Dominion Energy Riverrock

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From dog and slackline tricks to music and mountain biking, we are giving you the next best thing to being down on Brown’s Island yourself: a Virtual Riverrock Experience! Bring the celebratory spirit of downtown Richmond during Dominion Energy Riverrock to your home and backyard with our virtual races, contests, and the livestream premiere of the Virtual 2020 Domininon Energy Riverrock via Facebook and YouTube on May 16! Snap a photo and send it to us, or tag @sportsbackers on social media, and use #RockTheOutdoors and together we’ll make social distancing feel not quite as isolating!

In conjunction with Governor Northam’s recently-issued statewide stay-at-home order, Sports Backers and Venture Richmond are very disappointed to announce that the 2020 Dominion Energy Riverrock festival planned for May 15-17 at Brown’s Island and Historic Tredegar will be canceled. This is a very difficult decision for the event organizers and our dedicated community of athletes, musicians, adventurers, sponsors, and volunteers that support the festival and make Richmond such a vibrant and active place to live and visit.

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“We know that Dominion Energy Riverrock is one of the most anticipated weekends in Richmond, so it’s incredibly disappointing that we and Sports Backers must cancel this year’s event, but there was really no other option for us. The health and safety of our guests, participants, and community are our top priorities,” said Lisa Sims, CEO of Venture Richmond. “We want to thank our sponsors and partners for their support and understanding, and we’re already planning another great event for 2021.”

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Registered participants in Dominion Energy Riverrock sporting events will have the option to donate their registration fee to projects and organizations that help maintain, enhance, and support the Richmond riverfront and its world-class trail system. Past Dominion Energy Riverrock donations have supported various projects in and around the James River Park System, including the rehabbing of the Maymont ramp on the North Bank Trail by the James River Park System staff (completed in November 2019) and a universal access ramp at Huguenot Flatwater through the James River Outdoor Coalition’s efforts.

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Participants may also defer their entry into the corresponding sporting event during the 2021 festival, credit their entry fee to another Sports Backers event, or receive a refund of their event entry fee. Information will be sent directly to registered participants letting them know how to manage their registrations.

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“Dominion Energy Riverrock inspires active living and is a great celebration of all the outdoor adventure opportunities available in Richmond. Even though this year’s festival won’t take place, we still aim to encourage people to be active on their own in a responsible way and support a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Jon Lugbill, Executive Director of Sports Backers. “We recognize that the most important thing right now is to focus community resources towards ensuring public health.”

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Whether you plan to come and get dirty yourself, or sing along at one of the concerts, Dominion Energy Riverrock is all about making sure you’re right where you want to be! Navigate your way through the festival and check out everything from Monster Energy Freestyle Bikes to the Bouldering finals. Take in sunset views of the James River and end your night dancing under the stars. We don’t want you to miss out on a second of the weekend!

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Covering roughly 15 acres, the one-of-a-kind main venue for Dominion Energy Riverrock features historic landmarks and breathtaking river views and it’s all located within walking distance of everything downtown RVA has to offer!

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Get up close as the pros face off in awe-inspiring competitions like climbing, slackline, and freestyle bike events, or the flying pups in the Subaru Ultimate Air Dogs. We also have a full schedule of awesome live bands taking the stage throughout the weekend!

The best way to win at this festival is to get in the middle of the action. Participate in one of our events and see firsthand why Richmond’s outdoor culture has sky-rocketed to new heights! Suit up and hit the trails on foot or by bike, take to the water in your kayak or SUP, or try a multi-event challenge!

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Make sure to visit our Adventure Zones and try a kayak or SUP in the canal, venture on a group hike, demo a slackline, and more! Adventure Zones are great for all ages! All demo areas are FREE, courtesy of Riverrock’s partners. Grab your friends and family and give bouldering a try, test your balance on a stand up paddle board or slackline, go on a group hike, learn the art of brewing from Sierra Nevada, and more!

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Run, bike, paddle, thrill-seek, or just try something new - all in the same day if you want! Downtown Richmond’s riverfront serves as the perfect backdrop for any outdoor activity. Pick your level of adventure and experience Dominion Energy Riverrock your way!

Dominion Energy Riverrock, organized by Venture Richmond Events, LLC and Sports Backers, began in 2009 and is now the nation's premier outdoor sports and lifestyle festival, bringing athletes, spectators and musicians to Brown’s Island for a three-day festival against the backdrop of downtown Richmond’s urban riverfront. The festival features a variety of outdoor sports including trail running, kayaking, biking, bouldering, slacklining, stand up paddleboarding and dog jumping. The event was designed to promote Richmond’s unique riverfront, downtown trails, and whitewater rapids to outdoor enthusiasts.

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.