The Richmond Folk Festival returns to Downtown Richmond’s riverfront Oct. 10–12, celebrating over two decades as one of the state’s most cherished events. This festival brings a cultural wonderland to Brown’s Island and the city’s riverfront, welcoming 200,000 people to experience the roots, richness, and diversity through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling, and food.
Six stages showcase more than 30 performing groups from around the nation and worldwide. With authentic folk music, dance performances, and master craftspeople demonstrating time-honored techniques, the festival presents an immersive way to explore American heritage. Food vendors serve everything from regional specialties to international cuisine, while the marketplace features handcrafted treasures from skilled artisans.
The completely free admission gives everyone the chance to participate in this celebratory cultural blowout. Presented by Venture Richmond Events in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, Virginia Humanities, and the Center for Cultural Vibrancy, the Richmond Folk Festival shows that some of the best cultural experiences can be found close to home, right along the James River. RichmondFolkFestival.org
Featured photo courtesy of Richmond Folk Festival. This article originally appeared in the October 2025 issue.
