We’re here to help you tackle your fall bucket list — from upcoming festivals, tournaments, and parades to spontaneous one-day events around the city. Channel your inner social butterfly and make this season one for the books with these 30+ October events.
Pro tip: We update this page monthly with fresh events, so feel free to bookmark it so you can check back throughout the year.
Festivals
2nd Street Festival | Saturday, Oct. 4 + Sunday, Oct. 5 | Times vary | Jackson Ward | Free | Now in its 37th year, this fan fave fest offers two days of live music — this year, headlined by The Chuck Brown Band and DJ Drake + MC Choco.
Hog on the Hill | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 12-6 p.m. | Libby Hill Park | Free | Libby Park becomes a scenic destination for live bands, cold beer, and local barbecue.
16th Annual Richmond Zine Fest | Friday, Oct. 10 + Saturday, Oct. 11 | Times vary | Main Library | Free | Virginia is for zinesters at this annual fest, which invites folks to sell + trade zines, attend workshops, and appreciate Richmond’s creative scene.
Richmond Folk Festival | Friday, Oct. 10-Sunday, Oct. 12 | Times vary | Brown’s Island | Free | This year’s festival brings 30+ performers to the riverside for one major music weekend, all at no admission cost.
The 55th Richmond Oktoberfest | Friday, Oct. 17 + Saturday, Oct. 18 | Times vary | Richmond Raceway | This RVA tradition goes way back, and it always draws out an impressive crowd.
Festival of the Arts | Saturday, Oct. 18 + Sunday, Oct. 26 | 8 p.m. | Dogwood Dell, Byrd Park | Free | It’s the last month to catch the amphitheater’s annual series, closing out with An Evening of Prince + Silent Music Revival.
Shalom Farms Harvest Festival | Wednesday, Oct. 29 | 5-8 p.m. | Northside Farm | Donation-based | What better way to celebrate harvest season than at your fave Northside farm?
That’s certainly not all — scout out more parties with our festivals guide.
Spontaneous fun
VisArts Chili Throwdown | Friday, Oct. 3 | 6-8 p.m. | Visual Arts Center of Richmond | $35 | The chili competition may take center stage, but the real heart comes from the potters who handcrafted the bowls and the local restaurants that stocked the flavors.
Singles Mixer | Sunday, Oct. 5 | 2-5 p.m. | Laura Lee’s | $30 (limited tickets left) | Ditch the dating apps, and don’t let anxiety stop you; The Pair Club has curated a space designed to ease nerves, spark conversation, and inspire connections.
Ye Olde Jacktown Renaissance Faire | Sunday, Oct. 12 | 12-6 p.m. | Market Street, Downtown Roanoke | Free | Jack Brown’s RVA is jumping on a bus and heading to visit the business’s Roanoke location for its first-ever Renaissance Faire — sign up to tag along or organize your own day trip.
Garden Glow | Wednesday, Oct. 15-Sunday, Nov. 9 | 6-10 p.m. | The Robins Nature Center | $25, Value Night + member discounts | You’ll have plenty of time to plan ahead for this light show, which runs all month long.
Richmond Tattoo + Arts Convention | Friday, Oct. 17-Sunday, Oct. 19 | Times vary | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Richmond: Midlothian | $35+ | As you could guess, this one’s about all things ink.
Poe’s Halloween UnHappy Hour | Thursday, Oct. 23 | 6-9 p.m. | The Poe Museum | $10, $5 for members | Wrap up Edgar Allen Poe’s unhappiest of hours + keep things creepy with a music set by The Embalmers.
RVA Square Dance | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 7 p.m. | Studio Two Three | $10 | Here’s the schedule: Doors open at 7 p.m., a group lesson starts at 7:30 p.m., and the big dance squares off at 8 p.m.
Monroe Grand Market + Halloween Block Party | Sunday, Oct. 26 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Monroe Park | Free | Come dressed in costume + ready to party, and leave with some new vintage threads.
All the Saints Richmond Halloween Parade | Friday, Oct. 31 | 6:15-9:15 p.m. | Monroe Park | Free | Celebrate the 20th anniversary of this cherished tradition by donning your finest costume and joining a parade like you’ve never seen before.
Sports
Richmond Kickers vs One Knoxville SC | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 6-8 p.m. | City Stadium | $23 | Drink up for the stadium’s highly anticipated Craft Beer match.
Texas Beach Pro Skater | Sunday, Oct. 5 | 12-5 p.m. | Texas Beach Skate Park | Free | Richmond’s DIY community comes together for a trick competition (via real life) and a Tony Hawk Pro Skater competition (via DawnStar video games) — 1115 Mobile Kitchen dishes out the eats.
