RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)–Richmond’s riverfront folk festival returns for its sixth year (ninth if you count the former event known as the National Folk Festival), running from Oct. 11-13, and will feature more than 30 different performers. Organizers say that last year more than 200,000 people enjoyed this cultural event that showcases crafts, food, dance, and of course music.
This guide will help you make the best plans; scroll below for event, parking, shuttle, food and performer information.
GET YOUR TICKETS
Oh wait. You don’t need any. Admission is free, but food, drink and merchandise are available for sale. If you feel inclined to make a donation, just look for the orange buckets, a.k.a. the bucket brigade. All donations made through the bucket brigade help directly cover the costs of the festival.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Friday, October 11, 6- 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 12, Noon – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 13, Noon – 6:00 p.m.
Music goes on rain or shine. There are four concert tents at the festival if you wind up seeking shelter.
PARKING AND SHUTTLES
Free parking and free shuttles, are available in Southside and the West End. All shuttles will stop at two festival locations: one at 2nd Street and one at 5th Street. The buses will leave every 20 minutes and run after the festival.
Spring Rock Green: 7202 Midlothian Turnpike, corner of Chippenham Pkwy
Anthem Blue and Cross Blue Shield: 2015 Staples Mill Road
Shuttle hours:
Friday – 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday – 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday – 11:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Shuttle hotline: 804-358-4782
Parking at the festival is easy. Multiple parking lots are available downtown. A free bike valet will be located at 2nd and Canal Streets in the Afton Field. The valet will be open during festival hours.
Check out the Richmond Folk Festival 2013 Poster. Read more about it here and see the gallery of other years.
$5.00
Shockoe Bottom, 100 Virginia St.
Crowne Plaza, 555 E. Canal St.
$6.00
801 E. Cary Street (Lot between 8th & 9th on Cary)
1200 E. Byrd St.(along the flood wall)
CityParking
$5.00
Main & Foushee
1st & Canal
3rd & Cary
4th & Canal
5th & Canal, 5th & Cary
6th & Canal
8th & Cary
Standard Parking
$5.00
410 E. Franklin Street
Lanier Parking
$5.00
Riverside on the James, 1001 Haxall Point
Riverfront Plaza, 901 E. Byrd St.
Mayo Island
$3.00
501 S. 14th St.
Monument City Parking
13 N. 5th St.
FOOD AND BEER AT THE FESTIVAL
This year you can count on at least 33 vendors and lots of craft beer. Look forward to Wild Wolf’s signature Folktoberfest brew concocted especially for the event.
| Brown’s Island | |
| Gail’s Gumbo House | Jambalaya, seafood gumbo, po boys |
| Boka Truck | asian-mexican-american fusion tacos |
| Nadar’s Bistro | gyros,beef/chicken kabobs, veggie pita, hummus, rice pilaf |
| Ginger Thai Taste | pad thai chicken, bangkok chicken, satay chicken, dumplings |
| Africanne on Main | chicken, fish, veggies, rice, plantains, corn bread and ginger tea |
| Cherry Hill Ice Cream | ice cream |
| Strawberry Street Event Concessions | Footlong corndogs,hushpuppies,fries cream of crab soup, poboys |
| Croaker’s Spot | Fish, Fries, salmon fritters, jerk chicken, reds and rice, grilled oysters |
| Amira Enterprises | Italian/kelbasa sausage, philly steak, chicken philly steak, funnel cakes, butterfly chips |
