Summer 2027 in Winchester: the city day camp, the Jim Barnett Park outdoor pool from Memorial Day weekend, the splash pad's return and summer theater.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Summer 2027 schedules had not been posted, so the dates below are from summer 2026 and marked that way. We will add 2027 dates as the city and the camps publish them.

Summer in Winchester runs on Jim Barnett Park: the outdoor pool opens Memorial Day weekend, the city’s day camp fills its spots within days of registration opening, and the park’s indoor pool stays open all year. The Dancing Fountain splash pad downtown is due back in summer 2027.

Who to call

Pools at Jim Barnett Park

Both city pools are in Jim Barnett Park, 1001 E. Cork St., according to the city pools page.

  • Outdoor pool, open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend: eight 50-meter lanes, a diving well with a 1-meter springboard, a 30-foot tube slide and a zero-depth baby pool no deeper than 1.5 feet. General swim, lap swim, water aerobics and pool rentals.
  • Indoor pool, open all year: six 25-meter lanes, water at about 83 degrees. Swim lessons, lap swim and senior and therapy swim run year-round; general swim moves outdoors in summer.

How summer 2026 ran (from the city’s swim schedules):

Outdoor pool, summer 2026 Hours
Opening day Saturday, May 30 (general swim to 8:30 p.m.)
General swim, daily Noon to 6:30 p.m.
Lap swim, weekdays 5:30 to 8 a.m.
Lap swim, weekends 9 to 11 a.m.
Water aerobics 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Children under 12 must have a parent or guardian with them at all times. New in 2026 was a 10-punch Splash Pass for the outdoor pool, sold at the Rec Center and the outdoor pool desk. Daily and membership rates are on the city’s membership and fees page. Schedules change at short notice for weather and maintenance; check facility status before you go.

The city opened the 2026 season with a Splash Bash on May 30 and held Fun in the Sun on Saturday, July 18, when the outdoor pool became an inflatable playground with cardboard boat regattas (park events).

Splash pad

The Dancing Fountain splash pad at 121 S. Loudoun St. on the Loudoun Street Mall stayed closed through 2026. After 13 years, its central control system failed, and the replacement parts are taking longer than expected, so the city says it is scheduled to reopen in summer 2027 (city project page).

Summer camps

Winchester Parks and Recreation Summer Camp. The city’s full-day camp, with swimming, field trips, sports and crafts. In 2026 it ran June 8 to Aug. 7, weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., for children ages 6 to 12 (6-year-olds must have finished kindergarten). Online registration opened at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, for city residents in the 22601 ZIP code and a day later for everyone else, and the camp was full by April 20. Campers bring lunch and a morning snack; the city provides the afternoon snack. Residents pay a lower weekly rate. Financial aid is first come, first served (city childcare and camp page). You need a CommunityPass account before registration opens; the city says camp dates depend on the last day of the school year.

Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum camps, 19 W. Cork St. Half-day weekday camps for rising pre-K and kindergarten children (4 and up) and for rising first to fifth graders, mornings 9 a.m. to noon and afternoons 1 to 4 p.m., with play time in the museum each day (museum camps page).

For school-year after-school care, the city’s HIVE and HIVE Club programs for Winchester Public Schools students in kindergarten through sixth grade open registration in July.

Summer theater, baseball and music

  • Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, professional summer stock at Shenandoah University since 1984. The 2026 season was “Guys & Dolls,” “She Loves Me” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.” Box office: 540-665-4569, 1460 University Drive (SSMT).
  • Winchester Royals, the city’s summer baseball team, play home games at Bridgeforth Field in Jim Barnett Park; 2026 home games started at 7 p.m. (2026 listing).
  • Sunset Series and Moonlit Movies at the amphitheater at Bowman Library, 871 Tasker Road, Stephens City: Thursday concerts at 6:30 p.m. and Friday movies at 8:30 p.m. in summer 2026 (2026 concert listing).
  • Frederick County Fair, Frederick County Fairgrounds: July 27 to Aug. 1, 2026 (2026 listing).

What this means for you

  • Register for city camp the morning it opens; in 2026 every spot was gone within a week.
  • Outdoor pool season is Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend; the indoor pool is the rainy-day backup.
  • The downtown splash pad should be back in summer 2027.

Related: parks and trails, Memorial Day, Fourth of July fireworks, spring break and kids’ activities.

Frequently asked questions

When does the outdoor pool open in Winchester?

The city says the outdoor pool at Jim Barnett Park is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. In 2026 it opened Saturday, May 30.

When does registration open for the Winchester Parks and Recreation summer camp?

For summer 2026, online registration opened at 10 a.m. April 14 for city residents in the 22601 ZIP code and April 15 for everyone else, and the camp was full by April 20. The 2027 dates had not been posted.

Is the splash pad in Winchester open?

No. The Dancing Fountain splash pad at 121 S. Loudoun St. stayed closed in 2026 after its control system failed, and the city says it is scheduled to reopen in summer 2027.

What ages is the Winchester city summer camp for?

In 2026 the Parks and Recreation summer camp took children ages 6 to 12, and 6-year-olds had to have finished kindergarten. It ran weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.