Fall has graced the River City again, but that doesn’t mean there are less festivals. Nope. Just means you may need to grab a jacket before you head out.
October offers up a veritable cornucopia of festivals, and many of them are family friendly! From BBQ to community volunteering, chicken wings, oysters, Oktoberfest, fiery delights and canine costume contests, October has plenty to offer.
Click here for a list of more community events.
FRIDAY, OCT. 24 – SUNDAY, OCT. 27 (Events alphabetical, dates underneath)
Central Virginia Celtic Festival and Highland GamesSaturday, Oct. 25 – Sunday, Oct. 26
The Central Virginia Celtic Festival and Highland Games feature traditional dance, live music, Highland games competitions, gathering of clans and vendors. The two-day festival provides fun for the entire family and benefits the Cullather Brain Tumor & Quality of Life Center, Children’s Hospital Foundation and Richmond International Raceway Cares.
Pets allowed with “proper paperwork” and $5 fee.
Tickets purchased at rir.com. $15/day, $25/two- day in advance. $20/day, $30/ two-day at gate.
Richmond Raceway Complex
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. each day
Growl-weenSaturday, Oct. 25
Grab your pooch, and your costume. Event is fundraiser for The Friends of Hanover Dog Parks and the Hanover Humane Society. There will be music, beer, carnival games, and a costume contest for the dogs.
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Center of the Universe Brewing
11293 Air Park Rd
Innsbrook’s Great Pumpkin PaloozaSaturday, Oct. 25
Immediately following Short Pump Rotary’s Great Pumpkin Race. Festival staples like pony rides, petting zoos, and bouncy houses with fun live entertainment. Also, enjoy some seasonal festivities, including costume contests and a straw bale maze.
Fill up with an assortment of food from BBQ and kettle corn to gyros and souvlaki. Beer on-site.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
4951 Lake Brook Drive
Powhatan Festival of the GrapeSaturday, Oct. 25
30 wineries, 100+ quality arts and craft vendors, as well as a variety of live entertainment and a great selection of delicious, regional favorite foods. Now in its 12th year, this event offers wine tastings, wine by the glass and bottle purchases. Brown distributing sells craft beer.
Price: $15 – $30
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Powhatan’s Historic Courthouse Square
3887 Old Buckingham Road
Scott’s Addition Pumpkin FestivalSaturday, Oct. 25
Last year the city flocked to this event. This year will be similar with pumpkin foods, craft beer and live music but there will be more emphasis on family events. There is an expanded kid’s zone, according to organizers, and two family movies will be shown. The first, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” followed by “Monster’s Inc.”
Noon to 6 p.m., with family movies starting at 6 p.m.
Free to enter, food and drink prices vary.
On the Boulevard. Movies at the Bon Secours Redskins Training Camp
THURSDAY, OCT. 30
17th Street Farmer’s Market hosts a celebration surrounding the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead.
Enjoy traditional Mexican dishes like tamales, empanadas and tacos along with dazzling live performances from traditional Aztec musicians and dancers.
Event is free to attend. Food and beverage available for purchase.
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
17th/Main Streets
Previous events from earlier in the month.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 – SUNDAY, OCT. 5 (Events alphabetical, dates underneath)
First FridaysFriday, Oct. 3
A year-round artwalk highlighting art, restaurants, shops and organizations in the Art’s District.
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Art’s District includes Broad, Grace and Marshall Streets, running from Monroe Street down to 6th Street.
2nd Street FestivalSaturday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 5
A popular event sponsored by Venture Richmond, that brings in nearly 40,000 people to celebrate the “Harlem of the South,” as Jackson Ward was known before Interstate 95 split the neighborhood in half. Visit Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward to hear live music on four stages, enjoy children’s activities, taste delicious food, shop in the marketplace, dance in the streets and renew old friendships. Free admission.
Click for complete band schedule.
Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Carnival of 5 FiresFriday, Oct. 3
This event, in its eighth year, runs the entire month of October, but the big kick-off is at First Fridays.
At the kick-off there will be art, live music, DJs, fire performance, circus arts, burlesque, belly dance, magic, Vaudeville, opera, comedy, film and everything in between. Those who remember the PLF Pyro Circus Street Show will get to see them perform again. Goatcado food truck will be outside, and various local beer for sale inside.
7 p.m. –midnight
DogtoberfestSaturday, Oct. 4
Benefit for Richmond SPCA. Live music, dog-friendly vendors, a canine costume contest, and food trucks. Music by Boxwave, Barrelhouse and the Trongone Band.
Admission is free, but a $5 donation will get you a fantastic new bandana for your dog.
Strangeways Brewing
2277-A Dabney Rd
Gallmeyer Farms Fall FestivalSaturday, Oct. 4
Celebrate fall’s official arrival at this popular festival. Live music, craft vendors and local businesses, Kids Spooky hayride and pony rides, food vendors and pick your own pumpkins.
There will be a free hayride shuttle and free parking. Free admission also. Live music from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Pumpkin Patch
4506 Millers Lane
Hanover Ruritan Club Bluegrass FestivalSaturday, Oct. 4
Five bands each play twice throughout the day. Also beer and food will be available at this fundraiser for a community organization.
Tickets $15.00 in advance/$25.00 at the gate. Children 11 and under may enter free when accompanied by a paying adult.
8145 Walnut Grove Rd, Mechanicsville
HogtoberSaturday, Oct. 4
BBQ, bands and beer in historic Libby Hill Park. Bands include The Southern Belles, the Dimmer Twins, Love Canon, Flight of Salt and the Hit List. For the kids there will be face painting, balloon art, pig skin toss, and games. Lawn chairs welcome, but leave all coolers, food and beverages at home.
Noon – 7 p.m. Free admission/prices vary for food and drink.
Libby Hill Park
2801 E. Franklin Street
International Food FestivalSaturday, Oct. 4
Members from parishes and local missions offer international selections. Vendors will provide favorites from Our Lady of Lourdes Filipino Festival, St. Benedicts Oktoberfest, Sacred Heart Hispanic Festival and others. There will be cultural entertainment and raffles, children’s activities, and tours of the historic Cathedral that include the museum and crypt. Each purchase directly supports each unique mission or parish.
11 a.m. to dusk
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
800 S Cathedral Place
LEGO FestFriday Oct. 3-Sunday, Oct. 5
If you can get one of the remaining tickets, enjoy. Currently, tickets for the remaining sessions are selling fast and have been for weeks.
NOTE: No tickets are available at the door for any session listed as “Sold Out.”
Times vary. $20-$22.
OystoberFestSaturday, Oct. 4
Feast on bivalves for a cause. There will be fried, steamed and grilled oysters, as well as brats and hotdogs too. Beer sponsored by Loveland Distributing and includes Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale, Lost Rhino RhinO’Fest, Sierra Nevada –Flipside, Guinness, Newcastle, Miller Lite, Angry Orchard Cider.
Music includes East of Afton, The Mills Family Band, The Southern Belles,Starlighter and The Jimmy Catlett Group. The Kids’ Zone will include a moon-bounce, slides and more.
Free to enter with suggested $2 donation. Food, drinks, kids’ zone, charged separately.
3602 Hawthorne Ave
Psychic FestivalSaturday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 5
Come to Virginia’s largest Psychic Festival. All proceeds benefit the Baby Girl Project and school #31 for the children in Kenya. There will be over 50 volunteer healers and readers. Visit psychics, tarot readers, past life readers, Reiki practitioners, clairvoyants, shamans, astrologers, palmistry readers, massage therapists, energy healers and more.
$18 for 15 minutes
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Aquarian Bookshop
3519 Ellwood Avenue
FRIDAY, OCT. 10 – SUNDAY, OCT. 12
Richmond Folk FestivalFriday, Oct.10-Sunday, Oct. 12
Three days of free music on and around Brown’s Island. This year some of the more popular performers return to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this beloved event.
Friday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday noon to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
Check out the RVA Folk Festival Guide for all you need to know about parking, food and band scheduling.
FRIDAY, OCT. 17 – SUNDAY, OCT. 19
3rd Annual Fall FestivalSunday, Oct. 19
Bring a canned good for the Central VA Food Bank Food. The goal is 2,500 pounds of canned and/or non-perishable foods. For each can you will get a ticket for the door prizes which will be drawn at 4:30 p.m. And there is a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, clowns, costume contest, trunk or treat, games, game truck, inflatables, food truck food court, and more.
2 – 5 p.m.
Patterson Avenue Baptist Church4301 Patterson Avenue
46th Annual Richmond OktoberfestFriday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 18
The Annual Richmond Oktoberfest is the largest German / American Oktoberfest festival in the state of Virginia, playing host to nearly 5,000 people over the two-day indoor event. This event is a sample of German Bavarian culture, featuring lots of beer, food and dances. Don’t miss the Chicken dance.
Price: $12 – $15
$15, Seniors $12, Children 15 & under free
Old Dominion Building, Richmond International Raceway
600 E. Laburnum Avenue
HandsOn Day 2014Saturday, Oct. 18
On HandsOn Day, over 1,000 volunteers serve at volunteer projects across the metro region to make a difference in Richmond. Volunteers will serve from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. with a celebration to follow at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery — and a free beer ticket. Join CBS 6 and help clean up the river.
Click to our event: http://wtvr.com/2014/09/15/handson-day-richmond/
More info: www.handsonrva.org/handsonday
Kickin’ Chicken WingfestSunday, Oct. 19
A celebration of all-things chicken wings; hot, mild, sweet, spicy, teriyaki, buffalo, Asian, Thai and more. Local music and beer will help wash it all down.
Event is free; food and beverages available for purchase.
Noon – 5 p.m.
17th Street Farmers’ Market, at Main and 17th
Virginia Hops and Harvest FestivalSaturday, Oct. 18
The third year of an event that celebrates craft beer, food and music. Featuring local beer also, with beer sample tickets for $1 each.
5 oz. samples of each craft beer will be $2-$3 depending on the brew and full pours will be $6-$7 once again, depending on the brew.
$5/carload to enter the park but admission is free.
Noon – 9 p.m.
Pochantas State Park
10301 State Park Rd, Chesterfield
