General Info
The Richmond Folk Festival
September 27-29, 2024
The Richmond Folk Festival will return in the fall to celebrate its 20th anniversary the weekend of September 27-29, 2024. The festival has become one of Virginia’s largest, drawing fans each year to downtown Richmond’s riverfront to celebrate the roots, richness, and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling, and food. Featuring six stages and showcasing music and dance from more than 30 artists from around the nation and the world, the Richmond Folk Festival promises, as always, to return with a culturally diverse and impressive program.
The free, three-day event is presented by Venture Richmond Events, in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the Center for Cultural Vibrancy, Virginia Humanities, the Children’s Museum, and the City of Richmond.
Hours of Operation:
Friday, September 27 — 6:30pm - 10:00pm
Saturday, September 28 — 12:00pm - 9:30pm
Sunday, September 29— 12:00pm - 6:00pm
2023 Site Map
ADMISSION - FREE
The Richmond Folk Festival is a FREE event – you can enjoy the performances, the Virginia Folk Life Area & Stage, and the Family Area at no cost. Food, drink, and merchandise are available for sale.
How to Get to the Richmond Folk Festival
See our Directions/Parking page for directions to the riverfront, GRTC bus routes, ride-share information and event parking.
Site Accessibility and 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, an ADA shuttle will run from the Federal Reserve Parking deck to 5th & Tredegar St.
There will not be onsite transportation available between the various stages, but three stages, the CoStar Group Stage, Dominion Energy Dance Pavilion and the Altria Stage are wheelchair accessible, from which you can see all of the performers through the course of the festival. See our site map for more info on these locations.
Please be advised that the venue’s terrain is a mix of grassy and rocky terrain with some steep hills and slopes. We encourage all guests with mobility disabilities to utilize personal forms of transportation, including wheelchairs and scooters. Crutches, walkers and canes are also permitted at the event. If you need to recharge your motorized wheelchair or other medical equipment, you may do so at one of the four First Aid Tents on site (Bring all cords and accessories needed to charge your devices). Please note that we will not be renting assisted mobility devices onsite.
ACCESSIBLE VIEWING AREAS
There will be accessible viewing areas made available to ADA patrons at the front of the Altria Stage and CoStar Group Stage
SERVICE ANIMALS
Service animals are permitted on site.
HEARING-IMPAIRED INTERPRETATION
Check your Pocket Guide, our online schedule or stop by any of the three Info Booths located throughout the festival for details about which performances will be interpreted.
RESTROOMS
Portable/ADA-friendly restrooms will be located throughout the festival.
Live Festival Broadcast Available
The Richmond Folk Festival will be broadcast live on Virginia Public Media (VPM) throughout the weekend. If you are unable to attend in person, tune in to Richmond public radio VPM online or over the air in the Richmond area at 107.3 and 93.1 FM to hear the live performances.
BIKE PARKING
Bike parking is available near 2nd and Spring Street. These areas will not be staffed, so please make sure to bring a bike lock.
Methods of Payment for beverage and merchandise sales
There are NO CASH SALES on site for beer, sodas, or festival merchandise. Debit and credit cards are accepted. Food vendors do accept cash and credit cards.
NO PETS
DO NOT BRING PETS (other than service animals) to the festival. We expect very large crowds and your pets will be more comfortable at home.
FAQ: WHAT CAN’T I BRING WITH ME?
Items that are not permitted include, but are not limited to:
Pets (service animals are permitted)
Coolers
Large Backpacks
Alcohol
Bottles/glass containers
Contraband (drugs and weapons)
Laser pointers
Bikes, skateboards, inline skates
Flying objects (drones, kites, Frisbees, footballs, etc.)
BUCKET BRIGADE
Help keep the Richmond Folk Festival a FREE event! A group of community volunteers carrying orange buckets will be circulating the festival asking for your support. All donations made through the bucket brigade help directly cover the costs of the festival. The suggested donation is $10 per person per day. Thank you in advance for your support!
IN THE EVENT OF RAIN
The Richmond Folk Festival will go on, rain or shine. In the event of rain, please visit information booths located throughout the festival to receive an updated performance schedule.
There are 5 tented stages: The Dominion Energy Dance Pavilion, the CoStar Group Stage (both on Brown’s Island), the CarMax Stage, the Family Stage, and the Virginia Folk Life Area & Stage. So in the event of rain, you can enjoy the performances in a dry environment.
EMERGENCY SERVICES/FIRST AID
Emergency service centers will be available at several locations at the Richmond Folk Festival. They will be well-marked on festival maps for download and onsite.
LOST PEOPLE
If a child or person in your party gets lost please approach a volunteer immediately. Volunteers will have access to persons with radios, who can get you help right away.
YOUR PRESENCE IS YOUR PERMISSION
Special photographers and videographers have been hired by festival organizers to document the event. Some images and videos may be used in later promotional materials. Your presence at the event is seen as your permission for such promotional use by the non-profit organizers.
RICHMOND FOLK FESTIVAL IS A GREEN FESTIVAL
Everywhere you turn at the Richmond Folk Festival, you will be able to help our environment! Recycling is available throughout the festival site.
Information Booths
If at any time, while onsite, you have more questions, need assistance, or just want to say hi, swing by one of the three information tents. Our volunteers are there to help!
The Richmond Folk Festival has been certified as part of the Virginia Green program.