The Pulse of RVA
The Front Page
Discover Richmond events, arts and culture with The Cultural Current. Find things to do in RVA, including live music, festivals, arts, food and community events. Stay connected to the people and places shaping Greater Richmond culture.
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Desirée Roots: A Richmond Voice, a Musical Legacy and a Life Beyond the Notes
From her first paid church solo to acclaimed theater performances and Ella Fitzgerald tributes, Desirée Roots has built a remarkable career in Richmond. The singer and actress reflects on her family legacy, musical training and commitment to RVA’s arts community.
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Hasset found her community in RVA through music
The VCU student and R&B singer-songwriter is bringing that connection to a sold-out Backyard Session on Oct. 22.Hasset moved to Richmond for school, but finding her place took longer. During her first two years, the Virginia Commonwealth University student struggled to make lasting connections. Pursuing music began to change that. Now, the Richmond-based R&B singer-songwriter…
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Richmond’s soul takes the stage for D’Angelo tribute
Richmond musicians who knew D’Angelo before his rise to fame will join artists carrying the city’s soul tradition forward at this year’s Richmond Folk Festival. “Soul of the City: Richmond Celebrates D’Angelo” brings together mentors, former collaborators and fellow performers whose backgrounds connect to the gospel, soul, funk and hip-hop that shaped his music. The…
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Rooted in Rhythm: Kadencia’s Afro-Puerto Rican Sound
Kadencia Orchestra brings the Afro-Puerto Rican traditions of Bomba and Plena from Mayagüez to RVA, where a father and son are carrying the music across generations and opening the tradition to a new community.
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Standing in the Shade of a 20-Year Tree: How the RVA East End Festival Transformed Arts Education in Richmond
Twenty years after a quiet crisis sparked a neighborhood arts revolution, the RVA East End Festival returns to Richmond’s historic 17th Street Market on September 26, 2026. Discover how two decades of community advocacy raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for public school arts programs, brought the Richmond Symphony and brass legends to Shockoe Bottom, and saw former students return as music educators leading the next generation.
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Richmond Folk Festival 2026: Celebrating Global Traditions, Reinvented & Free
Returning to the downtown riverfront from October 9–11, 2026, the free Richmond Folk Festival proves that tradition is far from frozen in time. Across six dynamic stages on Brown’s Island, master artists—from Héctor “Coco” Barez’s electrified Puerto Rican bomba and the Chuck Brown Band’s 50th-anniversary go-go beats to Tradition-ILL’s Indigenous hip-hop/powwow fusion—boldly reinvent ancestral arts for a vibrant, modern celebration of global culture.
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I-85 Southbound Traffic to Be Detoured Near Roanoke River Bridge for Repairs
Motorists traveling south on Interstate 85 near the Virginia-North Carolina border should prepare for an overnight detour later this month as the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) conducts repairs near the Roanoke River Bridge.According to VDOT, all southbound I-85 traffic will be redirected to Route 58 westbound at Exit 12, near South Hill and Chase…
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Richmond Symphony Release of this land, First Album With Valentina Peleggi
Richmond Symphony Releases First Album in Seven Years With of this landThe Richmond Symphony has released of this land, its first album in seven years and its first under Music Director Valentina Peleggi. The recording brings together four contemporary compositions exploring Virginia’s history, cultural identity and the people who have shaped the Commonwealth.Released August 28…
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VMFA Visual Arts Fellowship Applications Open as Deadline Approaches
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is accepting Visual Arts Fellowship applications, offering Virginia artists and art students an opportunity for career support ahead of an early-November deadline.
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This Week in RVA: VUU Homecoming, Christian McBride Jazz Weekend and More | Oct. 19–25
Looking for things to do in RVA this week? VUU Homecoming, jazz, R&B, live music and free art events lead the October 19–25 calendar.
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Fall Line Trail to bring new connections to Petersburg, Colonial Heights and Chesterfield
The Fall Line Trail’s 10-mile southern section is expected to open in phases in 2028, bringing new opportunities for walking, bicycling and community connections to Petersburg, Colonial Heights and Chesterfield.
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Village Square Parkway section to close for pipe replacement Oct. 20–21
A section of Village Square Parkway in Chesterfield County will close Oct. 20 and 21 for a pipe replacement project, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.Weather permitting, work will take place daily from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Route 3867 (Village Square Parkway), between Route 5201 (Fox Club Parkway) and Route 3600 (Woodlake…
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Richmond Symphony brings back Come & Play, with singers joining for the first time
The Richmond Symphony is bringing back a community music tradition after nine years, this time making room for singers alongside the instrumentalists.Come & Play & Sing: Carmina Burana will bring participants together with Richmond Symphony musicians and the Richmond Symphony Chorus on Sunday, April 11, 2027, at VCU’s Siegel Center. Music Director Valentina Peleggi will…
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Clement Town Road to close Oct. 19–20 for bridge work
A portion of Clement Town Road connecting Powhatan and Amelia counties will close during daytime hours Oct. 19 and 20 for bridge maintenance, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.Weather permitting, the closure will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day on Route 681 between Old Buckingham Road in Powhatan County and Genito…
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Richmond Folk Festival makes room for music, culture and community
A D’Angelo tribute and the Chuck Brown Band’s go-go set highlighted a Richmond Folk Festival that made room for music, cultural traditions and community.
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Richmond’s Desirée Roots returns to the music of Ella Fitzgerald
Richmond native Desirée Roots returns to Ella Fitzgerald’s music with Timeless Ella on November 10, bringing years of jazz, theatre and arts education experience to the Glen Allen stage.
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Virginia Union University has rewritten a piece of its athletic history.
