Summer 2025 Events & Festivals In Richmond, VA

Summer 2026 Events & Festivals in Richmond, VA

We love summer because outdoor festival season is in full swing. Food, music, sports, culture, and more, Richmond has a festival (or several) for everyone this summer. Here, the hard work of planning your weekends has been done for you with our list of the best events and festivals to attend in Richmond this summer. Are we missing something? Let us know, and we’ll add it!

You can also check out our events guides for Fall, Winter, and Spring. Looking for other things to do? Read about our top things to do in Richmond in the Summer.

Richmond Night Market: April-December (Second Saturday)

Richmond Night Market hits the second Saturday of every month (April-December). This open air event highlights creativity, commerce, and community, all in one place – Richmond’s 17th Street Market at 100 N 17th St. From an artisan village independent artists and small business owners to a kids hangout, from live music on the main stage to a Maker’s Space, the Richmond Night Market has something for everyone to enjoy.

Friday Cheers: May-June

**Note for 2026: Friday Cheers will not take place this year due to the ongoing Riverfront construction on Brown’s Island.

Brown’s Island is home to Friday Cheers, a weekly summer concert series with some of the biggest up-and-coming artists taking place every Friday in May and June. It is Richmond’s longest-running concert series!

Flowers After 5: Mid-May-October (Every Thursday)

Every Thursday of the summer, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens puts on Flowers After 5, a music, food, and drink series that allows you to wander the gardens (until 9PM), have a few drinks, and listen to relaxing music (5-8 PM) as the day starts to cool down. Select Thursday nights are also Fidos After 5 nights – Lewis Ginter partners with the Richmond SPCA and leashed dogs are allowed.

Dominion Riverrock: May 15-17, 2026

Richmond’s river system, trails, and outdoor vibes are an integral part of the RVA culture – so much so that there’s a festival for it! And not just any festival, Dominion Riverrock is one of the world’s largest outdoor sports and music festivals. The weekend is packed full of events – mud runs, bike races, white-water kayaking, bouldering competitions, stand up paddle boarding, and more! And you know the high-flying Ultimate Airdogs are back! Anyone (or any dog) can participate in the amateur events, and for all the time between, you’ll find endless music and food!

Richmond Greek Festival: May 28-31, 2026

The Richmond Greek Festival is probably one of RVA’s most well-attended food festivals! Gyros, Souvlaki, Spanakopita, Baklava, oh my! Check out all of the music, dancing, and culture that the festival has to offer while feasting on all the Greek delights! In a rush? Go through the drive through and serve it up on the go or at home. And if you can’t wait until the end of May, you can always pay a visit to Greek on Cary or Stella’s.

RVA Black Farmers Market: June-November (Second & Fourth Sundays)

RVA Black Farmers Market is held on the second and fourth Sundays from June through November at Shalom Farms Northside (1311 Westwood Ave). Here, you can pick from the freshest selections of produce, homemade goods, and crafts by Black farmers and artisans. Founded in August 2020, this market was born in celebration of cultural togetherness and resilience. It celebrates Black farmers and home growers throughout Virginia and beyond.

Hanover Tomato Festival: July 10-11, 2026

The Hanover Tomato Festival at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville features rides, tomatoes, live music, tomatoes, games, and tomatoes! This family-friendly (and free!) event attracts over 25,000 attendees each year and features more than 200 vendors with creative, unique tomato dishes.

Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ: July 25, 2026

This festival is perhaps the ultimate afternoon of overindulgence. Featuring 40 types of Bourbon, 60 beers on tap, AND unlimited tastings, Bourbon, Beer, and BBQ is a fun way to spend the day filling up on your favorite vices. “This annual affair offers up all those pleasures that true Southerners live by – Beer, Bourbon, Barbecue, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass, and Smoked Beasts!” A portion of the proceeds go to Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation.

Richmond International Dragon Boat Festival: August 1, 2026

Come watch as colorfully-costumed Richmonders (and non-Richmonders) race dragon boats down the James River. Or if you’re feeling up for it, sign up a team and ACTUALLY race down the river! Between boat races, there will be Chinese cultural performances and plenty of food trucks and beer gardens to keep you nourished.

Richmond Jazz and Music Festival: August 8-9, 2026

For one weekend in August, Maymont Park is taken over by beautiful sounds and expressions of creativity in the form of jazz. The festival is a true celebration of the art-form and makes for a full weekend of entertainment. The Richmond Jazz Fest is one of the largest such festivals on the East Coast, meaning you’ll certainly get your saxophone and soul fix here!

Carytown Watermelon Festival: August 9, 2026

Watermelon and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly. Don’t believe us? Just ask the nearly 100,000 people who flock to Carytown each August for Virginia’s largest single-day festival. With more than 3,000 watermelons, 80 musicians, a beer garden, a massive kid’s zone, and watermelon-themed goods and edibles, you’ll be full and entertained at the annual Carytown Watermelon Festival.

Richmond ToolBank’s Hammer & Ales: September 18, 2026

Get ready to celebrate 11 years of unity and impact! Hammers & Ales this year will take place at their warehouse (1407 Cummings Drive) from 1-5 PM, during which you’ll team up, enjoy Richmond’s best food trucks and local brews, and hand-build outdoor furniture that is then donated to local community groups in need.

Iron Blossom Music Festival: September 19-20, 2026

The Iron Blossom Music Festival brings world-class music and local favorites to Richmond. As of April, the 2026 lineup is yet to be announced, but past artists include Vampire Weekend, Khruangbin, The Lumineers, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Don’t miss out on the Artisan Bazaar Culinary Village, which will reflect the best of Richmond food and drink (with an emphasis on local sourcing!)

PrideFest: September 28, 2026

Help RVA celebrate its LGBTQ+ community at PrideFest 2026! This years event will again take place at Midtown Green (formerly Bon Secours Training Center), bringing tens of thousands of people to celebrate and featuring daylong entertainment, plus tons of food and activities. While PrideFest is September 28, Richmond’s summer Pride festivities are endless – check out the Endless Summer of Pride!

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