The Richmond Folk Festival takes place on downtown Richmond's historic riverfront, from 2nd to 7th streets and from Byrd Street to the river - including Brown's Island, the American Civil War Center at Tredegar, the lawn of the NewMarket (Ethyl) Corporation, portions of Federal Reserve parking lots, and Tredegar Street.
For guest safety vehicular traffic is not permitted on the actual event site. All streets leading into the site are closed to vehicular traffic at Canal Street (two blocks north of the site). To reach the festival site guests are advised to use remote parking (Spring Rock Green – formerly Beaufont Mall – directly across the street from Cloverleaf Mall – or Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield on Staples Mill Road) and ride our FREE shuttles, which drop off ON site every 20 minutes. Alternately guests may use any of the parking lots listed below and enter the site on foot via 2nd or 5th Streets.
Visitors unfamiliar with the Richmond area are encouraged to park in our remote parking lots and travel to the festival site via our FREE shuttle buses. The remote lot recommended for out of town guests is at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, accessible from the Staples Mill exit on I-64.
From the North, via I-95 (DC)
Take the I-195 S/I-64 W exit, EXIT 79, toward Powhite Parkway. Take Exit 185 to merge onto East Staples Mill Road, continue to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
From the South, via I-95 (North Carolina)
Merge onto I-64 W via EXIT 79 toward I-195 S/Powhite Pkwy/Charlottesville. Take Exit 185 to merge onto eastbound Staples Mill Road, continue to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
From the West, via I-64 (Charlottesville)
Take I-64 East to Exit 185B to Staples Mill East, continue to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
From the East, via I-64 (Virginia Beach)
Take Exit 185 to merge onto eastbound Staples Mill Road, continue to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
FREE Shuttles
FREE parking and FREE shuttles are available from both Spring Rock Green (formerly Beaufont Mall – directly across the street from Cloverleaf Mall) and New for 2011, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, for your convenience. All shuttles will stop at two festival locations: one at 2nd Street and one at 5th Street.
Spring Rock Green: 7202 Midlothian Turnpike, corner of Chippenham Pkwy
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (NEW!): 2015 Staples Mill Road
Friday - 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday - 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday - 11:30 AM - 6:30 PM
The buses will leave every 20 minutes.
Shuttle hotline: 804-358-4782
Downtown Parking
Parking at the festival is easy. Multiple parking lots are available downtown.
- Central Parking
$5.00
Shockoe Bottom, 100 Virginia Street
Crowne Plaza, 555 E. Canal Street
3rd & Cary Streets
$6.00
3rd & Main Streets (300 E. Main Street)
4th Street between Main & Cary Streets
City Parking
$3.00
Main & Foushee Streets
Standard Parking
$5.00
300 E. Cary Street
4th & 5th Streets between Cary & Canal
5th and Canal Streets
6th and Canal Streets
824 E. Cary Streets (between 8th and 9th on Cary)
Lanier
$5.00
Riverside on the James, 1001 Haxall Point
Riverfront Plaza, 901 E. Byrd Street
Mayo Island Parking
$3.00
501 S. 14th Street
Handicap Parking
Handicap parking is available in the Federal Reserve Parking Deck located on the corner of 5th and Byrd Streets. A traffic control officer will be at the intersection to allow properly identified vehicles through.
During the festival, GRTC buses will be transporting patrons up and down the 5th St hill between Tredegar St and Byrd St to assist folks in getting to the Federal Reserve Parking Deck.
There will not be onsite transportation available between the various stages.