Virginia Union captured its first CIAA men’s outdoor track championship since 1934, ending a 92-year drought and sending athletes on to the NCAA Division II Championships.
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Virginia State’s ‘College Hill’ Homecoming Brings ESPN, Music and Trojan Traditions to Petersburg
Virginia State University celebrates Homecoming Oct. 3–10 with ESPN’s First Take, concerts, a parade, alumni events, tailgating and Trojan football.
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The Community Sets the Stage for Swift Creek Mill’s Return
The community helped Swift Creek Mill surpass its $250,000 fundraising goal. Now the South Chesterfield theater is preparing for an Oct. 30 return, holiday performances and a new plan for its future.
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Virginia Union Homecoming Brings Panther Pride Back to Campus
Virginia Union University welcomes alumni back to campus Oct. 18–25 for Homecoming 2026, featuring Yard Fest, a step show, tailgating, football, music and more.
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ESPN’s First Take to Broadcast Live From Virginia State University During Homecoming
ESPN’s First Take will broadcast live from Virginia State University on Oct. 9 during VSU Homecoming, bringing Stephen A. Smith and Shae Cornette to campus as part of the show’s HBCU Tour.
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Gary Owen Brings the No Hard Feelings Tour to RVA
Comedian Gary Owen brings his No Hard Feelings Tour to Richmond’s Carpenter Theatre on Oct. 2, bringing more than two decades of stand-up, film and television experience to the stage.
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Weinstein JCC Announces 2026-2027 Arts + Ideas Season: Cultural Events & Highlights in Richmond
The cultural landscape of Richmond, VA, is set to be enriched and enlivened as the Weinstein JCC proudly unveils its…
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Watching the Watchers: How a Small-Town Virginia Sheriff Sparked a Surveillance Firestorm
When a rural Virginia sheriff abruptly pulled the plug on his county’s Flock Safety camera network, it ignited a rare bipartisan revolt—putting surveillance programs across Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield directly in the crosshairs of a statewide privacy reckoning.
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Luck Stone’s 4th Annual Run the Rock 5K Rockville: Conquer the Quarry for Goochland Sheriff’s Foundation
Lace up for a one-of-a-kind adventure at Luck Stone’s fourth annual Run the Rock 5K on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Rockville Plant. Conquer challenging gravel terrain and take in stunning quarry views while enjoying a full morning of family-friendly entertainment, local food trucks, and kids’ activities—all to benefit the Goochland Sheriff’s Foundation.
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Beyond the Marble: Confronting the Contested Memory of George Washington at Virginia Museum of History and Culture
Historian John Garrison Marks visits the Virginia Museum of History & Culture on Sept. 24 to unpack two centuries of contested narratives surrounding George Washington, chattel slavery at Mount Vernon, and the ongoing fight by descendant communities to reshape American historical memory.
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Run Richmond 16.19: Cultural Run Through 400 Years of Black History in Richmond, VA
Run Richmond 16.19 marks its fifth-anniversary weekend with a transformative three-day convergence of distance running, living history, and community dialogue. Discover how moving through Richmond’s most historic corridors offers an immersive journey across 400 years of Black history and resilience.
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Richmond Comedy and Music Festival 2026: Laugh & Groove with Micah ‘Bam Bam’ White
Get ready to mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening of side-splitting laughter and soulful rhythms! The Richmond Comedy and…
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Nunsense Musical in Glen Allen: Henrico Theatre Company Performances & Tickets
Get ready to laugh until your habits fall off! The beloved musical comedy, Nunsense, is set to kick off the…
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Threads of Hope: Inside Sisters Project Peru’s “Woven in Color” Exhibition
In the high-altitude Andean community of Huacahuasi, Peru, textiles are far more than vibrant adornments—they are living archives of history,…
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Event Spotlight: “Wildcards” Screening & Live Q&A with Wes Miller and Leon – Aug. 28 at 7 PM
Film enthusiasts and fans of sharp legal thrillers, mark your calendars for a premier cinematic evening in Central Virginia. On…
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The 9 Best Cocktail Bars in Richmond: The Ultimate Local Guide
Skip the tourist traps. From moody speakeasies to lush neighborhood hangouts, here is the ultimate countdown of the top 10 cocktail bars in RVA, curated by local consensus.
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Richmond Has a Clear BBQ Winner — And It’s Not ZZQ
We talked to Richmond locals to get the real, unfiltered scoop on the city’s best barbecue. From legendary hidden gems in Varina to polarizing craft giants in Scott’s Addition, here are the spots locals love—and the legacy names they say are no longer worth the trip.
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The New Architects: How Black Tech Founders Are Rewriting the Rules of Innovation
Forget the standard Silicon Valley echo chamber. A brilliant wave of Black tech founders is stepping up to the drawing board and rewriting the rules of innovation. By leveraging ethical AI, inclusive FinTech, and community-first design, these creators aren’t just building apps—they are shifting the global cultural and economic current.
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The Green Dominion: Inside Virginia’s High-Stakes Compromise to Finally Sell Legal Weed
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Virginia is finally escaping cannabis purgatory. Thanks to a high-stakes budget compromise, legal retail weed is officially coming to the Old Dominion on July 1, 2027. Here is your ultimate, no-jargon breakdown of the taxes, the licenses, the craft-grower victories, and what this massive cultural shift actually means for you. -
Building the Future: Chesterfield Celebrates Major Construction Milestone for West Ridge High School
Chesterfield County celebrates a major construction milestone for the state-of-the-art West Ridge High School. Discover how this modern facility, opening in August 2027, will shape local education, culture, and community growth.