Downtown Richmond Virginia’s fab free three-day festival on the riverfront opens October 14 and runs through October 16, 2011. The final performers were announced last Thursday and include Original P (a funk band), Los Tres Reyes from San Antonio with their Spanish romantic music, Tibetan sacred music and dance by Tibetan Monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, Circleville Ohio banjo musicians Tony Ellis and the Musicians of Braeburn and traditional Irish music by the Old Bay Ceili Band of Baltimore.  This annual festival, now in its fourth year, will feature over 20 performers and performing acts on seven stages throughout the weekend. SCHEDULE.  Most of the performers are new to Richmond this year, so this is not a repeat of previous year’s lineup!  And, though you will be able to find typical festival food, this year’s food vendors can take your tastebuds on a trip around the world with traditional foods running the gamut from Thai, Indian, Mexican, Italian to southern delectables like Cajun.

One of Virginia’s largest and most-loved events, The Richmond Folk Festival finds its roots in the National Folk Festival, held in Richmond in 2005, 2006, and 2007.  Richmond’s residents and visitors loved the riverfront festival along Tredegar and on Brown’s Island so much that when the National Folk Festival moved on, the Richmond Folk Festival was born and continues to get bigger and better each and every year. Last year more than 190,000 folks visited the Richmond Folk Festival. This year’s event promises to explore and celebrate the roots of the rich and diverse culture that we know as American culture through dance, music, crafts and food – to the delight of the entire family. Make plans to attend now! You don’t want to miss it.

There’s lots in store for Richmond, Virginia residents and visitors this weekend!

Strawberry Hill Races takes place at Colonial Downs on Saturday with gates opening at 11 AM.  It’s a veritable rite of spring with spectators decked out in seersucker, sundresses and fancy hats worthy of Derby distinction. For the first time, the Virginia Racing Commission will permit pari-mutuel wagering on four steeplechase races. The Preakness Stakes, the second leg in horse-racing’s famed Triple Crown, a=is also scheduled for Saturday. It will be broadcast live via simulcast at about 6:35 PM.  INFO.   

Friday Cheers on Brown’s Island features Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. This concert by the self-styled “SupaFunkRock” group is part of a concert series that takes place every Friday evening 6 PM to 9 PM on Brown’s Island at Tredegar and South 7th Streets in Richmond’s downtown overlooking the James River, which began May 6 and runs until June 24th. Admission $5 for this concert. Schedule.

Anthem Stride Through Time is also on Saturday with waves beginning at 8:30 AM. This 10K takes place in the historic Fan District of Richmond.

At the Carpenter Theater, the Richmond Symphony Chorus and guest soloists join the Richmond Symphony in Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” at 8 PM. TICKETS. Performance is repeated on Sunday May 22 at 3 PM.

The Valentine History Center will conduct a History Hounds tour of Ginter Park, the turn of the 20th century neighborhood on Richmond’s northside. This pet-friendly tour will meet at teh southwest corner of Brook Road and Westwood Avenue. Admission $10. Reservations Required. 804.649.0711, extension 301. On Sunday, visit the south Richmond neighborhood of Manchester, once a port city, once a major retail center, and once the county seat for Chesterfield.

Virginia State Capitol historian Mark Greenough will explain how Thomas Jefferson’s famed building accommodated Civil War governments for both the Commonwealth of Virginia and for the Confederacy. Meet Mark and Richmond National Battlefield Park Ranger Mike Gorman, who will highlight Civil War action around and on Capitol Grounds, at 2 PM at the Capitol, Ninth and Byrd Streets. FREE.

This is the last weekend for the exhibition “Dynasty & Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria.” The exhibition closes at 5 Pm on Sunday. Tickets are required.

And, of course, the River District Canal Cruises have started and run from noon to 5 PM beginning at the Canal Turning Basin on Sundays. Cruises also run Thursday through Saturday from noon to 7 PM during May. Tours are $6 for adults and run on the hour every hour during scheduled times. Reservations are available at either  (804) 649-2800 or (804) 788-6466.

Congratulations are in order for those graduates who are receiving their degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University in ceremonies scheduled for this weekend. Great Work! And a hearty southern welcome to the guests of Richmond’s premier bed and breakfast who are celebrating graduation!

