Christmas Rally at Virginia Beach

The Christmas rally will be held December 4 - 6 at the Holiday Trav-L-Park Campground in Virginia Beach. Hosts for the rally are Max & Barbara Hicks, Wilt & Barbara Greenwood and Paul & Nancy Cummings.

Campsites: Everyone must make their own reservation with the campground at 757-425-0249 Ext 203; ask for June and tell her you are with Dogwood. We will be using the campground's "super sites" at a cost of $35.54 including tax. The same rate will apply for early arrivals and later departures. All sites have concrete pads with patio, 50 amps, and cable TV. WiFi is available for an additional fee. Please reserve your campsite by November 10 as the campground has blocked off a set of sites for Dogwood and already has a waiting list for the weekend.

Rally Registration: Fees for the rally are $25 per person (or $50 per coach with 2 people). Please mail a check payable to Max (Charles M. Hicks) at 15 Warren Drive, Portsmouth, VA 23701 by November 10. Please include a note stating who will be attending the rally.

Schedule:
We have reserved a large room, the "Tally HO", for the entire weekend.

Thursday: For those who arrive early,

4:00 pm: Happy hour. BYOD and a light snack to share if you so desire.

7:00 pm: The Eastern Gourmands chapter will be having a meal and meeting at the Lucky Oyster restaurant and all Dogwood rally attendees are welcome - you don’t have to be a Gourmands member to come. Just let Gourmands President-Elect Barbara Greenwood know that you plan on dining with them so she can reserve enough adjacent tables to accommodate everyone. (Contact Barbara at greenwood@mail.escapees.com or 804-337-4345).

Friday:
5 pm: Wine and cheese happy hour hosted by Paul & Nancy Cummings. Bring a bottle of wine from your travels to share with the group. Snacks provided by hosts.

6 pm: Pizza dinner.

After Dinner: We suggest a ride down the Boardwalk to view the Christmas Illumination or check out the activities at Hunt Club Farm (more information below).

Saturday:
9 am: Breakfast; Deluxe IHOP style pancakes, sausage and fruit bowl.

10 am: Business meeting

5 pm: Happy hour; light snacks provided

6 pm: Dinner catered by Rodman's Bar-B-Q. Includes pulled pork barbeque, fried chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans and fried red peanuts. Everything will be furnished.

After dinner: Yankee Gift Swap

Sunday:
9 am: Breakfast; Biscuits with sausage gravy and a fruit bowl.

Bring your own plates and eating utensils to all meals (except Saturday night when they will be provided by the caterer). Coffee will be provided at breakfast; otherwise bring your own beverages.

Yankee Gift Swap: This event has become a Dogwood tradition. Each coach is to bring a wrapped gift with a value of approximately $20. Each coach will draw a number from the hat. #1 selects a gift and opens it. #2 can either take #1's gift or an unopened gift. #3 can take #1 or #2's gift or an unopened gift and so on. There is lots of laughter as gifts are "stolen". Once again, thanks to Donna Gruel who has volunteered to emcee the event.

Area Attractions:

Holiday Lights at the Beach: Ride down the Boardwalk to view the Christmas Illumination from your own car for $10.00 a carload or take advantage of the Campground Shuttle which does the whole round trip from the campground for $7.00 per person. Click here for more information.

Hunt Club Farm: View the Christmas lights, animations and more. Click here for more information.

Virginia Aquarium – A new exhibit called “Restless Planet” opened in November. Click here to check out the aquarium's web site or here for a very favorable article from the November 18 Virginian-Pilot. The aquarium is also offering two IMAX films: Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” and a striking “Under the Sea” 3-D photographic documentary. Discount tickets are available for seniors.

There is lots more to see and do in the area, so check with your rally hosts or look through the big pile of brochures, maps and flyers included in the goodie bag you will receive at rally check-in.

Directions: We strongly suggest that you do not follow the directions given in Woodall’s or Trailer Life to the Holiday Trav-L-Park – extensive construction on Birdneck Road has made it almost impassible to large motorhomes. A better route is to exit the Virginia Beach Expressway (I-264) at Exit 21A onto First Colonial Road South. Follow this road (it eventually changes name to Oceana Boulevard ) for a little over four miles, then turn left onto General Booth Boulevard . Go about ¾ of a mile north on General Booth and turn left into the campground. Look sharp – the sign is a little hard to spot.

Members Who Have Signed Up to Attend the Rally: Hicks, Greenwood, Alexander, Buelow, Duff, Gruel, Jones, Martin, Dan Moore, Schoolar, Sohles, Venable, Warthan, Wayman, Weigley, Fisher, Cummings, Dyke, Thomas, Allen