Recommended Ages: 4–8 (Pre-K to Grade 2)

Celebrate all the ways kids can be strong—with bold colors, big feelings, and a whole lot of heart! Beloved author and artist Todd Parr leads this joyful session based on his newest book, I Am Strong. Kids will draw, share, and reflect on what makes them strong—whether it's lifting a friend’s spirits or imagining something new. Bright outfits and big smiles encouraged!

Recommended Ages: 4–8 (Pre-K to Grade 2)

Come dressed in your brightest colorsand bring your biggest imagination! Join bestselling author and illustrator Victoria Kann for a magical, interactive morning inspired by her beloved Pinkalicious series. Through storytelling, drawing, and playful creativity, kids will meet their favorite pink-powered heroine, dream up brand-new characters, and explore what makes each of us uniquely colorful.

Recommended Ages: 8–12 (Grades 3–6)

Pack your magnifying glass and your imagination! Join author and puzzle expert Russell Ginns for a fast-paced, mystery-writing adventure. From lost cities and strange symbols to unsolved disappearances and ancient riddles, uncover real-world curiosities and use them as sparks for crafting their own mysterious stories. Build suspense, plant clues, and think like a detective—or a trickster.

Wendy Shang brings the magic of American Girl® to the VCBF! Corinne is the 2022 Doll of the Year, and the first Chinese-American Doll. Find out all about Corinne, her family, her story, her passions, her puppy, and even learn some of her survival skills along the way. You don’t want to miss this incredible program!

Did you know that in 1953, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts became one of the first museums in the world to have an Artmobile, and now it’s here at the VCBF? Stop in and see the incredible traveling exhibit of portraits from across the ages. from long ago to the modern day. How have portraits changes? How would you paint YOUR portrait?

Todd is back with “The Don’t Worry Book,” reassuring kids everywhere that even when things are scary or confusing, there’s always something comforting around the corner. We all know kids worry just as much as adults, and in his sweet and accessible way, Todd finds a way to reach little kids with big (or small!) worries.

“Why do I make books? That’s easy. A book sits with you in your secret corner or in your favorite chair on a rainy day, and whispers in your ear, “You’re okay, I’m here. Let me tell you a story…” It’s like a hug made solid. That’s what I do. I make hugs for a living.” Well, who doesn’t want to hug Kitty Corn? Come meet LeUyen’s newest, fuzziest, pinkest creation!

From tiny seeds to towering giants, there are trees in all of us. Join Corinna Luyken and Benson Shum for this highly interactive session. Curl up like a seed and then reach up to grow and sprout like a tree and sway like a tree, etc… and then making a drawing of what kind of tree you’d like to be with Corinna and Benson.

Did you know that in 1953, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts became one of the first museums in the world to have an Artmobile, and now it’s here at the VCBF? Stop in and see the incredible traveling exhibit of portraits from across the ages. from long ago to the modern day. How have portraits changes? How would you paint YOUR portrait?

Head on down to the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts for our super-fun and creative open-illustration workshop. Want to draw with Todd Parr? You can! Design a robot with Jay Cooper? You can do that too! Our VCBF illustrators will help you unlock your creativity and have lots of fun doing it!

Get ready to get your hands dirty at this cooking workshop with Wendy Shang and Benson Shum! Food is a huge part of Chinese celebrations, and a food that is never missing is noodles! Learn to make Chinese pulled noodles, sauces, and more, and then get to try your creation!

The VCBF LIVEmural is back, and this year our muralist Monty Montgomery is working with Corinna Luyken to design a colorful and fun mural that you get to paint! Don’t miss your chance to leave your mark on the 2022 VCBF by helping create this magical mural.

Did you know that in 1953, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts became one of the first museums in the world to have an Artmobile, and now it’s here at the VCBF? Stop in and see the incredible traveling exhibit of portraits from across the ages. from long ago to the modern day. How have portraits changes? How would you paint YOUR portrait?