It’s that time again! Dominion Riverrock returns on May 13 and 14th, the East Coast’s premier outdoor lifestyle festival.  Musicians, spectators, athletes, and even dogs take over Brown’s Island for a fantastic two-day festival. The party against the backdrop of Richmond’s downtown riverfront begins on Friday with music concerts, 5K mud run, acrobatic kayak and freestyle bike competitions.

Join the fun at Dominion RiverRock May 14 & 15 on the James River in downtown Richmond

Energy level heats up on Saturday with activities in and around the river: James River Scramble 10K Trail Run, mountain biking, kayaking, ultimate air dogs and much much more. This year’s event includes for the first time: bouldering and stand-up paddleboarding.

MORE DETAILS.

Downtown is in the middle of it all! And your innkeepers at the Fan District’s premier bed and breakfast are proud to be the closest bed and breakfast to all the action! Our urban inn is located one block from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus. Try an urban bed and breakfast for a better way to stay in Richmond Virginia!

Brown’s Island is the site of June 12th’s World Beer Festival and tickets are on sale now.

Get your ticket for Richmond VA's World Beer Festival June 12 2010

The festival consists of two sessions and each requires a separate ticket. Each four-hour session includes a tasting glass for two-ounce pours and a festival program. There are two levels of admission/tickets: general admission tickets are $40 a session ($50 at the door – but only if there is available capacity); $75 VIP tickets are limited and available on-line.  VIP tickets include a World Beer Festival commemorative glass, complimentary food, and access to the VIP hospitality area where selected beers will only be available. Proceeds of this event benefit FETCH-A-CURE.  Richmond’s World Beer Festival features live music, great food, and beer from great breweries.  The two sessions are  noon to 4 PM and 6 PM to 10 PM.  Don’t miss out on this fun event – tickets are limited, so don’t wait!

If you need a bed and breakfast or inn close to downtown Richmond and Brown’s Island, to complete your weekend package check for availability now! A  weekend stay includes free off-street parking, a hearty gourmet breakfast for two each morning, and a complimentary wine and cheese hour each evening.

The 26th season of Friday Night Cheers at Brown’s Island began Friday May 7 2010 and continues til Friday June 25th (except Friday 14th, when Brown’s Island is the site of Dominion RiverRock). Each concert begins at 6:30PM and the music continues til 9:30PM.

Find music and fun on Brown's Island Fridays from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM May 7 through June 25

This year Friday Cheers is instituting a $2 admission fee on those 13 years old or older.  Fee may be paid at all three entry points to Brown’s Island in downtown Richmond, Virginia overlooking the James River. Credit and debit cards will only be accepted at the pedestrian bridge at 7th Street and the vehicular bridge past 5th Street.  Venture Richmond, organizer of the event, is celebrating 26 years of music along the river. Thousands relax after the work week on Brown’s Island to meet friends and to hear some of the nation’s hottest touring acts and some of the region’s top bands. Check the schedule and the answers to your FAQ’s.

The William Miller House Bed and Breakfast in Richmond isn’t listed as a downtown place to stay on their website, but we’re less than a mile and a half from Brown’s Island at the most. As a confirmed weekend guest, you can take advantage of free parking at our downtown inn and walk to Brown’s Island or ride the free 2BNB (big green bus stops a block away) to the Bottom and Back to take advantage of this very Richmond series of events.

This June 13-14, Richmond’s epic outdoor adventure opportunities are on display with more than a dozen different dirt-and-river themed races. Highlighting it all is the XTERRA Atlantic Cup, the gnarliest off-road triathlon on the planet, that first made its impression here back in 1999. Once again, Brown’s Island in the heart of downtown Richmond is headquarters for all the action.
XTERRA in the Richmond is urban adventure at its finest with a bizarre combination of natural and man-made obstacles creating the best metropolitan trail system in the country. Indeed, the epic ride through the James River Parks System annually lures athletes from more than 35 states and pros from around the world.
There are a ton of great events for locals too, like the XTERRA Scramble 10K, the XTERRA Richmond off-road half-marathon “Xduro” trail run, and free kids zone activities.
In Richmond, the key to the city opens the door to adventure. Experience it for yourself and stay with us at the closest inn, the William Miller House Bed and Breakfast, just a mile away from all the action!