Anthony Cosby Jr. brought the ultimate Prince tribute to Dogwood Dell. | Photo by RICtoday
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, and text all your friends. We’ve rounded up 30+ events to help spark your spontaneity as summer rolls into fall.
Coming up soon
RVA Duck Race + Festival of Inclusion | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Brown’s Island | Free | Make your bet on one of 19,000 lucky ducks racing through the canal in support of the Autism Society of Central Virginia and sensory-friendly fun for all.
Hartford Yard Goats vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels | Tuesday, Sept. 9-Sunday, Sept. 14 | Times vary | The Diamond | $13 | It’s officially time to bid adieu to our gem of a stadium with nights like Time Capsule Tuesday and Goodbye Diamond Night.
Looking ahead
“Murder on the Orient Express” | Thursday, Sept. 11-Sunday, Oct. 12 | Times vary | Virginia Repertory Theatre | $39+ | Secrecy, wealth, motive, and murder are the prime players in this suspect-driven Agatha Christie adaptation.
Tiny Porch Concerts | Sunday, Sept. 21 | 4-7 p.m. | Woodland Heights | Free | One evening, three front porches, and six concerts by local musicians such as Shotgun Princess, Andrew Rohlk, and Hot Seats.
“Ruined” + “Refined” | Tuesday, Aug. 26-Sunday, Aug. 31 | Times vary | The Branch Museum of Design | $10 | It’s the last week to see the antiquated Branch halls lined with rugged motorcycles + timeless Vespa scooters.
Wednesday, Aug. 27
Garden Walk + History Tour | 6-6:45 p.m. | Agecroft Hall | $10 | Agecroft is staying open late for this special 45-minute tour exploring the stories of the Renaissance gardens.
Thursday, Aug. 28
End of Summer “DAYance” Party | 5 p.m. | The Camel | $5 | Not a night owl? Here’s your chance to channel some club-like energy, be in bed by 10 p.m., and help fund medical care for people in need along the way.
Heist: Sketch Comedy Show | Thursday, Aug. 28 + Saturday, Aug. 30 | Times vary | Coalition Theater | $12+ | Find out how a group of scrappy sketch comedians can pull off the ultimate jewel heist.
Friday, Aug. 29
“Jaws” 50th Anniversary Showing | Friday, Aug. 29-Sunday, Aug. 31 | 8 p.m. | Goochland Drive-In Theater | $28 | Head to the drive-in early to set up chairs or blankets + grab snacks, then settle in for the megalodon of all shark movies.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Schnitzel + Cookie Popup | 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Pick-up only) | JewFro | Price of Purchase | Pre-orders are open now; choose between four schnitzel sandwiches (including a vegetarian option) and add in some cookies from Ciao Ser for dessert.
It’s never been easier to access all your favorite Virginia Lottery games. | Photo provided by Virginia Lottery
The Virginia Lottery has always been your one-stop shop for play. And it’s never been easier to access all your favorite games from anywhere in Virginia.
Feel the excitement of Jackpot Games, instantly available online games and the classic thrill of Scratchers. Never again will you be stuck in line at the grocery store, staring a hole into the magazine rack. Relieve yourself of everyday mundanity and open the Lottery app to experience fun like no other.
The Lottery’s massive library of games is constantly rotating, ensuring there’s always something new for you to discover, along with all your go-to favorites. Print ‘n Play Games, Multi-Draw Games, Daily Games and brand new Virtual Sports are always at your fingertips, so what are you waiting for?
Find the fun in the app, online, or at your favorite Virginia Lottery retailer.†
Celebrity couple Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz are heading to the VMFA – well, their personal art collection is. Opening on Nov. 22 + running through March 2026, “Giants” will showcase over 100 works by artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Amy Sherald, plus personal memorabilia from the couple’s respective music careers. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Announced
Last Friday, Aug. 22, the BLK RVA Community Awards recognized trailblazers, innovators, and Black-owned businesses in Richmond. Five major awards celebrated cultural enrichment, culinary heritage, cultural preservation, rooted community impact, and rising community impact. See the winners.
Try This
We know about First Fridays in the Arts District, but what about a First Friday Art Trolley? Launching Friday, Sept. 5, this new trivia-toting trolley will pit-stop at four Broad Street locations, looping every 25 minutes from 6 to 8 p.m. We saved the best part for last — it’s free.
Outdoors
Last weekend, Pipeline rippled with hundreds of river lovers for the Sun’s Down, Surf’s Up Rodeo, a recreation event advocating for improved river access. Why? Around one year ago, the Department of Public Utilities closed the Pipeline Trail to decommission the outdated pipe — an unexpectedly beloved river site to many.
Biz
Richmond BizSense is now accepting submissions for RVA 25 — a collection of the region’s fastest-growing companies. Last year, local virtual therapy company AnswersNow earned the No. 1 spot. Which local innovators will top the list this year?
Job
Need to fill your open role fast? Post your job listing on our hyper-local Job Board + get connected with top local talent. Did we mention it’s free?
Home
How smart homeowners preserve their property (and their weekends): using Homebuddy for a one-time install of top-rated gutter guards that require zero maintenance. Compare local offers now.*
The Buy
The perfect stadium accessory: this clear crossbody bag for all your gameday essentials. We love this option’s adjustable strap, smooth zipper, and chic hardware.
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.
I came across lots of exciting community news today — from Alicia Keys’ and Swizz Beatz’s VMFA exhibit + the BLK RVA Awards to the new First Friday’s Art Trolley.
If you’re still curious...
Take a closer look at the traveling exhibit “Giants,” previously showcased at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
BLK RVA’s Cultural Enrichment Award recognized the January 2025 concert, “Celebration of Black Music in Film,” which inspired a collaboration with Butcher Brown and the Richmond Symphony. (Style Weekly)
The Art Trolley’s four stops include the 6th and Broad parking lot, the Virginia Rep Theatre, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and the Elegba Folklore Society.