Your Fall 2025 Festival Roundup
BY THE RVAX TEAM
Fifty-degree temps are on their way back, which means you can soon pull out your flannels and sweaters and not feel ridiculous ordering anything pumpkin-spice flavored — especially those lattes. Fall officially begins Monday, September 22, but the unofficial start to Richmond’s fall festival scene kicks off even earlier (TG!), full of folk music, pumpkin-peeking, sparkling lights, and more. Scroll on for plenty of autumnal inspo!
PS: Did we miss one? This guide includes some of the classics and our favorites, but if there’s something you think we should add, let us know here!
First things first: Oktoberfests
We want you to actually have *time* to get to all the seasonal festivals this fall, so we’ve eased up on your reading assignment a bit and created a separate guide just for Richmond’s Oktoberfests here. Get to better know a couple of our faves, and mark your cal for any others you want to make it out to — we’ll keep adding them as plans pop up!
Otherwise, all the other must-visit fests are listed by month below 👇
September
Kenaanee Native Arts Festival
Featuring the beloved Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival, this event celebrates Indigenous culture, community, and connection in collaboration with the Pamunkey Tribe and Indigenous voices from across the East Coast. Enjoy art, storytelling, food, and play by way of short films, music, crafts, a bustling arts market, food trucks, and then some.
Location: 1800 Lakeside Ave (Lakeside)
Date & time: Sunday, September 14 | 11 am - 5 pm
>> Learn more <<
Iron Blossom Festival
Iron Blossom Festival is a (relatively) newbie but a goodie. Head into fall with some of the best songs stuck in your head, courtesy of this year’s lineup, including Vampire Weekend, Khruangbin, The Lumineers, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, among many others.
Location: 2401 W Leigh St (Scott’s Addition)
Dates & time: Saturday, September 20; Sunday, September 21 | 12:30 - 11 pm
>> Learn more <<
Richmond International Film Festival
This nearly week-long celebration of film and music features more than 165 films, bringing together great talent — from established to up-and-coming artists — and propelling forward and launching careers right from the River City.
Locations: 2908 W Cary St (Carytown) and 1301 N Arthur Ashe Blvd (Scott’s Addition)
Dates: Tuesday, September 23 - Sunday, September 28 (times vary)
>> Learn more <<
State Fair of Virginia
Ferris wheel rides, fried food, cotton candy, and carnival games are just some of the reasons why a visit to the State Fair of Virginia is a must every fall. And then, of course, there’s the Main Stage Concert lineup offering live music every single night.
Location: 13191 Dawn Blvd (Doswell)
Dates: Friday, September 26 - Sunday, October 5 (times vary)
>> Learn more <<
Pridefest
Virginia Pride and Diversity Richmond put on the area’s biggest celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, featuring entertainers, food and drink, and, generally, just lots of good-time havin’.
Location: 2401 W Leigh St (Scott’s Addition)
Date & time: Saturday, September 27 | 12 - 8 pm
>> Learn more <<
Richmond VegFest
More than 100 vegan-friendly vendors, and a wide variety of entertainment at three different stages, close out September with an afternoon that’s fun for everyone in your crew.
Location: 600 S Arthur Ashe Blvd (Byrd Park)
Date & time: Sunday, September 28 | 12 - 6 pm
>> Learn more <<
October
Armenian Food Festival
Scarf down award-winning food and bevs (lookin’ at you, kabobs) while you celebrate and soak up the Armenian culture’s well-known hospitality and lively atmosphere.
Location: 834 Pepper Ave (Three Chopt)
Dates & times: Friday, October 3; Saturday, October 4 | 11:30 am - 9 pm
>> Learn more <<
2nd Street Festival
Celebrate Jackson Ward’s rich history and culture with two days of live musical entertainment, a Kidz Zone, food vendors, a marketplace and Artists Row, and the Richmond Metropolitan Antique Car Club.
Location: 124 E Broad St (Jackson Ward)
Dates & times: Saturday, October 4 | 11:30 am - 7 pm; Sunday, October 5 | 12 - 6 pm
>> Learn more <<
Richmond Folk Fest
Nothing represents our hip, outdoorsy, artsy town as well as the beloved Richmond Folk Festival. Attendance here often breaks records and for good reason; as one of Virginia’s largest and most-celebrated events of the year, Richmond Folk Festival highlights the roots, richness, and variety of diverse cultures through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling, and food.
Location: S 7th St (Downtown - Brown’s Island and its surrounding areas)
Dates & times: Friday, October 10 | 6:30 - 10 pm; Saturday, October 11 | 12 - 9:30 pm; Sunday, October 12 | 12 - 6 pm
>> Learn more <<
Garden Glow
Every fall, Maymont decks out its beautiful trees and sprawling landscape with colorful lights and displays, welcoming visitors to take a tour through the gardens and trails to soak in the truly spectacular illuminated installations.
Location: 1700 Hampton St (Maymont)
Dates: Wednesday, October 15 - Sunday, November 9 (times vary)
>> Learn more <<
Richmond Tattoo & Arts Convention
This convention brings together industry founders, tattoo enthusiasts, artists, collectors, and fans, but it’s about more than just tattooing. The event also celebrates art, history, friendship, and family, offering live music, exciting competitions, interactive kids' activities, delish food, and much more.
Location: 1021 Koger Center Blvd (North Chesterfield)
Dates & times: Friday, October 17 | 2:30 pm - 2 am ; Saturday, October 18 | 12 pm - 2 am; Sunday, October 19 | 12 - 7 pm
>> Learn more <<
Scott’s Addition Pumpkin Festival
Not that you need an excuse to grab a cold one in Scott’s Addition — but this is a fun and festive one, if you do. Gather up your friends, family, and/or four-legged friends and have an afternoon of live music, fall treats, local brews, costume contests, and more.
Location: 2401 W Leigh St (Scott’s Addition)
Date & time: Saturday, October 25 | 12 - 6 pm
>> Learn more <<
November (& early December)
GardenFest of Lights
*Millions* of colorful lights thread throughout Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for this literal winter wonderland of an event, along with decorated trees, model trains, hot cocoa, s’mores, plus.
Location: 1800 Lakeside Ave (Lakeside)
Dates: Monday, November 24 - Sunday, January 4 (times vary)
>> Learn more <<
RVA Illuminates
This party at Kanawha Plaza starts the official holiday season with Richmond’s mayor lighting up the city's downtown skyline and a holiday tree, amidst an evening of live music, food trucks, and all kinds of other reindeer games.
Location: E Canal St (Downtown)
Date & time: Friday, December 5 | 4 - 9 pm
>> More details to come <<
Dominion Energy Christmas Parade
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a fall-season must-see, yes, but Richmond’s classic Christmas parade is another, as it ushers out our pumpkins and turkeys for the year and makes way for the man with the bag. Post up on the parade route along Broad St, beginning at Science Museum of Virginia, and watch for colorful floats, giant helium balloons, high school and college marching bands, princesses, superheroes, and Santa himself.
Locations: Starts at 2500 W Broad St (Museum District), traveling eastbound, then concluding at 601 E Leigh St (Downtown)
Date & time: Saturday, December 6 | 10:15 am - 12 pm
>> Learn more <<
Looking for more fun things to do?:
