The 2nd Street Festival fills Jackson Ward with music, art, food, and a vibrant celebration of Richmond’s past and present.
2nd Street Festival
in the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood of Downtown Richmond, Virginia
Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4, 2026
The 2nd Street Festival returns this fall, Saturday-Sunday, October 3-4, marking its 38th year in Downtown Richmond! The annual festival celebrates the rich culture of the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood. This FREE event is produced by Venture Richmond Events.
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.
2nd Street Festival Hours
Saturday, October 3
11:30am - 7:00pm
Sunday, October 4
12:00pm - 6:00pm
2nd Street Festival Location
The 2nd Street Festival is located in Downtown Richmond's historic Jackson Ward neighborhood, within an eight-block area along N. 2nd Street between E. Broad and E. Jackson Streets.
1 - 1:45 Christian Mitchell Project from Hampton VA
2:15 - 3 Marsha Meekins & Company Jazz Band
3:30 - 4:30 Presenting … Cat Johnson
5 - 6 The Marvin Taylor Experience
Eggleston Hotel Community Stage
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
12:10 - 12:40 Minds in Motion/Richmond Ballet
1 - 1:50 Baron Tymas - Guitarist
2:10 - 2:40 Sports Backer’s Fitness Warriors
3 - 3:50 Sammy Lee - Guitarist
4 - 5 Line Dancing with Rhonda
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
1:20 - 1:30 Style to Empower with Dr. Bert
1:50 - 2:20 Henrico High School Center for the Arts
2:33 - 2:40 Gary Flowers
3 - 3:30 Highland Springs High School Drumline
3:50 - 4:50 Dancing with Mama D
2026 Festival Site Map
Special Musical Guests
Saturday’s Headliner
Stokley
Acclaimed R&B artist Stokley will headline the Main Stage on Saturday, October 3 at 5:50pm.
Stokley was the former lead vocalist of the hit-making R&B band Mint Condition in the mid-1980s. The group was later discovered by multiplatinum producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and released its debut album, Meant to Be Mint, in 1991.
Mint Condition went on to score Billboard hits including “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes),” “U Send Me Swingin’,” “Forever in Your Eyes,” and “What Kind of Man Would I Be.” Stokley has also toured with artists including Prince, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Alicia Keys.
His collaboration with Kelly Price, “Not My Daddy,” earned a GRAMMY nomination, and his extensive studio work includes collaborations with Mariah Carey, Usher, Mary J. Blige, and others. As a solo artist, Stokley has continued to showcase the distinctive voice and musicianship that have earned him fans around the world.
Sunday’s Closing Performance
Plunky & Oneness
For over 55 years, native Richmond saxophonist, songwriter and producer J. Plunky Branch has been at the vanguard of Afro-centric jazz, funk, R&B, house music, and go-go, weaving these interrelated musical forms into a forward-looking message of empowerment, positivity, and cultural awareness.
Along with his band, Plunky & Oneness, he has appeared along with some of the biggest names in Black music, including Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire, Frankie Beverly & Maze, LL Cool J, Chuck Brown, and more. His song “Every Way But Loose” was a top ten soul music chart hit in London in the 1980’s and his hit single, “Drop,” was released in 2007.
Plunky & Oneness closes out the Main Stage Sunday, October 4 at 5pm.
Featured Jazz Stage Artists
Baron Tymas & Rudy Faulkner
Guitarist-composer Baron Tymas returns to Richmond alongside longtime collaborator, vocalist and percussionist Rudy Faulkner. The pair share a musical history dating back to F.R.E.N.S., the Richmond ensemble known for its blend of jazz, funk and soul.
For the 2nd Street Festival, Tymas and Faulkner reunite with F.R.E.N.S. bandmates James “Saxsmo” Gates on saxophones and Fabian Lance Dickerson on keyboards, joined by bassist Michael Hawkins and drummer Billy Williams. Together, they bring decades of Richmond music history and a joyful, groove-driven sound to the stage.
Catch Baron Tymas and Rudy Faulkner on Saturday, October 3 at 4:45pm.
Baron Tymas
The Marvin Taylor Experience
Richmond native and saxophonist Marvin Taylor has built his career around the joy and connection of music. He has performed with jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Gladys Knight, Alex Bugnon, Kirk Whalum and Bob James.
The Marvin Taylor Experience closes out the Jazz Stage Sunday, October 4 at 5pm.
Official Festival Poster Artist
Amiri Richardson-Keys
The 2026 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 speak to cultural awareness.
Official posters and tshirts with the poster design will be available to purchase at the Venture Richmond tent on 2nd Street during the festival.
FREE Walking Tours
Guided by Gary Flowers
Venture Richmond Events will provide FREE 60-minute 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 3pm on Saturday and at 3pm on Sunday. 60-minute tours.
Kidz Zone
Produced by the Children’s Museum and Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia
The Children’s Museum and Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia are once again producing the much-loved Kidz Zone! Some of the fun activities planned include a community art project, bag hat creations and a physical activity area with a variety of yard games. A free book giveaway will be provided from the book buggy and Balloons By Extreme will be on site for some balloon twisting fun!
The Kidz Zone is located in the parking lot between Clay and Leigh Street off of 2nd Street.
SheJeepsRVA for all Jeep Enthusiasts
SheJeepsRVA was founded in 2024 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 3.
Radio One 2nd Street MIX Weekend
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 3 from 4:00pm-midnight and Sunday, October 4 from noon-7:00pm. Hear mixes from DJ King Tutt, DJ Drake, and DJ Lonnie B playing all your favorite 2nd Street Festival hits!
2nd Street Festival FAQs
Vendor applications for the 2026 2nd Street Festival are closed.
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.
Portable restrooms are located throughout the festival. Free hand sanitizer will be available at these locations.
Emergency service centers are available at the festival.
The 2nd Street Festival will go on, rain or shine.
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!
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.
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
DO NOT BRING PETS (other than service animals) to the festival. We expect large crowds and your pets will be more comfortable at home.
The 2nd Street Festival is a FREE event. Food, drink and merchandise are available for sale.
2026 Festival Sponsors
Please email us for information on all 2026 sponsorship opportunities.
