From nature hikes to a community game night, see how Richmond is recognizing this holiday. | Photo by @cwclarke_photos
Juneteenth is tomorrow, June 19, and in honor of the federal holiday, the River City has plenty of community events to commemorate the legacy of emancipation.
Juneteenth in the Park | Thursday, June 19 + Saturday, June 21 | Times vary | Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield | Free | Join park staff and volunteers for two eventful days of art, theater, history, and hiking.
Jubilation in June | Thursday, June 19 + Friday, June 20 | Times vary | 17th Street Market + Dogwood Dell Amphitheater | Free | Attend a festival and fireworks show on Thursday, followed by an amphitheater performance by the Legacy Band on Friday night.
Juneteenth Wine Tasting | Thursday, June 19 | 5-7 p.m. | Dinner Party | Free | Support Black-owned wineries with decadent pours + taste-test Caribbean flavors with Ting A Ling, a small-biz company specializing in jerk sauce.
Homegirl Hike: Family & Friends Juneteenth Hike | Thursday, June 19 | 6-7:15 p.m. | Belle Isle Parking Lot | Free | Start your evening with a recharging hike on the James, connecting you with nature and community — kids and pups are welcome.
Flowers After 5: Ban Caribe | 5-8 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | Free | Head to the gardens on free-admission day for this musical performance blending Afro-Cuban, Latin, Caribbean, and blues sounds.
“How to Train Your Dragon” and “28 Days Later” | Thursday, June 19-Sunday, June 22 | 8:45 p.m. | Goochland Drive-In Theater | $28 | Choose between two blockbuster hits at the drive-in this weekend, and be sure to show up early for snacks and a good spot.
Friday, June 20
Sunrise Fitness | 6-6:45 a.m. | Taylor Farm Park, Sandston | Free | “Early bird gets the gains” at this community workout, just a short drive out of the city.
Murals of Jackson Ward Walking Tour | 3-4:30 p.m. | The Valentine | $20 | Take a stroll through community history with knowledgeable museum guides.
Henrico County continues to seek developers for the stalled arena project, GreenCity. This pause has since sparked conversation about shifting focus to the Richmond Coliseum, which closed in 2019. Mayor Danny Avula has confirmed that “at least one entity has approached the city about rehabbing the Coliseum.” (Richmond BizSense)
Biz
Ruby Scoops in Brookland Park is celebrating 10 years of business with a commemorative T-shirt, available now for pre-order. Bonus biz: The Lit Bae Bookshop will host a pop-up sale at the ice cream shop this Saturday, June 21, from 2 to 8 p.m.
Award
The American Water Works Association recently awarded Henrico County for the Best of the Best Water Taste Test. A panel of judges evaluated 26 samples for this test at a conference in Denver, CO, on Wednesday, June 11. (CBS 6)
Shop
Carytown is hosting its annual Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, June 14 + Sunday, June 15. Shop special deals on your favorite local businesses, like Plan 9 Records, Ladles & Linens Kitchen Shoppe, and LouLou Boutiques.
Asked
We’re rounding up the best places to read in the River City. Whether you love to cozy up at a park, library, plaza, or a moodily-lit bar, send us your take on the best reading nook you’ve found in the city.
Giveaway
Picture this: you, up to 10 of your besties, and a food-filled patio table. Enter to win a $100 gift card + a two-hour patio reservation at Laura Lee’s restaurant and bar. Like this post, follow The Richmond Experience and Laura Lees, and tag the friends you’d love to dine with.
Civic
Did you know? Trains can be surprisingly quiet. If you’re walking near railroad tracks with your earbuds in, you might not hear one coming. Pro tip: Always pay attention to the gates and flashing lights. Here are more road safety tips, courtesy of Vision Zero.*
Plan Ahead
Does your business have an upcoming event? Promote it in RICtoday. Head to our self-service ad portal to find an option that works for your budget — from eye-catching banner ads to engaging social posts.
Home
Still climbing ladders to clean your gutters? HomeBuddy installs premium gutter guards in just a few hours — and it’s 100% no-clog guaranteed. See your local offer.*
The Buy
A reversible couch cover that’s waterproof, machine washable, and pet hair resistant. Bonus: It seamlessly converts into an outdoor blanket.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
It’s been a rainy, dreary week — the perfect reading weather, in my humble opinion. Rain or sun, there are plenty of picture-book-perfect places to post up and read in our city. Use the link above to share your pick.
I’ll go first: If I’m embracing rainy weather, my top choice is Varina Public Library (floor-to-ceiling windows back-dropped by the woods). On a sunny day, I’m finding a spot at Pony Pastures on the James.
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