2nd Street Festival

The 2nd Street Festival will return this fall, live and in person, Saturday - Sunday, October 2-3. Marking its 33rd year, the festival celebrates the rich culture of the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood in Downtown Richmond. This FREE event is produced by Venture Richmond Events.

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Over the years, it has grown to be one of the Mid-Atlantic's largest street festivals. 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.

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

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Festival Hours

Saturday, October 2 from 11:30am - 7:00pm

Sunday, October 3 from 11:30am - 6:00pm

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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

WAVERLY R. CRAWLEY MAIN STAGE (sponsored by Virginia Union University)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2

11:50 – 12:35pm N.F.U.S.I.O.N.Z.

1:10 – 2:10pm I Would Die 4 U; A Musical Tribute to PRINCE

2:30 – 3:00pm Dancing with Mama D

3:30 – 4:30pm DJ Drake and MC Choco

5:30 - 7:00pm Plunky & Oneness

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3

1:00 – 1:30pm James Johnson Jr

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

3:00 – 4:00pm J Tucker and The Krewe

4:45 – 6:00pm Mighty Joshua

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JOE KENNEDY JR. JAZZ STAGE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2

12:00 - 1:15pm Joe Kennedy, Jr. Scholarship Recipient Chet Frierson

1:45 - 2:45pm Debra Dean & The Key West Band

3:15 - 4:15pm Saxsmo “Stepping Out”

4:45 - 6:00pm Nathan Mitchell

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3

1:00 - 1:50pm Ashby Anderson’s Vibe

2:10 - 3:10pm Larri Branch Agenda

3:30 - 4:30pm Jazz In The Spirit

5:00 - 6:00pm Curv Appeal

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EGGLESTON HOTEL COMMUNITY STAGE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2

12:00 – 12:10pm Welcome - Historic Jackson Ward Association- Janis Allen

12:30 – 1:10pm Young Prince Charles

1:40 – 2:00pm Richmond Urban Dance Company

2:30 – 3:30pm Bak N Da Day

4:00 – 5:00pm Drew Miles and Company

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3

1:30 – 2:00pm Chiquita Cross

2:30 – 3:15pm DJ Milk D

3:50- 4:30pm Glennroy & Company

5:00 –6:00pm Testiphy Band

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(stage schedule is subject to change)

The 2nd Street Festival looks forward to inviting you to historic Jackson Ward as we celebrate the festival’s 33rd year in the neighborhood, a fully outdoor festival site.

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Venture Richmond Events is doing all we can to ensure that the 2nd Street Festival happens safely by implementing health and safety protocols designed to create a low-risk environment for our audience and participants. We will continue to adhere to the recommendations from CDC and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) regarding large gatherings at outdoor events, and we are continuously reviewing our plans and monitoring guidance from public health and government officials. We are closely monitoring the ongoing situation with COVID-19 and will communicate more specific public guidelines for visitors two weeks in advance of the festival (9/17/21).

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As we join people around the world who are navigating some uncertainty this fall we know our fans will support us in being good neighbors at this year’s event. We are committed to hosting a safe, welcoming, and vibrant celebration in downtown Richmond.

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Please join us if you are comfortable doing so, and please stay home if you’re not feeling well or are showing COVID symptoms. We ask everyone to be a “good neighbor” and show kindness to one another by following our health and safety guidelines so we can ALL enjoy a fun and safe 2nd Street Festival.