River City Roller Derby: People’s Battle of Richmond | Saturday, Oct. 11 + Sunday, Oct. 12 | Times TBD | Greater Richmond Convention Center | Price TBD | For the third year, our derby league is gearing up for the great PBR tournament, drawing seven teams together for an action-packed weekend.
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs. Richmond Kickers | Sunday, Oct. 19 | 6 p.m. | City Stadium | $23+ | Get your tickets for Fan Appreciation Night as the Roos round out the 2025 season.
It’s never too early to grab tickets for the Kickers next season.
Photo by RICtoday
First (and Second) Fridays
RVA First Fridays | Friday, Oct. 3 | 5-8 p.m. | Arts District | Free | Richmond’s Art District buzzes with open galleries, sidewalk sales, happy hours, and live music.
Manchester Manifest First Fridays | Friday, Oct. 3 | 5 p.m.-12 a.m. | Manchester | Free | Join this Southside block party for live music, community connections, and plenty of good food.
First Fridays at VMHC | Friday, Oct. 3 | 5-8 p.m. | Virginia Museum of History & Culture | Free | First Fridays at the museum include free after-hours admission, live music, drink discounts, specialty mocktails, and plenty of kid-friendly activities.
Abi’s Books + Brews First Friday: Artist Showcase | Friday, Oct. 3 | 6-9 p.m. | Abi’s Books + Brews | Free | Join this local bookstore will open its doors for an evening artist showcase.
Second Fridays at VisArts | Friday, Oct. 10 | 6-8:45 p.m. | Visual Arts Center of Richmond | $15 | Since First Fridays are busy, VisArts opts for the second, so you have plenty of time to sign up for one of many beginner-friendly art classes.
Keep in mind: If you go to RVA First Fridays, you can hop on the looping Trivia Trolley for free.
Photo courtesy of The Valentine
Theater
“Murder on the Orient Express” | Wednesday, Oct. 1-Sunday, Oct. 12 | Times vary | November Theatre | $39+ | Secrecy, wealth, motive, and murder are the prime players in this suspect-driven Agatha Christie adaptation.
“Conversations with Mothers” | Wednesday, Oct. 1-Saturday, Oct. 4 | 8 p.m. | Robert B. Moss Theatre | $15+ | Immerse yourself in the comedic and heartwarming dynamic between a conventional Italian matriarch and her free-spirited son.
“Long Day’s Journey Into Night” | Thursday, Oct. 2-Saturday, Oct. 11 | Times vary | Firehouse Theatre | $40 | This classic American play delivers guests to a single seaside day in August of 1912, as a family grapples with the realities of bitterness, jealousy, and failure.
17th Annual Richmond Theatre Community Circle Awards (“Artsies”) | Sunday, Oct. 19 | 7 p.m. | Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre | $25+ | Celebrate theatrical talent in the Richmond community at this annual awards ceremony.
“The Rocky Horror Show” | Friday, Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. | Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center | $14+ | For some, this is a Halloween tradition, and it hits the big stage this year in collaboration with Richmond Triangle Players.
Concerts + shows
The Vampire Circus | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 8 p.m. | Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center | $25+ | This performance will infuse elements of cabaret, theater, and the trademark styles of both Tim Burton + Cirque Du Soleil.
Peach Pit | Thursday, Oct. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | The National | $45 | Fans of indie music know and love this heartfelt band known for hits like “Alrighty Aphrodite” + “Shampoo Bottles.”
Dead Billionares, Rikki Rakki, and Flora + Fauna | Friday, Oct. 17 | 9:30 p.m. | The Camel | $12 | A few Richmond faves take the stage at this intimate venue, always on the pulse of the local music scene.
Dylan Gossett: The Westward Tour | Saturday, Oct. 18 | 6 p.m. | Brown’s Island | $35+ | Drayton Farley + Buffalo Traffic Jam open for this country songwriter, as part of the LiVE LOUD music series.
Groovin’ in the Garden: Jeff Tweedy | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 7-10 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | $52+ | Head to Lewis Ginter to hear this singer-songwriter serenade the gardens.
“‘Stardew Valley:' Symphony of Seasons” | Wednesday, Oct. 29 | 8 p.m. | Altria Theater | $40+ | If you’ve ever played this cozy farming video game, take this chance to hear the melodic background music in person, backed by a live symphony.
Share your event
Have an event of your own you’d like to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner, below our featured events.
- Be sure to include a link and fill out all the essential details, such as your event’s date, time, location, and price.
- Click “Submit,” and — ta-da — you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.