Your Summer 2026 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?”
Image Source: The Richmond Experience
Go to an outdoor concert
Friday Cheers — the ultimate outdoor concert opp — is on hiatus while Brown’s Island is under construction, but lucky for us Richmonders, we have quite a few other outdoor concert opps we can continue to enjoy while our fave takes a break:
Groovin’ in the Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Harden features big names, like Everclear, amidst big blooms.
Music at Maymont has Carbon Leaf and other noteworthy acts — plus sprawling space in the Carriage House Lawn to take them in.
Iron Blossom Music Festival closes out summer with a full weekend of LCD Sound System, Jack White, and more.
And, of course, Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront is open for its second warm-weather season, and you can’t not catch one of the many featured headliners, including DJO, The Black Keys, and a helluva lot more.
Image Source: The Richmond Experience
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 — Mortal Kombat II 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)
Image Source: Sweet Wynns
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.
Image Source: The Richmond Experience
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.
Image Source: The Valentine
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 is about to debut an exhibit that’s sure to up the cool factor in more ways than one — Building a City: Richmond’s Landmarks “encourages educators, students and museum visitors to explore Richmond’s rich architectural history and the city’s built environment.”
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has India's Great Mughals: Art, Power & Opulence, centering “the glorious artistic achievements and grandeur of one of history's great empires.”
And Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s We the People: The World in Our Commonwealth “explores the many people who, over centuries, have made Virginia the unique place it is in America and in the world, and the dramatic impact of the immigrant experience throughout Virginia’s history as people arrived from the four corners of the globe.”
Locations: 1015 E Clay St (Downtown), 200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd (Museum District), and 428 N Arthur Ashe Blvd (Museum District)
Image Source: @chilespeachorchard
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)
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.
Sip a festive cocktail (or old favorite) at a rooftop bar.
Attend a Richmond Flying Squirrels game at the brand new CarMax Park (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:
