Richmond Events
Your weekly guide to what's happening in Richmond City, Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover. Published every Thursday.
The best low-effort Thursday in town. Jangling Reinharts plays the gypsy-jazz-meets-Americana thing the garden crowd loves, and you can...
The best low-effort Thursday in town. Jangling Reinharts plays the gypsy-jazz-meets-Americana thing the garden crowd loves, and you can wander the rose garden with a beer in hand until the light goes golden. Get there by 5:30 if you want a real spot on the lawn — by 7 the good blanket real estate is gone. Members get in cheap; non-members are $17 and worth it, especially when the conservatory's still open for a walk-through before sunset.
Event page →The wharf turns into a proper waterfront festival — sailboats, paddle demos, food vendors, music, the whole production. Park down at...
The wharf turns into a proper waterfront festival — sailboats, paddle demos, food vendors, music, the whole production. Park down at Rocketts Landing and walk in; the lot at the venue itself fills up by noon Saturday. Bring sunscreen and a refillable water bottle (the breeze off the river fools you into thinking you're not burning). Dogs welcome on leash, kids run free, and the boat tours go fast — book on arrival if you want one.
Event page →Henrico does this one right. Live music all afternoon, food trucks deep enough that you don't have to commit to one early, a kids' zone...
Henrico does this one right. Live music all afternoon, food trucks deep enough that you don't have to commit to one early, a kids' zone that genuinely keeps kids occupied, and fireworks to close it out. Park near the rec center if you can — the back lots are a hike when you're carrying chairs. Bring a blanket, get there by 5 to walk the vendor village before the headline acts, and stay for the fireworks. Free, which means it'll be packed, which is the point.
Event page →One of the most substantive guided tours in the city, full stop. It leaves from Mama J's in Jackson Ward — which means you should plan to...
One of the most substantive guided tours in the city, full stop. It leaves from Mama J's in Jackson Ward — which means you should plan to eat there before or after (the fried chicken is not optional). The route covers Shockoe Bottom, Jackson Ward landmarks, and sites tied to the Reconciliation Triangle. Wear real shoes; there's more walking than the listing suggests. Book ahead.
Event page →A history talk at the church where Patrick Henry gave the "liberty or death" speech is its own kind of Richmond pleasure. The subject —...
A history talk at the church where Patrick Henry gave the "liberty or death" speech is its own kind of Richmond pleasure. The subject — Washington's surprisingly modern public-health campaign — is more interesting than it sounds, and the room's acoustics make any lecture feel like an event. Church Hill parking is tight; grab a spot on E. Broad and walk up the hill.
Event page →The Valentine's Wickham House tour reframed around the women — enslaved and free — who lived and worked there. It's the version of the tour...
The Valentine's Wickham House tour reframed around the women — enslaved and free — who lived and worked there. It's the version of the tour that makes the house feel like a real place instead of a period set piece. Tours run about 45 minutes; combine it with a wander through the Valentine's main galleries (admission gets you both). Court End is easy weekend parking.
Event page →Agecroft is the 16th-century English manor that got dismantled in Lancashire and reassembled along the James in the 1920s — yes, really...
Agecroft is the 16th-century English manor that got dismantled in Lancashire and reassembled along the James in the 1920s — yes, really. The Shakespeare-themed garden walk is exactly the kind of thing that sounds twee until you're standing in it and the boxwood smells like June. Ten to fifteen bucks, an hour of your time, free street parking on Sulgrave.
Event page →A juried show built around freedom of expression, timed to the semiquincentennial. Artspace lives in the Plant Zero complex in Manchester...
A juried show built around freedom of expression, timed to the semiquincentennial. Artspace lives in the Plant Zero complex in Manchester, and the gallery itself is small enough to do in 30 minutes — pair it with a coffee at the cafe next door or a walk over to the floodwall. Free, which is the right price for a gallery you can actually browse without a crowd.
Event page →A hands-on color-and-light craft program aimed at teens — the kind of thing the downtown library does well and people forget the library...
A hands-on color-and-light craft program aimed at teens — the kind of thing the downtown library does well and people forget the library does at all. Free, drop-in friendly, about an hour. Worth a slot if your kid is in that awkward middle-school summer where camp ended and school hasn't started.
Event page →You don't really understand Richmond until you've spent a summer afternoon on the James. The park system runs both banks downtown, but for...
You don't really understand Richmond until you've spent a summer afternoon on the James. The park system runs both banks downtown, but for this week I'd point you at Belle Isle (pedestrian bridge from Tredegar, park in the deck on 5th and walk over) or Pony Pasture if you want a quieter swim spot with kids. Belle Isle is the postcard — flat rocks to sun on, class III rapids to watch, and a 1.8-mile loop that's runnable in trail shoes. Go early on weekends; the parking lot at Tredegar fills by 10. Water shoes are smart, the rocks are slick, and the river runs higher than it looks. Bring more water than you think you need. If you have a tube and a friend with a second car, the float from Reedy Creek to Ancarrow's Landing is the best three hours you'll spend outside this month.
Visit →VisArts is the city's secret weapon for creative people — a working arts center in the Fan with rotating exhibitions, drop-in classes, and...
VisArts is the city's secret weapon for creative people — a working arts center in the Fan with rotating exhibitions, drop-in classes, and a gallery you can browse for free. The exhibition spaces are small but consistently sharp, and the building itself (a converted 1930s automotive showroom) is worth a look. If you've been telling yourself you'd take a pottery class or try printmaking, this is the place; their single-session workshops are designed for exactly that "I want to try something" itch. Free to walk in, metered street parking on Main, and a half-dozen good lunch spots within two blocks (Lucca, Pinky's, Perly's all close by). Even if you don't take a class, swing through the gallery on a Saturday afternoon — it's a five-minute detour that consistently delivers.
Visit →The downtown riverfront's most useful piece of real estate — a man-made island connected by footbridge, big enough to host concerts and...
The downtown riverfront's most useful piece of real estate — a man-made island connected by footbridge, big enough to host concerts and small enough to feel like a park. On a regular weekday it's just a great place to bring lunch and watch the river. Park in the deck at 7th and Tredegar and walk the floodwall down; the views of the rapids and the old Tredegar ironworks are the best free thing in the city. Pair it with a walk across the T. Pott Bridge to Belle Isle and you've got a full morning. Sunset here is genuinely beautiful — the western light hits the downtown skyline and the river all at once.
Visit →Before You Go
- Weather — Mid-June in Richmond means high 80s, possible afternoon thunderstorms, and humidity that earns its reputation. Outdoor events: hat, water, and an exit plan if you see clouds building west.
- Pro tip — For SailFest and Juneteenth both, get there in the first hour. Parking is the difference between a great day and a frustrating one, and the food vendor lines double after the first set of music ends.
- Local resource — RVA.gov/summer is the city's running calendar of free summer programming at Dogwood Dell and elsewhere — bookmark it now, you'll use it through August.
- Jun 11 Thursday Date Night Deal at Benchtop Brewing Richmond - Benchtop Brewing – Richmond, Richmond