vol. 302 / step into virago alley

Step Into Virago Alley

VOL. 302 / Step Into Virago Alley

Meet this week’s guest editor, Ash Moore, Managing Director of Virago Alley, the organization behind the Richmond Ren Faire. With nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit arts, Ash has worked with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond Symphony, and most recently the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance, providing marketing, fundraising, and programming support.

Ash serves as Board Secretary for Spectre Percussion, Virginia’s only independent open percussion ensemble, and is also involved with Gallery5, an award-winning, community-driven visual and performing arts center located in Historic Jackson Ward at the heart of Richmond’s Arts District. Through their work at Virago Alley and in their volunteer roles, they advocate for the arts as a vehicle for community building and social cohesion.

In their free time, Ash can be found taking a modern dance class or exploring ways to connect with their inner whimsy. This week, Ash is sharing tips for exploring and celebrating this place we all love to call home.

Take it away, Ash …

Richmond Ren Faire After Parties

Keep the party going at the official Richmond Ren Faire after parties. Each night features a local lineup of high-energy performances in the place where it all started — our favorite community arts center, Gallery5.

Gallery5 celebrates its 21st birthday this week, marking over two decades as a launchpad for local artists and community groups.

Vitals:
April 18th and 19th / 7–11pm / Saturday Tickets and Sunday Tickets / Gallery5, 200 West Marshall Street

Roll 4 – The Improvised RPG Comedy Show

Catch the Roll 4 crew at the Richmond Ren Faire by day, then head to Coalition Theater by night for a grand adventure. Assemble your party and join this month’s Roll 4 D&D one-shot campaign, where the fate of the players rests on the roll of the dice — and your wild suggestions.

Come in your best Ren Faire costume for half off tickets at the door.

Vitals:
Roll 4 - The Improvised RPG Comedy Show / Coalition Theater, 8 W. Broad Street

WRIR Spring Fund Drive

WRIR’s Spring Fund Drive kicks off this weekend, serving as one of their largest fundraising initiatives of the year. WRIR is the voice of the community, airing underrepresented music, news, and views to provide a platform for cultural diversity in Richmond.

This spring’s T-shirt design was created by Silly Genius, featuring the statement: “Get ready for a revolution of sound and a revival of soul. Over the hood, through the streets, and right into your brain.” The line includes a nod to the Sega game Jet Set Radio, paying homage to pirate radio.

Vitals:
Support WRIR

More About Virago Alley.

Virago Alley’s mission is to provide an accessible and inclusive platform for the exploration, education, and preservation of historical martial arts and artisan trades. The Richmond Ren Faire is the organization’s largest initiative to carry out that mission, serving as a celebration of our local arts and culture communities. The RVARF is a massive collaborative effort, activating small businesses and a range of artisans representing various practices and mediums. This project invites people to participate in crafting the world they want to see reflected around them, with an emphasis on community building and the power of creating together. Virago Alley has a lot on the horizon for the rest of this year, including the expansion of educational programming, additional events, and maybe even a new headquarters.

Follow along at @viragoalley and @rvarenfaire.

Explore Virago Alley

Richmondclaire vallisApril 16, 2026go, see, give