vol. 192 / richmond folk festival

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

VOL. 192 / RICHMOND FOLK FESTIVAL Meet this week's guest editor, Stephen Lecky! A Richmond native, Stephen has been a driving force at Venture Richmond for an impressive 19 years, cultivating events like Friday Cheers, Dominion Energy Riverrock, 2nd Street Festival, and the Richmond Folk Festival. Beyond all he does to elevate RVA, he's a drummer for the band VILLAGES, and a dedicated fan of Richmond's music scene. When he's not immersed in music, he's out kayaking on the James River or cherishing moments with his family.  Stephen, we're eager to read your Folk Fest recommendations! Take it away... Baba Commandant Mandingo Band With so many amazing artists to choose from each year at the Folk Festival, it's hard to narrow down to a few “not to miss" acts. The 2023 edition of the festival is no different; jam-packed with diverse, dynamic artists. With that said, be sure to catch Baba Commandant Mandingo Band when they perform throughout the weekend. The enigmatic lead singer Baba Commandant (Mamadou Sanou) is an original and eccentric character who is well respected in the Burkinabé musical community. A sort of punk Faso Dan Fani activist for traditional Mandingo music, Baba continues to redefine the boundaries between traditional and modern. This band will have you moving all weekend long. They'll only make a few U.S. appearances, so catch them while you can! Vitals: Baba Commandant Mandingo Band / Richmond Folk Festival on Brown's Island (directions) / Performances Fri., Sat., and Sun. (performance schedule) Mac & Cheese for Every Pallate... Hungry? If so, the Folk Fest has you covered with over 25 food vendors around the festival grounds. One not to be missed, and new to the festival this year, is BigWife’s Mac N’ Cheese. Everything from Buffalo Mac, Truffle Mac, Broccoli Shiitake Mac and the good old fashioned Classic Mac will have your mouth watering and craving more. BigWife’s Mac N’ Cheese is the real deal. Come and see what all the fuss is about! Vitals: BigWife's Mac N' Cheese / Richmond Folk Festival on Brown's Island (directions) / All weekend long!   Support Local Makers at the Folk Fest   Feel like doing some shopping while at the Fest? Head over to the craft marketplace and check out all of the handcrafted goodies made by local and out of town vendors. A new to us vendor for 2023 is Ant.On LLC. This Richmond native features amazing handmade stained glass sun-catchers inspired by nature, womanhood, and Irish heritage.  Vitals: Ant.On LLC / Richmond Folk Festival Marketplace on Brown's Island (directions) / All weekend long! More about the Richmond Folk Festival... The Richmond Folk Festival returns this weekend, Friday, October 13th - Sunday, October 15th and celebrates its 19th anniversary, having become one of Virginia’s largest events! The beloved festival draws fans each year to downtown Richmond’s riverfront to celebrate the roots, richness, and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling, and food. The free, three-day event hosts 200,000 people over the weekend and is presented by Venture Richmond Events in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), Virginia Humanities, the Center for Cultural Vibrancy, the Children’s Museum, and the City of Richmond. Featuring six stages and showcasing music and dance from more than 30 performing groups from around the nation and the world, the Richmond Folk Festival promises, as always, to return with a culturally diverse and impressive program. See you there! Poster Artist: Chris Visions Learn More Richmondclaire vallisOctober 11, 2023see, eat, shop Facebook0 Twitter Previous vol. 193 / falling for richmond Richmondclaire vallisOctober 19, 2023go, shop Next vol. 191 / cultivating community Richmondclaire vallisOctober 5, 2023go, see, meet Richmond, VA, 23220, United States hi@hereweekly.com Hours Copyright © Here. Weekly Photos by Kate Magee   |  Website by Skirven & Croft