The Richmond Folk Festival will return live and in person this fall to celebrate its 17th anniversary over the weekend of October 8-10, 2021. The festival has grown to be one of the largest in Virginia, drawing fans to the riverside of downtown Richmond each year to celebrate the roots, riches, and diversity of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling, and food.
The free three-day event is presented by Venture Richmond Events in association with the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the Virginia Folklife Program, the Center for Cultural Vibrancy, the Children’s Museum, and the City of Richmond.
With six stages and music and dance by more than 30 artists from around the country and the world, the Richmond Folk Festival today presents the first six artists in a once again culturally diverse and impressive program.
“This year may be more than ever to celebrate each other’s traditions and cultures,” said Stephen Lecky, event director at Venture Richmond. “We look forward to revisiting the downtown Richmond riverside for a wonderful weekend of music, food and crafts to provide an open, safe, outdoor space for people to enjoy the Richmond Folk Festival.”
First artist group to be introduced:
Joanie Madden & Cherish the Ladies (Irish)
Yonkers, New York
Michael Cleveland & Flame Guardian (Bluegrass)
Charlestown, Indiana
Nava Persian Trio (Persian Santour)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Plena Es (pump and full)
Sunrise, Florida
Rare Essence (go-go)
Washington, DC
Sean Jones “Dizzy Spellz” feat. Brinae Ali (jazz, hip hop and tap dance)
Baltimore, Maryland
Interactive scavenger hunt
From June 18 through Labor Day weekend, the Richmond Folk Festival has a scavenger hunt. Interested parties can fill it out in peace. It takes an hour or two to complete and there are two routes to choose from. Or for the really adventurous, it is possible to explore both routes in summer! The scavenger hunt is an opportunity to discover often-overlooked public art, learn about history and diverse cultures, and hear relevant musical connections along the way. Like the festival, both routes involve hills, steps, and uneven terrain. Those who successfully complete the festival’s scavenger hunt by Labor Day weekend will be entered into a prize draw, with winners selected throughout the summer! The scavenger hunt runs until September 7th.
For full details please visit our website: https://www.richmondfolkfestival.org/scavhuntintro
Festival times
Friday, October 8th – 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Saturday, October 9th – 1:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 10th – 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
More information about the festival and other artists performing this year will follow later this summer as we continue to follow CDC and state guidelines for the Covid-19 protocol for large outdoor events. A commitment to safety and compliance with local, state, and federal codes and guidelines is critical.
For more information on the Richmond Folk Festival, please visit www.richmondfolkfestival.org.