08.12.2024

Today’s Forecast

86º | 4% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:23 a.m. | Sunset 8:05 p.m.

Festivals are in full swing

Your ultimate guide to Richmond festivals

The Folk Festival will take place in September this year. | Photo via Richmond Folk Festival

Is that a crisp fall breeze in the air? Uh — no, probably not yet. But we’re looking forward to several fall festivals right around the corner.

Here are some highlights for the rest of our year from our ultimate festival guide.

Pro tip: Bookmark this page so you don’t miss out on your favorite fest — we keep it updated all year.

☀️ Final summer flings

Latin Jazz and Salsa Show Festival | Aug. 31
This cultural celebration will take place at 17th St. Market.

James River EcoFest | Sept. 7
Head to the River Education Center for family fun, tree giveaways, educational activities, and a raffle.

Pridefest | Sept. 14
Put on by VA Pride, this festival takes the Bon Secours Training Center by storm each September. Check out this year’s headliners.

RICtoday_2ndStreetFestival_JacksonWard — The 2nd Street Festival fills the streets of Jackson Ward with art, vendors, and music.
|
Photo by RICtoday

🍂 Fall highlights

St. Benedict Oktoberfest | Sept. 20-22
Celebrate Oktoberfest in the Museum District with music, dancing, drinks, and plenty of German cuisine.

RVA East End Festival | Sept. 21
Enjoy music at Chimborazo Park from the Richmond Symphony and other acts to support RPS.

Richmond Folk Festival | Sept. 27-29
Enjoy performing groups from around the world as well as food, drinks, a marketplace, and more at this free festival. See who’s playing this year.

Richmond Veg Fest | Oct. 5
Get your fill of vegetarian food, music, speakers, and family fun.

2nd Street Festival | Oct. 5-6
This Jackson Ward street festival promises two days of performances, vendors, art, and markets.

RICtoday_GardenGlow_Maymont — Explore the enchanting lights at Maymont during Garden Glow.
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Photo by Dave Parrish

✨ Look ahead

Garden Glow | Oct. 16-Nov. 10
Wander through light displays and enjoy food and drinks at Maymont.

GardenFest of Lights | Nov. 18-Jan. 5
Walk among millions of twinkling lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

These are just a few of the parties Richmond has on the books for the rest of 2024 — click the button below to see 15 more.

Find your fest

Asked

What item are you always bringing to a River City festival?

A. Lawn chair
B. Bug spray
C. Fan
D. ID
E. Other — let us know

I gotta have this ...

Events

Monday, Aug. 12

Monday Movie Night | Monday, Aug. 12 | 8 p.m. | Pizza Bones | Free entry | Bring your crew to a screening of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” at the Union Hill pizza place.

Tuesday, Aug. 13

“Point Break” | Tuesday, Aug. 13 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre | $9 | Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze star in this action classic.

Wednesday, Aug. 14

Dominion Energy Jazz Café | Wednesday, Aug. 14 | 6-8 p.m. | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts | Free | Head to the atrium for an evening of caliente dance music with Roanoke’s Jstop Latin Soul Band.
Dine & Discuss Book Chat | Wednesday, Aug. 14 | 7-9 p.m. | Gold Lion Community Cafe | Free entry | Come ready to talk inclusion, fitness, agency, body liberation, and joy with Dr. Marcia.
Dogstar | Wednesday, Aug. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | The National | $98 | The alt-rock band will play with Archer Oh.

Thursday, Aug. 15

Tenth Army Commander: General Simon B. Buckner Jr. | Thursday, Aug. 15 | 2-3 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Wisconsin Veterans Museum Director Chris Kolakowski will review this general’s life, with emphasis on his World War II commands in Alaska and Okinawa.
Artist Meetup: The Exquisite Corpse | Thursday, Aug. 15 | 6 p.m. | Benchtop Brewing | Free entry | Meet other artists at this Art Works meetup and participate in a creative activity with supplies provided.

