2nd Street Festival

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 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.

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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.

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The 2nd Street Festival is produced by Venture Richmond Events, LLC, a subsidiary of Venture Richmond, Inc.

Date: October 5-6, 2019

Time: Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Location: N. 2nd Street in the Jackson Ward neighborhood, downtown Richmond, Virginia

Google Maps Link

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Waverly R. Crawley Main Stage (sponsored by Virginia Union University)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

11:45 – 12:30pm Richmond All-City Marching Band

12:50 – 1:50pm Soul Unlimited Band

2:15 – 3:15pm Christian “Big New York” de MeSones

3:45 – 4:45pm DJ Drake

5:30 - 7:00pm E.U.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

1:00 – 1:30pm Trinity Baptist Church Mass Choir

2:00 – 2:30pm Virginia Union University Gospel Choir

2:50 – 3:00pm We Remember - Dr. Rebertha Pope Matthews & Bill McGhee

3:25 – 4:25pm Phillip “Doc” Martin

4:50 – 6:00pm Legacy Band

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Joe Kennedy Jr. Jazz Stage (sponsored by VPM PBS/NPR)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

12:00 - 12:50pm Michelle Lightfoot Trio

1:10 - 2:00pm Victor Haskins’ “Skein”

2:20 - 3:10pm Quintessential Jazz

3:30 - 4:30pm Curv Appeal

4:50 - 6:00pm Nathan Mitchell

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

Featuring M.A.A.M. (Musicians Ain’t Always Men)

1:00 - 1:50pm Marsha Meekins & Company

2:10 - 3:10pm Sharon Rae North

3:30 - 4:30pm Lady E & The Blues Synsations

5:00 - 6:00pm Debo Dabney & The Happy Band

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Nina's Bistro Stage

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

12:30 – 1:00pm Fitness Warriors

1:30 – 2:30pm Hip Hop Karaoke

2:50 – 3:35pm Rick Elliott

4:00 – 5:00pm Drew Miles

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

1:10 – 2:40pm Inyan Gospel Choir/Henrico High School

2:10 – 2:40pm D Kay Logan and Nu Beginning Choir

3:00 – 4:00pm Guitarist Zack Artis

4:30 – 5:30pm Tunji Band

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Eggleston Hotel Community Stage

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

12:00 – 12:30pm SPARC

1:00 – 1:30pm Happiness Dance Studio

2:00 – 3:00pm Carlos Viera “The Line Dance Prince”

3:30 – 3:50pm Beats, Rhythm, Life

4:30 – 5:05pm Salsa Dancers with Victor Haskins

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

1:00 – 2:00pm Zack Artis

2:30 – 3:00pm Sixth Mt. Zion Music & Movement Baptist Church

3:30- 4:30pm D & G Line Dancing

4:50 –5:30pm Ephesus Drumline

This year the festival features Saturday’s headliner EU (Experience Unlimited) and a Sunday performance by Richmond’s finest, Legacy Band. Many other great artists will be showcased over the two-day event.

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Saturday’s Headliner, EU

EU (Experience Unlimited) is one of the original Washington, DC Go-Go bands. Fronted by founding member Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott, the original members all attended Ballou High School in Washington, DC. Their early regional hits included EU Freeze, Lock Your Butt, and Knock ‘Em Out Sugar Ray.

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Although they are best known for their Grammy nominated, massive worldwide hit DaButt from Spike Lee’s “School Daze” soundtrack, EU scored hits with Salt-N-Pepa (Shake Your Thang), with rap innovator Kurtis Blow (Party Time), and on their own with Buck Wild and Taste of Your Love. "Da Butt" won Soul Train’s best R&B/Soul Single, Group in 1989.

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EU has performed with Teena Marie, Morris Day and The Time, Mint Condition, Cameo and countless others. They performed on a show with Bob Dylan in 1989, one of Sugar Bear’s career highlights. In 2003, EU performed to a national audience on the televised NAACP Awards’ Tribute to Spike Lee. EU has been featured in 2009 in VH1 one hit wonders of the 1980’s. EU is currently in the studio working on a new CD, and they continue to rock the stage night after night.

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Sunday’s Closing Performance, Legacy Band

Legacy Band is an adored Richmond favorite, playing all top hits with a mix of soul, R&B, funk and jazz. The band was originally formed by guitarist Jose Pomier and vocalist Kaila Valdez.

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Spotlight Featured Performer, Phillip “Doc” Martin

Most artists who put a “Doc” in their name do it out of cleverness, for marketing reasons, or as a crafty way to express the mastery of their instrument or vibe. Since the release of his 2003 debut “Saxappeal,” Phillip “Doc” Martin has all that down pat, wowing audiences everywhere from Blues Alley in D.C., to the St. Lucia Jazz Festival and Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival and earning inspiring amounts of airplay for tracks like “Deep Pockets,” the title track from his 2009 set Realization.

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While many independent artists with cool, successful “day jobs” prefer to avoid references to them when they talk about their music, Martin is the complete opposite, fully embracing the inspirational factor of being a top notch practitioner in two very different professions. Beyond his ever-expanding musical fan base, hundreds of patients in the Washington, DC area know him as “Dr. Martin,” a board certified dentist in a group practice there.

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Spotlight Featured Performer, Nathan Mitchell

Producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and singer, Nathan Mitchell, aka “Nate,” is becoming one of the most sought after talents on the national smooth jazz market. Since his 2011 entrance into the smooth jazz industry as a premier keyboardist, organist and vocalist, he has performed with a widely diverse list of some of the biggest artists in the music industry, including Grammy nominees/winners and billboard chart toppers such as: Paul Brown, Gerald Veasley, Mindi Abair and Marcus Anderson, as well as many other acclaimed artists. Nate released his debut single, “For All Eternity” in 2013 featuring national acclaimed saxophonist, Marcus Anderson and guitarist, Nate Najar. The passion of Nathan Mitchell’s smooth jazz is soul stirring and powerful.

Venture Richmond Events and the 2nd Street Festival 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.

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These 60-minute tours leave at 1:00pm and at 4:00pm on Saturday and at 4:00pm on Sunday. Tour groups meet on the sidewalk at the Maggie Walker National Historic Site, 2nd & E. Leigh Streets.

ADMISSION

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

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NO PETS

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

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WHAT CAN’T I BRING WITH ME?

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

• Pets (service animals are permitted)
• Coolers, Large Backpacks
• Alcohol
• Bottles/glass containers
• Contraband (drugs and weapons)
• Laser pointers
• Flying objects (drones, kites, Frisbees, footballs, etc.)

DOWNTOWN RICHMOND PARKING

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There isn’t 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. There is also a parking deck at 5th and Marshall Streets behind the Richmond Marriott.

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We advise festival goers to utilize the GRTC Pulse that has a bus stop at 2nd and E. Broad Streets and available rideshare services. Best drop off address for rideshare is: 124 E. Broad St., Richmond, 23219

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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!

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IN THE EVENT OF RAIN

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

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EMERGENCY SERVICES/FIRST AID

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Emergency service centers are available at the festival.

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RESTROOMS

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Portable restrooms are located throughout the festival.

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PERFORMERS

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To submit your band or performance for consideration for future festivals, please email music@venturerichmond.com

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VENDORS

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The vendor application submission date for 2019 has passed. ALL VENDORS SPACES ARE FULL. If you have a question, please email vendor@venturerichmond.com, and check back in March 2020 for info about next year's festival.

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YOUR PRESENCE IS YOUR PERMISSION

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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.

If you're interested in becoming a sponsor for the 2nd Street Festival, please email contactus@venturerichmond.com for a full list of sponsorship opportunities.