• Before you arrive, monitor your health. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should stay home and seek medical support and follow guidance from medical providers.
• Audiences are strongly encouraged to arrive at the festival with full COVID-19 vaccination status. If unvaccinated, we strongly encourage getting a negative COVID test result within 72 hours of attending the festival to ensure your personal health and the safety of your fellow festival goers.
• Audience members are strongly encouraged to wear masks and maintain 6′ distancing protocols while attending the festival. Complimentary masks will be available on the festival site.
• Hand sanitizer will be available at key locations around the festival site (beverage sales booths, first aid tents, information booths, and at portable restrooms).
• 2nd Street Festival attendees may get a FREE COVID-19 vaccination on Saturday, Oct 2 from 1:00pm-5:00pm at the corner of 1st and Marshall. No appointment is needed. Pre-registration is preferred HERE.
• Vendors are required to wear masks.
• Festival participants (performers, staff, stage crew, volunteers, etc.) are required to conduct daily health self-assessments prior to working and will not be allowed to participate if showing COVID-19 symptoms or if they’ve been recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.
• If you feel unwell - upon the first sign of COVID symptoms, audience members and participants are asked to immediately leave the 2nd Street Festival, self-isolate and follow the guidance of their medical providers.
• Monitor our detailed public guidelines published here on 9/17/2021.

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 safely and comfortably distance yourself while enjoying the live music
• Personal face mask
• 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 (service animals are permitted)
• No coolers, 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 of 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. There is also a parking deck at 5th and Marshall Streets behind the Richmond Marriott.

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We advise festival attendees to use the GRTC Pulse bus service which has a stop at 2nd and E. Broad Streets as well as 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

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. Free face masks and free hand sanitizer will be available at these locations.

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RESTROOMS

Portable restrooms are located throughout the festival. Free hand sanitizer will 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.

Local Richmond artist and quilter, Unicia R. Buster, was commissioned for the 2021 official 2nd Street Festival poster.

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The quilt has a theme of preserving the past and making way for the future. It is titled "Ms. Meekins' Future Band" and incorporates the portraits of Marsha Meekins' and her grand niece and nephew, Amirrah Coleman and Mark Coleman. As a musician who has performed with her band at the festival from 2017-2019, Ms. Meekins represents both the past and present. She taught music for Richmond Public Schools for many years; and, in fact, she was the artist's band teacher, 4th through 8th grades. The children represent the future as they are taking music lessons on the flute and trumpet, respectively, from their great-aunt. They also symbolize all aspirations of our youth who want to be future musicians and carry on the legacy that makes the 2nd Street Festival so special.

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Posters will be available for sale during the festival at the Venture Richmond tent on 2nd Street between Marshall and Clay Streets. And, starting on October 4, it will also be available to purchase at Plan 9 Music in Carytown and online at Plan9Music.com.

Unicia Buster - Featured Festival Artist

Abdul Badi - The Art of Abdul Badi

Araaman Alvin Fudge - Sanctuary Art Gallery

Antonio Henry - Thou Ar Tony

David Marion - Liberated Flow, LLC

Fatimah Muhammad- Ms. Fatimah Design’s

The JXN Project is a historic preservation project that celebrates the 150th anniversary of Jackson Ward by properly contextualizing the origin story of the nation's first historically registered Black urban neighborhood. JXN is designed to excavate, elevate and educate the hidden histories of the city's sixth ward, which inspired an effort to erect honorary street designations in honor of notable Jackson Wardians, also known as "Unveiling The Vanguard." The 2nd Street Festival is partnering with JXN as they virtually unveil the vanguard by video released across their social media and website on October 2. Also, on October 2, festival-goers are invited to engage in a socially distanced, self-guided tour of the honorary street signs. For all details, visit www.thejxnproject.com and follow @TheJXNProject on all social media platforms.

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! Tune into 99.3/105.7 KISS FM on Saturday, October 2 from 4:00pm-midnight and Sunday, October 3 from noon-7:00pm. Hear mixes from DJ King Tutt, DJ Drake, and DJ Lonnie B playing all your favorite 2nd Street Festival hits!

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

Due to the highly interactive nature of the activities planned for the Kidz Zone, the 2nd Street Festival will not host a family area this year. The Kidz Zone, produced by the Children’s Museum, is a robust and engaging, much-loved, part of the Festival. However, due to the close proximity required for those activities and the lack of an approved COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12, we believe cancelling the activities is best for the safety of our littlest patrons. The Children’s Museum will be back to produce the much-loved Kidz Zone in 2022.