Festivals and Events
Many of the region’s festivals and events happen downtown each year. There are annual traditions as well as many events.
Venture Richmond hosts a variety of large, free, community-oriented events each year, kicking off with Easter on Parade in April with about 30,000 friends and family members. Following close on its heels is Friday Cheers on Brown’s Island in May and June. Friday Cheers is celebrating 25 years of free music in 2009! The 2nd Street Festival is also a long-standing tradition, which celebrates the richness of the Jackson Ward neighborhood. The October weekend-long event hosts 50,000 attendees. The Richmond Folk Festival is one of the newest Venture Richmond events in its fifth season in 2009, which boasts the most attendance with 185,000 in 2008.
>> Learn more about Venture Richmond events
Downtown Richmond is also the setting for many exciting events. The 17th Street Farmers’ Market, Fridays at Sunset, First Fridays Artwalk on Broad Street, Brown’s Island, music venues and art galleries all over the city host many things to do.
>> View our exclusive downtown Calendar of Events and Music
Many organizations host their own events along the Canal Walk and on the lovely, park-like Brown’s Island venue. Venture Richmond manages the rentals of these venues for the City of Richmond. If you are interested in renting either Brown’s Island or the Canal Walk for a special event, we want to share with you all of the things you should consider before deciding to hold an event in one of our beautiful public spaces.