2nd Street Festival

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The 2nd Street Festival will return this fall to celebrate its 37th anniversary, Saturday-Sunday, October 4-5! The festival celebrates the rich culture of the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood in Downtown Richmond, VA. This FREE event is produced by Venture Richmond Events.

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Each year thousands 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 neighborhood and community. The 2nd Street Festival is an annual celebration over two days that features three stages of live musical entertainment along with a Kidz Zone, popular food vendors, a marketplace and Artists Row to shop, and the Richmond Metropolitan Antique Car Club.

(Subject to change)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

11:40 – 11:48am Miliani Hopkins - “Lift Every Voice and Sing” & “Oh Happy Day”

11:50 – 12:40pm Brother Blues Band

1:00 – 1:30pm Richmond Urban Dance

1:50 – 2:50pm Mike Gayles Band

3:15 - 3:50pm Kemel Line Dance King of RVA

4:20 - 5:20pm Art of Noise RVA

5:50 - 7:00pm The Chuck Brown Band

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5

1:00 – 1:30pm Black Awakening Choir at VCU

2:00 – 2:30pm GMWA Goochland VA & Vicinity

3:00 – 3:50pm Klaxton Brown

4:15 - 4:40pm Style to Empower with Dr. Bert - spoken word

5:00– 6:00pm DJ Drake & MC Choco

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

12:00 - 1:00pm Mike Hoggard, Harry Wilson & Friends

1:30 - 2:30pm Fabian Lance Band

3:00 - 4:15pm Melinda Ford Quartet

4:45 - 6:00pm Nathan Mitchell & Mo’Horns

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5

1:00 - 1:45pm RJS presents Trin ft. The Nucleus Trio & Nathan Fussel

2:15 - 3:00pm The Few

3:30 - 4:30pm Henry Harris Quartet

5:00 - 6:00pm The Happy Band Tribute to Debo Dabney

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

12:00 - 12:40pm Drums No Guns

1:00 - 1:40pm Alexander Mack

2:10 – 2:40pm Ezibu Muntu

3:00 - 3:50pm DJ Milk D

4:00 - 5:00pm Line Dancing with Rhonda

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5

1:25 – 1:45pm Style to Empower with Dr. Bert - spoken word

2:00 - 2:30pm 40+ Double Dutch Club - Richmond, VA Subclub

2:33 - 2:40pm Renaissance Roll Call - Gary Flowers

2:50 - 3:40pm Gene Pendleton & Friends

4:00 – 4:50pm Rick Elliott

The Chuck Brown Band is the official band of the late Chuck Brown, “The Godfather of Go-Go,” and the founder and creator of Go-Go music, a hypnotically danceable genre deeply rooted in funk and soul that Brown developed in the early 1970’s in the District of Columbia.

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Today, Chuck Brown’s son Wiley Brown (Wiley B), who has been around music since the age of four with his father, is the lead singer of the band. He started rapping as a youth but after Chuck’s passing, joined the Chuck Brown Band. Wiley B’s lead vocals and looks on the 2021 single and video “Summertime” by the Chuck Brown Band sparked even more comparisons amongst Go-Go fans to his father. Out now is their 2024 single, “Loose Control,” featuring Treasure Joy. The Chuck Brown Band performs on Saturday, October 4 at 5:50pm.

Since 2020, DJ Drake and MC Choco have maintained a collaborative partnership that started in DJ Drake’s living room during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their Facebook “Live” shows entertained thousands of viewers from the across the country, giving audiences a real time ability to connect with the artists and other fans during a time of isolation.

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With over three decades of DJing experience, DJ Drake currently works as a mix show DJ for 105.7 KISS FM in Richmond. MC Choco has an equally extensive background, having worked in local clubs and restaurants for over three decades. Together, they bring fun energy to the dance floor! DJ Drake and MC Choco perform on Sunday, October 5 at 5:00pm.

The Joe Kennedy Jr. Jazz Stage features Nathan Mitchell on Saturday, October 4 at 4:45pm. Back by popular demand, this Grammy-nominated, #1 Billboard, 3x NAACP Image Award winning keyboardist is excited to be back home. Mitchell, a fan favorite, has spent half of his life in Virginia. He was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by President Joe Biden in 2023 and has been a featured performer at Jazz Festivals all over the world.

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Closing the Jazz Stage on Sunday is The Happy Band Tribute to Debo Dabney. Debo, who passed away in 2020, was a beloved, dynamic, animated and well-known keyboardist in the metro Richmond area. He performed each year at the 2nd Street Festival. The Happy Band performs on Sunday, October 5 at 5:00pm.

The 2025 official poster was commissioned to Amiri Richardson-Keys, a Richmond based artist who is a visual fine artist, art educator and art therapist who enjoys creating images of love and art that speaks to the people and to cultural awareness. Official posters and tshirts with the art will be available to purchase at the Venture Richmond tent on 2nd Street during the festival.

