Get ready for sore feet after a weekend of endless dancing! The Richmond Folk Festival returns to the riverside Oct. 10-12, 2025. This year celebrates the 21st anniversary of the festival, and there is so much to celebrate.
If you consider yourself a Richmonder, you’re likely no stranger to piping hot funnel cakes, mud-covered boots and the beautiful chaos of hearing music from every direction — all the wonders that the Richmond Folk Festival brings each year.
A Rich Cultural Tradition
For more than two decades, the Richmond Folk Festival has drawn visitors from all over the country to downtown Richmond’s historic riverfront. The free, three-day festival features performing groups and individuals representing a diverse array of cultural traditions across six different stages.
Throughout the festival, you’ll find more than 40 performing artists from all over the country representing various national and global cultures. Experience the banjo plucking of Appalachian bluegrass, the dance-inspiring beats of African pop, the beautiful vocals of traditional Hawaiian music and so much more.
More than 25 food vendors will be serving up delicious meals and snacks with everything from traditional African cuisine to local ice cream. Global arts and craftvendors also will be set up all weekend long for a unique shopping experience.
While the grown-ups enjoy local craft beer and international sounds, the kids can have their fun, too! With interactive crafts, games, hands-on activities and a music stage in the family area, there is plenty of fun for the little ones.
Going Local
The Richmond Folk Festival is changing things up a bit this year.
While the festival has always highlighted talent and cultures from all over the country, this year, it also brings a focus to the talent and culture that exists right here within Richmond city limits. Local artists such as Kadencia, The Legendary Ingramettes, Jonathan Paige Brown Jr., Prabir and more will take the stage to share their stories and songs.
Jonathan Paige Brown Jr., a beloved Richmond artist performing at this year’s festival, is no stranger to performing on big stages, including Friday Cheers at Brown’s Island and The Broadberry in Richmond, and even AmericanaFest in Nashville.
“It’s very rare for Richmond artists to be featured at Richmond Folk Fest, so I was super surprised and honored to be considered at all,” Brown Jr. said. “The festival brings people together to get through stuff.”
There are so many different cultures that make up the beautiful, expansive melting pot that is Richmond. The 2025 Richmond Folk Festival is going to reveal some of the richest internationally influenced talent we have hiding in Richmond.
Kadencia, a Richmond-based band, blends sounds of Bomba and Plena music styles for a wonderful marriage of Afro-Puerto Rican musical traditions. Coming from the other side of the world, Prabir’s music is a unique blend of ancient Indian and contemporary western rock and roll sounds.
“Richmond has a long history of honoring musicians,” Brown Jr. said. “There’s a real spirit here where people can come and be seen. It’s a beautiful place, this tiny little Southern, slow-paced city; it’s just this little ecosystem.”
With music from all over the world, attendees can easily find something they enjoy and resonate with. It’s also an opportunity to discover sounds you’ve never heard before — ones that represent Richmond and the world at large.
Don’t miss this year’s Richmond Folk Festival! Stop by downtown Richmond’s riverfront to witness one of the city’s most beloved traditions, an enriching cultural and artistic experience that brings people together and leaves a lasting impact on your heart and soul. It all starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 10.
For more information on the festival, including the performance schedule, visit the Richmond Folk Festival website.