Saturday, Aug. 17

Reedy Creek Cleanup | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 12 p.m. | The Veil Brewing Co. Forest Hill | Free | Join Keep Virginia Cozy for a community cleanup, then enjoy a brew at an afterparty at The Veil.

Plan your week

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

Learn more about the city’s plan to rewrite the zoning ordinance at two Code Refresh open houses this week. The first is Thursday, Aug. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Main Library, the second is Saturday, Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Studio Two Three.

Eat

The Smoky Mug is moving its cafe and smokehouse down the street. Owners Dan Lee and Ryan Maynes say the new location on North Avenue will have more indoor seating, parking, and extended operating hours. They plan to open in April. (Richmond Magazine)

Open

7 Brew Coffee is now open in Midlothian. The drive-thru coffee spot is located near Ivymont Square Shopping Center. It’s the first Richmond-area location for the national chain, which plans to add two more in Chesterfield soon. (ABC 8News)

Festival

Mark your calendar for the Virginia Adaptive Sports Festival, taking place Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Henrico Sports and Events Center. The free Sportable fest will feature demonstrations, clinics, and pickup games of sports including archery, cycling, goalball, wheelchair rugby, and more.

Biz

The Times-Dispatch will move out of its Franklin Street building, its home since 1923, next year. In 2020, the building was bought by Shamin Hotels, with RTD leasing its space on the fourth floor. The paper did not share details about a new location. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Watch

A Richmonder is part of the cast of Netflix’s “Blue Ribbon Baking Championship,” which sees bakers from state fairs across the country compete for a $100,000 prize. Kim Thompson, owner of Kimmy Kakes, has won multiple blue ribbons at the VA State Fair. All episodes are now streaming.

Try This

Did you know you can play the Virginia Lottery online? Yup, you can win without leaving the house. See the games + try your luck. You must be 18+ to play Lottery games. See odds, game, and prize info.*

Family

Join the Children’s Museum of Richmond for their next Outdoor Summer Performance Series concert on Saturday, Aug. 17. Enjoy live music from River City Band, cool off in the splash pad, and relax under the shade with the whole fam. Learn more.*

Edu

💸 $15 million for RPS upgrades

RPS will get $15 million to upgrade schools

RICtoday_RichmondHighSchoolArts_ConstructionKamras

Superintendent Jason Kamras and RPS leaders speak at the construction site of the new Richmond High School for the Arts. | Photo by RICtoday

Richmond Public Schools will receive $15 million from a federal program designed to update public schools across the country.

The funds are part of the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant from the US Department of Energy. RPS was the only district in Virginia to be selected for the a piece of the funds, which total $190 million nationwide.

The grant is designed for schools to make energy upgrades, improve indoor air quality, and foster healthier learning environments. In March, visible mold was reported at a majority of RPS schools.

According to Superintendent Jason Kamras, the following Title I schools will receive upgrades through the grant:

Bellevue ES, Carver ES, Fairfield Court ES, Francis ES, McClenney ES, Obama ES, Redd ES, Reid ES, Southampton ES, Swansboro ES, Westover Hills ES
Albert Hill MS, Dogwood MS
Armstrong HS, Community HS, Franklin Military Academy, John Marshall HS, Thomas Jefferson HS
Maymont Preschool, Amelia Street School, Franklin Military Academy, Richmond Alternative School, Summer Hill Preschool

The announcement comes as RPS wraps up the current phase of its planning process, Dreams4RPS. The superintendent will present the final plan to the school board in September.

The Buy

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More worth The Buy

Answered

We asked you to identify what Carytown business the founder of the Watermelon Festival owned.

Did you go to the Watermelon Festival over the weekend? | Photo by RICtoday

Around 30% of respondents were right — Jo Anne Draucker owned and operated Premiere Costumes. She founded the business in 1974 and sold it to a longtime employee in 2017. The Carytown fixture closed in 2020.

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