| Sam Miller’s | Lump crabcakes and soup, oysters, fish tacos |
| Crescent Foods | Vegetarian Burritos and Quesadilla |
| Eastern Corn Roasters | Roasted Corn and Chicken |
| Genworth Financial Family Stage | |
| Leisure Time | Funnel Cakes, lemonade,soft serve ice cream |
| Bruno’s Gastro Truck | Gastropub fare: gourmet burger, Braised Tri tips, Tri tip taco, Fish Tacos, Jambalaya egg rolls and more. |
| MacBrand Foods | Sausage, cheesesteaks, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, onion rings |
| Goatocado | Vegan Sandwiches and sides |
| The Community Foundation Stage | |
| Food Corner & Grill | Chicken Terriyaki on a stick, veggie fried rice, veggie lo mein, pad thai |
| La Milpa | quesadillas, burritos, mexican tacos, soft tacos |
| Soul-Ice | Frozen non dairy dessert |
| Hand Popped Kettle Corn | Kettle Corn |
| Grapevine Restaurant | mozzerella sticks, calamari, greek burger, lamb& chicken kabob, eggplant parmeagiana sub |
| Gregory’s Grill | NC BBQ, Cheeseburgers, Crabcake, fish tacos, Crab Soup and French Fries |
| India K’ Raja | chicken tikka masala, samosa, lamb curry, chicken kabab rolls |
| Altria Stage | |
| Espresso A Go Go | Coffee, espressos, teas |
| International Grill | gyros, steak & cheese, greek salad, veggie gyros |
| Dogs R Us | hot dogs, italian sausage, burgers, fries |
| Cool Concessions | Oyster, Shrimp, Alligator Po Boys, Crabcake Sandwhich fried Oreos , |
| Gail’s Eatery | red beans and rice, curry chicken, curry potatoes, fried plantains |
| Sherri’s Crabcakes | Crabcake sandwhich, blue crab fritter, grilled and buffalo shrimp, cream of crab soup, hush puppies |
| Grate Pizza | 8″ Fusion Pizzas, Salads |
| Caribbean Pot | jerk/curry chicken, beef and seafood, rice and peas, roti, vegetables |
| Gelati Celesti | Heavenly handmade ice creams |
| Carytown Burgers and Fries | Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Veggie Burgers, Speciality Burgers |
Artist bios, lineups and schedule can be found at www.richmondfolkfestival.org. The federal government shutdown won’t affect the actual folk festival, but the American Civil War center, that would have hosted a documentary series, will be closed.
- View a map of the 2013 festival site
- Download a PDF of the 2013 festival site
- Download a schedule to print at home
To pull off such a big event requires a lot of volunteers. Ready to volunteer? click here
SCHEDULE
Friday, October 11, 2013
Altria Stage
| 6:30-7:30 | Alex Meixner Band (polka) |
| 7:45-8:45 | Aurelio Martinez (Garifuna) |
| 9:00-10:00 | Stooges Brass Band (New Orleans) |
MWV Stage
| 7:15-8:00 | Christine Salem (maloya) |
| 8:15-9:00 | Yves Lambert Trio (Québécois) |
| 9:15-10:00 | Rhythm of Rajasthan (Rajasthani music and dance) |
The Community Foundation Stage
| 7:45-9:00 | Don Carlos and the Dub Vision Band (reggae) |
Dominion Dance Pavilion
| 7:30-8:00 | Cajun dance lessons with Talia Moser |
| 8:00-8:45 | Jesse Lége and Joel Savoy (Cajun) |
| 9:00-10:00 | Lurrie Bell Blues Band (blues) |
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Altria Stage
| 12:00-12:45 | The Dardanelles (Newfoundland) |
| 1:00-1:45 | Abdoulaye Diabaté & Super Mande (Mali) |
| 2:00-2:45 | Nathalie Pires (Portuguese fado) |
| 3:00-3:45 | Lurrie Bell Blues Band (blues) |
| 4:00-5:00 | Spanish Harlem Orchestra (salsa dura) |
| 5:30-6:30 | Chuck Brown All-Star Tribute Band with special guests Sugar Bear, Jas. Funk, Buggs and Big Tony (go-go) |