• Featured Guest: Festival Poster Artist, Amiri Richardson-Keys
• Andrew Nichols Art – Andrew Nichols
• From the Core Art Studio – Lizzie Brown
• The Art of Abdul Badi – Abdul Badi

Back again for another year, 2nd Street Festival partner Radio One’s “2nd Street MIX'' weekend will get you ready for the festival by bringing you mixes from the hottest DJs in the city! Hear mixes from DJ King Tutt, DJ Drake, and DJ Lonnie B playing all your favorite 2nd Street Festival hits! Tune into 99.3/105.7 KISS FM on Saturday, October 4 from 4:00pm-midnight and Sunday, October 5 from noon-7:00pm.

Venture Richmond Events will provide FREE guided walking tours led by Gary Flowers who has a four-generation family connection to Historic Jackson Ward. "Educating the public to the place Historic Jackson Ward holds in commerce, education, and dismantling racial segregation in the United States of America is critically important to me,” Mr. Flowers said. Tour groups meet on the sidewalk at the Maggie Walker National Historic Site, 2nd & E. Leigh Street, and leave at 3:00pm on Saturday and at 3:00pm on Sunday. 60-minute tours.

The Children’s Museum (CMoR) and Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA) are once again producing the much-loved Kidz Zone!

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CMoR has fun activities planned to include a community art project, bag hat creations, hand painting, as well as a physical activity area with a variety of yard games. A free book giveaway will be provided from the book buggy.

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Join BHMVA for “Dancing the Duce,” a fun kids’ activity that takes families on a stamp-collecting journey across community tables, including the Maggie Walker National Historic Site, the JXN Project, Historic Jackson Ward, and more. Complete the card and return it to the BHMVA table for a prize! While you’re there, test your knowledge with our 2nd Street trivia and learn fascinating facts about the people, places, and culture that made the Jackson Ward neighborhood legendary.

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Balloons By Extreme will also be on site for some balloon twisting fun! The Kidz Zone is located in the parking lot between Clay and Leigh Street off 2nd Street.

SheJeepsRVA was founded in 2024 in Richmond with a powerful vision to create a safe, welcoming space for Black women Jeep enthusiasts to connect, support their communities, and celebrate their culture. Rooted in the principle of “each one, teach one,” SheJeepsRVA offers Black women the opportunity to both explore and escape within the Jeep community, while fostering a strong sisterhood. Members are professional women with diverse and accomplished backgrounds who bring their experiences, talents, and networks together to uplift and empower our communities. Visit them on Leigh Street, only on Saturday, October 4.

• Africanne on Main
• Carnival Bites
• Croaker’s Spot
• Hawk’s BBQ
• Jem’s Caribbean Cuisine
• Jus Cuk’n
• Mama J's
• Neighborhood Scoops
• Sunshine and Wayne’s
• Tri City Concessions

2nd Street Festival Hours

• Saturday, October 4 from 11:30am - 7:00pm
• Sunday, October 5 from 12:00pm - 6:00pm

2nd Street Festival Location

In the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood, within an eight-block area along N. 2nd Street between E. Broad and E. Jackson Streets in Downtown Richmond.

• For ride share: 124 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Admission

The 2nd Street Festival is a FREE event. Food, drink and merchandise are available for sale.

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No Pets

DO NOT BRING PETS (other than service animals) to the festival. We expect large crowds and your pets will be more comfortable at home.

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What Can I Bring With Me?

Items that are permitted include, but are not limited to:

• FOLDING CHAIRS ARE RECOMMENDED – we ask that you bring your own portable chair to comfortably enjoy the live music.
• Ponchos and small, personal umbrellas are permitted in the case of rain.

What Can I Not Bring With Me?

Items that are not permitted include, but are not limited to:

• No pets (official service animals are permitted)
• No coolers, or large backpacks
• No alcohol
• No bottles/glass containers
• No illegal substances, illicit goods, fireworks, weapons, guns, knives or laser pointers will be permitted at the event and violators will be held accountable and prosecuted by state and federal law.
• No flying objects (drones, kites, Frisbees, footballs, etc.)
• No riding bikes or scooters through the festival site

Downtown Richmond Parking

• There is no dedicated event parking, but around the festival site there are surface parking lots and available on-street parking, specifically on the south side of E. Broad Street between Foushee Street and N. 5th Street.
• We advise festival attendees to use the GRTC Pulse bus service which has a stop at 2nd and E. Broad Streets.
• Rideshare services are also advised. Best drop off address for rideshare is: 124 E. Broad St., Richmond, 23219
• Be sure to check out our Downtown Richmond Transportation Guide to determine the best way to get to the event and around the city of Richmond during the 2nd Street Festival!

In the Event of Rain

The 2nd Street Festival will go on, rain or shine.

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Emergency Services/First Aid

Emergency service centers are available at the festival.

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Restrooms

Portable restrooms are located throughout the festival. Free hand sanitizer will be available at these locations.

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Your Presence Is Your Permission

Special photographers and videographers have been hired by festival organizers to document the event. Some images may be used in later promotional materials. Your presence at the event is seen as your permission for such promotional use by the nonprofit organizers.

Please email us for information on all 2025 sponsorship opportunities.