As tempting as it is to stay in the Law Library and study every weekend, it never hurts to get outside, enjoy fall in Richmond, and enjoy some great live music. The Richmond Folk Festival is right around the corner, and it’s one of the city’s (and the state of Virginia’s) most beloved festivals. The festival runs October 10–12 this year along the downtown riverfront, and it’s completely free to attend. If you don’t already have plans for Fall Break, you do now!
The Folk Festival brings together artists from all over the world, showcasing music and dance from more than 30 artists across six different stages. While you might already expect to hear bluegrass (like, for example, The Amanda Cook Band) or jazz (The Blackbyrds), you can also check out a huge range of multicultural music stylings such as Hawaiian falsetto singing (Raiatea Helm), zydeco (a type of Creole music showcased by Terry & the Zydeco Bad Boys), Armenian (Richard Hagopian Ensemble), and much, much more than can be detailed in single blog post. We recommend you take a look at the full schedule here.
Beyond music and dance, you’ll also find food vendors, a craft market, and a lively community atmosphere alongside Richmond’s beautiful downtown waterfront. It’s the ideal opportunity to connect with the local arts community, hang out with your friends, and step away from the casebooks for a bit.
For full details, make sure to check out the Richmond Folk Festival’s website. That said, here are few quick facts:
Event Details:
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October 10–12, 2025
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Downtown Richmond Riverfront (Brown’s Island & canal area)
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Free admission
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Off-site parking is available at Dogwood Dell (Saturday and Sunday only) with $5 bus service every 30 minutes
- Food, drink, and merchandise sales are debit/credit only.
Since the festival is during the Fall Break weekend, if you’re not leaving town, you have no excuse to not take a break! The Richmond Folk Festival is genuinely one of the coolest events that happens yearly in RVA. Even if it’s just for an hour or two, the Law Library hopes you’ll take the time to enjoy this awesome Richmond tradition.