, consensus-building, and compromise. Participants will vote using the computerized voting system to receive hands-on experience with the legislative process.
The chamber experience will be in either the House or Senate chamber of the Capitol Building as indicated on your tickets.
Parking near the Capitol requires payment; there are no free spots. Parking information is available on the General Assembly website. Nearby parking lots and garages are available here. Four two-hour handicap parking spaces are just east of the intersection of 10th and Bank streets.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Required Security Check
A security check is required to enter the Capitol. People with backpacks, book bags, purses, and other similar items will spend extra time going through security, as all these items will need to be scanned for security purposes. Having fewer personal effects when entering can save time! Learn more.
There is always a possibility that the legislature will decide to convene on our date. If they do, we will provide alternative programming for the chamber presentation, but the other activities will remain unchanged.
Virginia Capitol Tour
Guided tours of the historic Capitol building designed by Thomas Jefferson are scheduled for the times indicated when you registered, either before or after your chamber presentation. Tickets for your pre-assigned time will be given to attendees beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the church.
Capitol Square
The grounds surrounding the Capitol building span 12 landscaped acres and serve as a public park filled with monuments, gardens, and historic buildings. Visitors can explore scenic walkways, shaded green spaces, and a wide range of memorials honoring Virginia’s leaders, citizens, and cultural heritage.
Food
Meriwether’s Cafe at the General Assembly is located at the General Assembly Building (GAB), 201 North 9th Street, at the corner of Broad Street at the northwest corner of the Capitol grounds. It is also accessible through an underground tunnel from the Capitol building. Food is available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Families are welcome to bring lunch and enjoy it in the square or explore restaurants in the streets surrounding the Capitol building.
Additional Details
If you registered for Day at the Capitol, keep an eye on your inbox. You should get an immediate confirmation after a successful registration. If not, call the HEAV office at 804-278-9200. We will email additional information if necessary.
Refunds
An option to add on purchase protection will be given when you purchase your tickets. If an unforeseen circumstance prevents you from attending, you may be eligible for a full or partial refund through this service. If that is not an option, you may transfer your registration to another family. There will be no other refunds.
