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The 2nd Street Festival commemorates its 32nd anniversary October 3-4 with a virtual event celebrating downtown’s Jackson Ward community. Venture Richmond Events will present new musical performances, favorite artists from past festivals, cooking demonstrations, virtual tours, neighborhood testimonials, fun family activities, and so much more!

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Date: October 3-4, 2020

Ways to watch: Visit this webpage or the 2nd Street Festival’s Facebook page or the Venture Richmond Vimeo page to livestream the event on Oct. 3-4

Time: Saturday, Oct. 3 from 6:00-7:15pm, and Sunday, Oct. 4 from 5:00-6:15pm

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Featured Festival Artists

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Saturday, October 3

6:00-7:15 p.m.

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Legacy Band

Don’t miss this new festival performance by one of Richmond’s favorite bands playing 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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EU (Experience Unlimited)

A favorite past performance from the 2019 festival headliner. EU is one of the original Washington, DC Go-Go bands, fronted by founding member Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott.

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Sports Backers Fitness Warriors and D&G Line Dancing

Let's get up and move with fun new dance workouts with our friends at Sports Backers and D&G Line Dancing. Learn along with great instructors!

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Sunday, October 4

5:00-6:15 p.m.

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Desirée Roots

Hear Desirée perform some of her new jazz favorites. As a theater and jazz sensation, she has been the opening act for several internationally acclaimed jazz music entertainers throughout her career. Her repertoire includes R&B and gospel.

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Remembrance of Debo Dabney

Listen in as local musicians and friends including J. Plunky Branch, Glennroy Bailey, Desirée Roots, and more share their reflections of Herbert A. Dabney, III, a dynamic and animated pianist who passed away earlier this year. Affectionately known as “Debo,” he was a beloved friend of the festival and an all around fan favorite. His repertoire ranged from jazz, gospel, R&B, swing, blues and children’s classics. Debo performed for 31 of the festival’s 32 years.

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Virginia Union University Gospel Choir

Sing, clap or hum along with the university’s gospel choir as they perform two new selections. This choir recently performed on ABC’s Good Morning America with Latin musician Jose Feliciano.

• Pure Shea Store - We offer top quality, affordable handmade organic soaps, shea butter & natural hair products.
• Art2Light Designs - Art2Light Designs specializes in Afrocentric decor light switch plates.
• Pristine Care - We’re an all-natural Skin, Hair & Herbal Custom Blend company.
• M&M Links - Handmade, lightweight jewelry starting at $15
• Mr. G Imports - Mr. G Imports specializes in African Clothing for Men and Women, African Jewelry, African Handbags and much, much more.
• Kheproa Jewelers - Formerly 3rd Generation Jewelry, we see jewelry as an art. Our pieces are handcrafted with love and precision to reflect this view.
• Casey’s Art - With over 20 years of service to thousands of satisfied customers, we are dedicated to providing art collectors of all levels valued information and quality fine art.
• Pencil Me in Productions - A self-described social poet and storyteller, I enjoy peeling back the layers of complexity and ambiguity to examine issues from diverse perspectives.
• Aziz Fashions - Senegalese inspired clothing for men and women.
• Kindred Spirits/ScentsSational - Traditional african incense, oils, pots, diffusers and sage pots.
• 4Ever Love Yourself - Inspirational T-shirts and apparel.
• Blezzings Eyewear - Blinged and bedazzled eyewear, sunglasses and reading glasses.

• Unicia Buster
• Sone-Seere Burrell
• Fruit of the Spirit - Kelvin Henderson
• Liberated Flow - The Art of David Marion
• Reshada Pullen-Jireh
• The Art of Badi

Cooking Demonstrations

Chefs from popular 2nd Street Festival vendors, Croaker’s Spot and Chef MaMusu of Africanne on Main, will both prepare and share dishes through culinary demonstrations live-streamed directly into homes to capture the same delicious foods that we’ve all come to expect from the 2nd Street Festival.

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Kidz Zone Fun

Young viewers will enjoy story time with Candice Smith of NBC12 News and with the Children’s Museum, and a balloon twisting demonstration by festival favorite Eddie Cook with Balloons By Extreme.

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Spotlight on Jackson Ward

Gary Flowers of Walking The Ward Tours visits two popular community sites, the Maggie L. Walker statue and Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church. Also, hear remembrances from longtime residents and business owners of Jackson Ward during the live stream event.

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Official Festival Poster

Purchase an official 2020 2nd Street Festival poster designed by local quilter and artist, Unicia Buster. Learn more about the artist and her festival poster design. The new poster was unveiled on September 23 and is available for sale now at Plan 9 Music in Carytown, at Cheddar Jackson restaurant in Jackson Ward, or at Plan 9 Online here.

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Radio One “2nd Street MIX” Weekend

Get ready for the festival by listening to Radio One’s “2nd Street MIX” weekend on Saturday, September 26 from 1:00pm-10:00pm and Sunday, September 27 from 12:00pm-7:00pm. Enjoy a very special MIX weekend on 99.3/105.7 KISS FM featuring your favorite artists that have played at the 2nd Street Festival over the years and your favorite DJs too! The MIX lineup will feature DJ King Tutt, DJ Drake, and DJ Lonnie B. Listen for songs by Morris Day and the Time, Average White Band, SOS Band, and many other great R & B groups!

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“Show us your 2nd Street Smile” Photo Contest

From September 28 to October 4, use the #2Street hashtag to “Show us your 2nd Street Smile” and win prizes! On Facebook and Instagram, post photos of where and how you plan to watch the virtual 2nd Street Festival. Are you watching with your best friend, your furry friends, or your family? Show us your 2nd Street smile! On October 5, we’ll choose 10 winners to win $50-$100 gift cards to your favorite spots in the Jackson Ward neighborhood! Don’t forget to label your photos with #2Street to be entered to win.

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Historic Jackson Ward Neighborhood

Even though we can’t be together in Jackson Ward this year, be sure to shop the Jackson Ward businesses and restaurants and tour the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site on 2nd Street to show your support for downtown Richmond and the 2nd Street Festival. Don’t forget to wear your mask!

Venture Richmond is cautiously and optimistically moving forward with planning our 2021 event season. We will update this website as to when vendor opportunities/applications will become available. If you have any further questions, please contact us at, vendor@venturerichmond.com.

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