Festivals in Richmond Virginia You Wouldn't Want to Miss

Richmond, Virginia, is known for its colorful festivals, and it’s the best place to go if you love these cultural events. Can't decide where to start? Grab a guide to Richmond and mark your calendar to make sure you don't miss the most popular festivals in Richmond.

Dominion Riverrock


Image via Flickr by Davidlind


The riverfront is a popular destination for locals and tourists in Richmond, and there's plenty of activity here all year round. One of the most highly anticipated activities is Dominion Riverrock, which happens every May on Brown's Island in Richmond. This three-day event is the nation's largest outdoor sports and music festival. Get a front-row seat for sports like dog dock jumping, BMX stunt riding, rock climbing, slacklining, mud running, and a whole lot more. Don't miss the rock bands that play throughout the action-packed festivities, either.

Publick Days

If you're a die-hard history buff and want to experience what life was like in Virginia during the 17th century, then this festival is definitely for you. Every September, Henricus Historical Park commemorates its anniversary during Publick Days. This weekend-long event celebrates the establishment of the second successful English settlement in the New World. Publick Days includes a range of living history and reenactment events, such as historical weapons demonstrations, blacksmith demonstrations, hands-on educational activities and crafts for families, storytelling, and a whole lot more. Publick Day is definitely a historian's paradise.

Carytown Watermelon Festival

Do you love watermelon? If you can't get enough of this summer fruit, then this annual event is definitely for you. The Carytown Watermelon Festival lasts for just one day every August, and it takes place in Richmond's hip Carytown neighborhood. Just last year, 118,000 people made it to the festival, where they enjoyed around 3,000 juicy melons. That's a lot of watermelons!

At this summer festival, you can expect to see bands, jugglers, folk performers, and a lot more. Hundreds of street vendors typically attend this festival to show off their watermelon recipes, which range from appetizers to dessert. It’s truly a very exciting festival for all ages to experience. Proceeds from the Carytown Watermelon Festival go to Shriners Hospitals for Children, giving you yet another good reason to go to this fun annual event.

Richmond Jazz Festival

One of the most highly anticipated annual music festivals in Richmond is the Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont, which takes place every August. If you really want to hear award-winning jazz in Richmond, then this multi-day festival is for you. Grammy-winning artists and musicians often perform during this festival, which means thousands of tourists and locals attend every year. So if you're all about listening to good music while you treat yourself to delicious food and enjoy great company, then this annual jazz festival is a must.

These four festivals are events you shouldn't miss in Richmond. Do you have any more festivals to add to the list? Please do post them in the comments below or send me an email. Thank you for reading.

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