19th Annual Richmond Folk Festival Returns October 13 Through 15

10.2023

One of Virginia’s largest and most beloved events, the three-day festival draws more than 200,000 people every year to downtown Richmond’s riverfront, celebrating the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and food. 

Venture Richmond Events, in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities, the Center for Cultural Vibrancy, Children’s Museum, and the City of Richmond, produce the annual event.

In the Virginia Folklife Area and Stage this year experience the crafts, music, and culture of Bristol and beyond. Congress designated Bristol as the “birthplace of country music” in recognition of the 1927 Bristol Sessions, during which The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, and others were recorded for the first time.

The Virginia Folklife Area will include Appalachian Traditions, a demonstration tent with artists and cultural organizations from the greater Bristol region. Demonstrations in broom and toy making, weaving, basketry, and more will be offered, and displays include a pop-up cast iron museum and a rear-engine dragster race car. 

The Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage at the Virginia Folklife Area will honor Bristol's musical past and present by showcasing some of the most accomplished and exciting emerging artists from the city and surrounding region. Experience a live recording of Farm and Fun Time®, a vintage-style radio show presented by the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, hosted by Kris Truelson and his band, Bill and the Belles, and featuring Southwest Virginia natives Linda Lay, Elizabeth LaPrelle and Elsa Howell. The “New Sounds of Bristol Showcase'' presents six artists from in and around Bristol who are shaping its sound today and spanning musical genres from old-time to hip-hop.

The Virginia Folklife Area is a partnership between the Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities and the Center for Cultural Vibrancy.

For a complete schedule of performances, please visit https://www.richmondfolkfestival.org/schedule