| 6:45-7:30 | Marshall Ford Swing Band (western swing) |
| 7:45-8:30 | Mighty Sam McClain (soul/R&B) |
| 8:45-9:30 | Don Carlos and the Dub Vision Band (reggae) |
MWV Stage
| 12:00-12:30 | The Chankas (Peruvian Scissors Dance) |
| 12:45-1:30 | Alash (Tuvan throat-singing) |
| 1:45-2:45 | Old & New World Fiddle Traditions – Emilia Bartellas (Dardanelles), Chris Gray (Thomas Maupin), Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, Habib Khan Langa (Rhythm of Rajasthan), Robin Boulianne (Yves Lambert), Joel Savoy |
| 3:00-3:45 | Rhythm of Rajasthan (Rajasthani music and dance) |
| 4:00-5:00 | Singing Traditions From Around the World – Nathalie Pires, Matthew Byrne (Dardanelles), Emily Gimble (Marshall Ford Swing Band), Abdoulaye Diabaté, Elizabeth LaPrelle, Aurelio Martinez, Kachra Khan (Rhythm of Rajasthan) |
| 5:15-6:00 | The Brotherhood Singers (a cappella gospel quartet) |
| 6:15-7:00 | Nathalie Pires (Portuguese fado) |
| 7:15-8:15 | Alash (Tuvan throat-singing) |
The Community Foundation Stage
| 12:00-12:45 | Christine Salem (maloya) |
| 1:00-1:45 | The Brotherhood Singers (a cappella gospel quartet) |
| 2:00-2:45 | Stooges Brass Band (New Orleans) |
| 3:00-3:45 | James King Band (bluegrass) |
| 4:00-4:45 | Alex Meixner Band (polka) |
| 5:00-5:45 | The Prusinowski Trio (music of Central Poland) |
| 6:00-6:45 | Abdoulaye Diabaté & Super Mande (Mali) |
| 7:00-7:45 | Lurrie Bell Blues Band (blues) |
| 8:00-8:45 | Aurelio Martinez (Garifuna) |
Dominion Dance Pavilion
| 12:15-1:15 | Alex Meixner Band (polka) |
| 1:30-2:30 | Marshall Ford Swing Band (western swing) |
| 2:45-3:45 | Mighty Sam McClain (soul/R&B) |
| 4:00-5:00 | Jesse Lége and Joel Savoy (Cajun) |
| 5:30-6:30 | Don Carlos and the Dub Vision Band (reggae) |
| 6:30-7:00 | Salsa dance lesson with Eileen Torres |
| 7:00-8:00 | Spanish Harlem Orchestra (salsa dura) |
| 8:30-9:30 | Chuck Brown All-Star Tribute Band with special guests Sugar Bear, Jas. Funk, Buggs and Big Tony (go-go) |
Union First Market Bank/University of Richmond Stage
| 12:00-12:45 | Thomas Maupin, Daniel Rothwell & the Overall Creek Band with Kory Posey (Appalachian buckdance & old-time string band) |
| 1:00-1:45 | Khac Chi (Vietnamese) |
| 2:00-3:00 | Band in a Box: Accordion Traditions (Yves Lambert, Jesse Lége, Aaron Collins (Dardanelles), Janusz Prusinowski, Alex Meixner) |
| 3:15-3:45 | The Chankas (Peruvian Scissors Dance) |
| 4:00-4:45 | Yves Lambert Trio (Québécois) |
| 5:00-5:45 | Christine Salem (maloya) |
| 6:00-6:45 | The Dardanelles (Newfoundland) |
Genworth Financial Family Stage
| 12:00-12:45 | Silly Bus (presented by JAMinc) |
| 12:45-1:15 | The Red Trouser Show (circus arts) – family area grounds |
| 1:15-1:45 | Anna Roberts-Gevalt (Appalachian songs & ballads) |
| 2:00-2:45 | Andrew Alli Harmonica Workshop (presented by JAMinc) |
| 2:45-3:15 | The Red Trouser Show (circus arts) – family area grounds |
| 3:15-4:00 | Bamboo Music From Vietnam with Khac Chi |
| 4:15-5:00 | Appalachian Buckdance Workshop with Thomas Maupin & Company |
Richmond Times-Dispatch Virginia Folklife Stage
| 12:00-12:45 | Elizabeth LaPrelle and Anna Roberts-Gevalt (family ballads) |
| 1:00-1:45 | Snyder Family (bluegrass) |
| 2:00-2:45 | Harris Brothers (Appalachian blues) |
| 3:00-3:45 | The Knicely Family Band (Shenandoah Valley string band) |
| 4:00-4:45 | From Central Asia to Virginia: Featuring Alash with Ganna, Zana, and Maral Natsag (Mongolian dance & Tuvan throat-singing) |
| 5:00-6:00 | Cheick Hamala Diabaté and Family (West African traditions) |
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Altria Stage
| 12:00-12:45 | James King Band (bluegrass) |
| 1:00-1:45 | Marshall Ford Swing Band (western swing) |
| 2:00-2:45 | The Brotherhood Singers (a cappella gospel quartet) |
| 3:00-3:45 | Yves Lambert Trio (Québécois) |
| 4:00-4:45 | The Prusinowski Trio (music of Central Poland) |
| 5:00-6:00 | Mighty Sam McClain (soul/R&B) |
MWV Stage
| 12:00-1:00 | Masters of Percussion – Christine Salem & group, Ayan Shirizhik (Alash), Shakoor Khan Langa & Chanda (Rhythm of Rajasthan), Rolando “Chichiman” Sosa, Carlos Varela, Onan Castillo Fernandez (Aurelio Martinez), Thomas Maupin, Daniel Rothwell, Kory Posey, Kolipe Camara (Abdoulaye Diabaté and Super Mande) |
| 1:15-2:00 | Instrumental Traditions: Asia, Africa and the Americas – Khac Chi, Ayan-ool Sam (Alash), Shakoor Khan Langa (Rhythm of Rajasthan), Daniel Rothwell, Alejandro and Ignacio Velasquez (The Chankas), Yakouba Sissoko, Famoro Dioubate (Abdoulaye Diabaté & Super Mande) |
| 2:15-3:00 | Rhythm of Rajasthan (Rajasthani music and dance) |
| 3:15-4:00 | Thomas Maupin, Daniel Rothwell & the Overall Creek Band with Kory Posey (Appalachian buckdance & old-time string band) |
| 4:15-4:45 | The Chankas (Peruvian Scissors Dance) |
| 5:00-5:45 | Global Guitar Traditions – Ramon Cedeño (Aurelio Martinez), Olivier Rondeau (Yves Lambert Trio), Jose Silva, Viriato Ferreira (Nathalie Pires), Greg Harkins (Marshall Ford Swing Band), Lurrie Bell, Danny Knicely |
The Community Foundation Stage
| 12:00-12:45 | Yves Lambert Trio (Québécois) |
| 1:00-1:45 | Jesse Lége and Joel Savoy (Cajun) |
| 2:00-2:45 | The Dardanelles (Newfoundland) |
| 3:00-3:45 | Lurrie Bell unplugged (acoustic gospel and blues) |
| 4:00-4:45 | Christine Salem (maloya) |
| 5:00-5:45 | Abdoulaye Diabaté & Super Mande (Mali) |
Dominion Dance Pavilion
| 12:00-1:00 | The Prusinowski Trio (music of Central Poland) with dance instruction |
| 1:15-2:15 | Alex Meixner Band (polka) |
| 2:30-3:30 | Aurelio Martinez (Garifuna) |
| 3:45-4:45 | Jesse Lége and Joel Savoy (Cajun) |
| 5:00-6:00 | Stooges Brass Band (New Orleans) |
Union First Market Bank/University of Richmond Stage
| 12:00-1:15 | Gospel Traditions – The Brotherhood Singers, Lurrie Bell (unplugged) |
| 1:30-2:15 | James King Band (bluegrass) |
| 2:30-3:15 | Nathalie Pires (Portuguese fado) |
| 3:30-4:15 | Alash (Tuvan throat-singing) |
| 4:30-5:15 | Khac Chi (Vietnamese) |
Genworth Financial Family Stage
| 12:00-12:30 | The Chankas (Peruvian Scissors Dance) |
| 12:30-1:00 | The Red Trouser Show (circus arts) – family area grounds |
| 1:00-1:45 | Samson Trinh’s Uke & Roll (presented by JAMinc) |
| 2:00-2:45 | Elizabeth LaPrelle (Appalachian songs & ballads) |
| 3:00-3:45 | Khac Chi (Vietnamese) |
| 3:45-4:15 | The Red Trouser Show (circus arts) – family area grounds |
| 4:15-5:00 | Hot Seats Shortband (presented by JAMinc) |
Richmond Times-Dispatch Virginia Folklife Stage
| 12:00-12:45 | Dry Hill Draggers (old time) |
| 1:00-1:45 | Mothers, Brothers, and Sisters: Featuring the Knicelys, the Harris Brothers, Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes, and Emily and Martha Spencer (Virginia musical families) |
| 2:00-2:45 | The Moore Brothers (bluegrass) |
| 3:00-3:45 | Maggie Ingram & the Ingramettes (gospel) |
| 4:00-4:45 | Whitetop Mountain Band (old time/country) |
| 5:00-5:45 | The Holmes Brothers (blues/gospel) |
