Explore galleries, shops, restaurants, non-profits and more on the first Friday of every month as the city celebrates the arts.
October First Friday Highlights include:
The 2nd Street Festival in Richmond returns in 2019 for its 31st anniversary, celebrating the rich culture of the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood.
As always, this FREE event takes place the first full weekend in October. Over the years, it has grown to be one of Richmond's favorite annual events and one of the Mid-Atlantic's largest street festivals. Nearly 30,000 people visit historic Jackson Ward to reminisce about the days when 2nd Street was the heart and soul of Richmond's African-American community and was known as “the Harlem of the South.” Today, Jackson Ward continues to be a thriving Richmond neighborhood and community, and the 2nd Street Festival is an annual celebration and homecoming.
The 2nd Street Festival features four stages of live musical entertainment along with a Kidz Zone, popular food vendors, a marketplace and Artists Row to shop, the Richmond Metropolitan Antique Car Club, and walking tours given by Historic Jackson Ward Association.
The Richmond Folk Festival is celebrating its 15th Anniversary this year! This beloved event attracts over 200,000 people to downtown Richmond's riverfront over three days to celebrate the roots, richness and variety of American culture through 30 different genres of music on seven stages, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and food.
While The Richmond Folk Festival features a large variety of musical talent, the festival also showcases Virginia Folklife. With children's activities, a folk arts marketplace, regional and ethnic foods and more, there's something for everyone at The Richmond Folk Festival.
Enjoy craft beer, German food, live music & more at Manchester’s only rooftop bar and newest brewery, Dogtown Brewing, for the first ever Dogtoberfest!
Bikes and Beers Richmond features a 15 and 30-Mile ride departing from Stone Brewing and traveling through the beautiful region of Richmond, VA. All rides will feature rest stops with refreshments and will finish up back at Stone Brewing. This is a ride for everyone - All riding levels welcome!
Pre-Ride: Free High Brew Coffee and Pastries to get you fueled up for the ride! There will also be some local bike shops offering free last minute tune-ups!
Post-Ride festival at Stone Brewing featuring:
Riders will also receive a free raffle ticket for a chance to win several brand new bikes and a ton of other prizes including a private brewery tour and cycling gear!
A portion of proceeds from the event will go to the Bike Walk RVA to help improve the cycling conditions in the Richmond area.
For two weeks of every year, Richmond Restaurant Week offers diners the opportunity to experience a three-course meal at the city’s best, locally owned restaurants for less than $30.
Come out and experience your favorite spot in a new way, or explore a place you’ve never been. With dozens of Richmond’s best locally-owned restaurants participating, you’ll want to make more than one reservation. Contribute to the local economy and help eliminate hunger just by enjoying a great meal with $4.19 of every meal being donated to Feed More, a Richmond-based nonprofit that collects, prepares and distributes food to neighbors and children in need.
Participating Downtown Restaurants include The Hard Shell Downtown, The Boathouse at Rockett’s Landing, Tarrant’s Café, Nota Bene, Max’s on Broad, Julep’s, Bar Solita & more!
Join the Poe Museum for their October Unhappy Hour from 6-9 PM and costumes are encouraged!
This event will feature a costume contest with prizes for:
This event will also feature exhibits, live music by Tin Can Fish Band, a cash/credit bar, light refreshments, and Poe-themed fun for the whole family!
Riverfront Canal Cruises is doing Halloween bigger and better than ever by bringing you two nights of haunted boat tours on Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26th.
“Camp Kanawha” is a special, two-night only, thrills-filled boat ride geared toward those 12 and older. The event, on the historic Kanawha Canal, features haunting tales from Richmond’s past along with frightening scenes of a summer camping trip gone wrong! This haunted campsite turned gruesome graveyard will be a nightmare come to life in our 20-minute tours.
Canal boats leave every half hour (on the hour and the half hour) from 5-9 p.m., with the last boats departing at 8:30 p.m. both nights. Recommended ages for the Camp Kanawha Halloween cruises are 12 and up.
Tickets for the evening Camp Kanawha cruises are $8, and we recommend that tickets are purchased online, in advance.
Children under the age of 12 will enjoy our family-friendly cruise option on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., suitable for all ages.
Those attending the daytime cruises can also enjoy Shockoe Slip RVA’s Pumpkin Festival, featuring trolley hay rides, with pick-up and drop-off points at the Turning Basin, along with a pumpkin patch offering FREE pumpkins courtesy of Venture Richmond on a first-come, first-served basis (limited quantity available, only one pumpkin per person).
Tickets for family-friendly rides may be purchased in advance. Prior to 5 p.m., tickets are $10 for Adults and $6 for Seniors and Kids (5-12 years old). Children 4 and under ride for free.
You can purchase tickets to Saturday's Harvest Boat Rides here!
Named one of the top 3 food festivals in the nation by USAToday in March 2019 and garnering April 2019 press coverage in Bon Appetit, Fire, Flour and Fork comes back for a sixth year in Richmond, Va., with more than 30 dinners, food-and-drink related events, behind-the-scenes tours and talks, between Oct. 31 and Nov. 3, 2019.
With the theme “Celebrating Living Links to Land, Legacy and Larder,” FFF’s signature events will highlight Virginia’s food firsts along with the creators of those firsts throughout the long weekend.
Downtown events include the “Liquid Launch” Tour, “Go for Baroque” Dinner, Smoke on the Water at Tredegar & more!