Your Summer 2025 Bucket List
Sure, summer’s packed with MDW, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, and LDW celebrations, but those are just some of the fun things you can do around town to make the most of the season. Make sure you check off *these* to-dos, too, before autumn gets here and is all, “Do YoU wAnT a PuMpKiN sPiCe LaTtE?”
Go to an outdoor concert
Friday Cheers happens every Friday, from 6 to (about) 9:30 pm, through June 27. We’re not saying you have to see every single show to make this count for bucket-list purposes, but we’re not not suggesting that, either. Bring a blanket and chairs, grab something from Boka Tako (or one of the menu other food truck options on site), and enjoy your very-Richmond evening on Brown’s Island.
And, of course, the highly anticipated Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront debuts this summer, so you can’t not catch one of the many featured headliners, including Dave Matthews Band, Mumford & Sons & Friends, and a helluva lot more.
Locations: 501 Tredegar St (Downtown) and 350 Tredegar St (Downtown)
Catch a flick at Goochland Drive-In
The drive-in is a great way to spend an evening with your partner or your pal, and Goochland Drive-In has plenty of classics and recent(ish) releases playing on its big screens each week — Lilo & Stitch is on the schedule right now. Chow down on some tasty eats and drinks from the snack bar and get comfy for an epic movie night out.
Location: 4344 Old Fredericksburg Rd (Hadensville)
Make ice cream at Sweet Wynns
Partake in some ice cream history education, sample different ice cream flavors, and create your own pint to take home and enjoy! During a Sweet Wynns ice cream workshop, you pick your base, choose up to three add-ins, follow the provided recipe (or improvise!), then bon(bon) appétit. The sweet spot offers adult, kid, and specialty workshops, or you can plan a private event!
Location: 1209 E Main St Suite A (Shockoe Slip)
BTW: Don’t forget your member perk when you register.
SUP, float, or [other] on the James River
Whether you’re grabbing your cooler and inner tube for a leisurely float, or climbing aboard Tiki Club RVA, getting out on the James in one way or another is a must-do when you’re summering in the River City. But however you choose to spend a day on the river, make sure you’re staying safe out there! Refer to Westham Gauge or @howsthejamesrva to check the water level and other conditions, wear a life jacket, and keep these other safety tips top of mind.
BTW: We’ve got city guides to help with all that — PLANNING YOUR RIVER FLOAT: A COMPLETE GUIDE and 8 WAYS TO SPEND THE DAY ON THE JAMES RIVER, FROM RELAXING TO THRILL-SEEKING.
Cool off in the AC at a museum
Richmond has no shortage of amazing museums to peruse when those hot-and-sticky Central Virginia temps start to take their toll and you need to beat the heat. Just to name a few:
The Valentine recently debuted an exhibit that’s sure to up the cool factor in more ways than one — Fancy: Costume, Characters, and the Richmond Masque “explores the many ways Richmonders have used creative clothing to disguise themselves for frivolity, celebration, and performance.”
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has Frida: Beyond the Myth on display, centering “this singular artist and her extraordinary works.”
And Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and “highlights Virginia’s leading role in the American Revolution. It explores the continental and global forces as well as the actions of both iconic and ordinary people that brought about a model of democratic government that changed the world.”
Locations: 1015 E Clay St (Downtown), 200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd (Museum District), and 428 N Arthur Ashe Blvd (Museum District)
Pick some peaches at Chiles Peach Orchard
Peaches are in season through the end of August, and Chiles Peach Orchard is one of our favorite Chiles Family Orchards locations to literally reap the benefits. When you’re in the mood for a mini road trip this summer, head to the fresh fruit spot in Crozet, and get your peach-picking on. The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain views you’ll get to peep are just a bonus on top of the market and bakery finds, wine, and produce you’ll get your hands on when you visit.
Location: 1351 Greenwood Rd (Crozet)
BTW: Charlottesville is nearby, and we’ve got a guide for that, too!
Plus, some other RVAx team must-dos:
Cool off at an outdoor pool or splash pad.
Take a bicycle tour of the city with Basket & Bike.
Lie out on the Belle Isle Dry Rocks.
Drool your way through Duke’s Hot Tomato Summer.
See Flowers After 5 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
Sip a festive cocktail (or old favorite) at a rooftop bar.
Attend a Richmond Flying Squirrels game at The Diamond (featuring post-game fireworks, of course!).
Try a seasonal flavor at a local ice cream shop; we LOVE Jawsome at Gelati Celesti.
With the sun out extra late this season, catch a sunset (or sunrise) at a top spot for golden hour.
For more ways to get out & about:
