Don garb in the likes of wizards, fairies, knights, and tavern keepers. | Photo by Dave Parrish
Richmond Renaissance Faire makes its return with Warriors in Bloom, a one-day festival affair on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 12 to 5 p.m. The whimsical backdrop? Historic Agecroft Hall and Gardens.
Gathering momentum
2025 was well-met with the launch of the Richmond Renaissance Faire, backed by nonprofit Virago Alley. Come March, the Ren Faire kicked off with a fundraiser event attracting thousands.
Virago Alley aims to establish Richmond Ren Faire as an annual multi-day festival in the spring of 2026. | Photo by Jaclyn Brown, taken at the fundraiser kick-off in March
Not your typical Ren Faire
Make haste to sharpen thy swords once again.
Warriors in Bloom aims to transcend the spirit of a routine Ren Faire by spotlighting the stories and legacies of “viragos,” a Latin term meaning “vigorous maiden” or “female warrior.”
Portland Sea Dogs at Richmond Flying Squirrels | Friday, July 25-Sunday, July 27 | Times vary | The Diamond | $13+ | This weekend’s games include an Ardrillas Voladoras Wrestling cape giveaway, Military Appreciation Night + Boots, Beer, and Baseball Country Night.
Moth Observation Night | 9:30-11 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | $28+ | It’s National Moth Week, and you’re invited to a night at the gardens to observe with UV lamps, learn a little moth 101, and play Bug Bingo.
Saturday, July 26
RVA Growers Market | 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | Manchester District | Price of purchase | Help welcome this new growers market to Richmond’s farm-fresh family.
Collections Up Close: Pitch Perfect: The History of Music in Virginia | Saturday, July 26, Saturday, July 26 | Times vary | Virginia Museum of History and Culture | $40 | The museum will curate a display of artifacts with a themed presentation, followed by an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s archival storage areas.
Parking Lot Pull Up Pop Up | 4-8 p.m. | Manchester District | Free | Gather in Manchester for a day of live performances, food vendors, raffles, and family-friendly fun.
Sunday, July 27
48HFP Best of Richmond Awards | 2 p.m. | Libby Mill Library | $15+ | Attend the premier + award ceremony for this experimental film project, in which teams have 48 hours to shoot, edit, and produce a short film. Spritz O’Clock | 6-9 p.m. | Susie’s Delicatessen | Price of purchase | “It’s like we’ll be sipping Aperol spritzes on the Amalfi coast... only in Richmond on Cary Street,” Susies says.
Monday, July 28
Make-it Bar | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Shop Made in VA | $12+ | Each hour welcomes a new DIY craft, from candles and charm bracelets to hand-patched trucker hats.
The Watermelon Festival returns for its 43rd year this August. | Photo by Three One One Productions
Festival
Carytown’s annual Watermelon Festival is coming up, Sunday, Aug. 10. Clear your calendars, and remember to show up hungry. Plus, New York Deli is joining the festivities with limited-edition specials like Watermelon Margaritas, Spicy Watermelon Shooters, and Salmon Watermelon Salad — all served with rooftop views.
Theater
This weekend is your final call to see “Burial Tax” at Firehouse Theater, which explores the chaotic reunion of estranged siblings following their father’s death. Looking ahead, you can still catch the Broadway smash hit “Waitress” until Sunday, Aug. 3 + the Pulitzer Prize-winning production “A Strange Loop” through Saturday, Aug. 9.
Trending
We’re 98 days from Halloween, and folks are having hard time waiting. According to Google Trend reports, searches for “Halloween in July” (Summerween) have spiked +300% over the past month. If you’re eager for some summertime spooks, we recommend trying to find Richmond’s cryptids. (Google)
Arts
The Valentine unveiled a new exhibit titled “Generations: Stories of Asian Americans in Richmond.”Guided by photographs, narratives, and meaningful memorabilia, the exhibit “celebrates the personal stories and cultural identities of Richmond’s Asian American communities.” The showcase will remain on view through May of 2026. (The Valentine)
Try This
Paint and sip... then eat your masterpiece. Bar Solita is planning a unique experience on Friday, Aug. 1. Sit down with a cocktail and a canvas, then dip your paintbrush into your glass. The paints are edible, the canvas is edible, and the flavors are infused into your drink.
Fact or Fiction
The color of your car impacts your car insurance rate. Fact or fiction? Luckily for Nicki Minaj, this is fiction. Still, rates can change for other reasons, so experts advise shopping around regularly. See if you could save with this quick questionnaire.*
Read
Tangle is a rare political newsletter that doesn’t take sides — it lays them out. Every day, it delivers balanced reporting on major political stories, minus the bias. Subscribe for free.*
The Buy
Amazon’s deals are still rolling, and we’re here for it. Shop more picks while the sales last:
📱 Shop 15% off a MagSafe portable charger that’s sleek, slim, and comes in light pink and lavender.
🍚 If you cook rice, oatmeal, or quinoa almost daily, Cosori’s 4.8-star rated grains cooker is 10% off for a limited time.
💺 Upgrade your home office chair for a high-back leather version while it’s 38% off.
📹 Snag 44% off a like-new Ring stick-up camera that can be installed inside or out.
📚 Get a like-new version of Kindle’s latest model, the Paperwhite, for 26% off.
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.
The Valentine’s Director of PR and Marketing reached out to share some love for our “July in the archives” article, which sourced nostalgic photos from the museum’s Richmond Times-Dispatch Collection. In fact, she noted that “Hardware Cat” is one of her all-time favorite photos from the bunch.
Hardware Cat is certainly a fave of mine as well, but it was the boutique break dancers that initially grabbed my attention.
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