Richmond Folk
Festival
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia, hosted the National Folk Festival from 2005-2007. Local partners envisioned the Festival as a signature arts and culture event that would showcase the city’s revitalized historic downtown riverfront and bridge the longstanding community divisions that accompany Richmond’s complex history. Presented in this beautiful and deeply historical setting along the James River and on the grounds of the American Civil War Museum, the festivals in Richmond remain some of the most successful in the NCTA’s history.
The Richmond Folk Festival has been setting attendance records since its launch in 2008, regularly drawing crowds of over 200,000 and cementing its position as the “crown jewel” of Richmond’s cultural calendar. Produced in partnership with Venture Richmond, this free, 3-day festival features more than 30 performing groups on 6 stages, the Center for Cultural Vibrancy Virginia Folklife Area & Stage celebrating regional traditions, a family area programmed by the Children’s Museum of Richmond, an arts marketplace, and a broad selection of regional and international cuisine served by dozens of local vendors. The NCTA continues to curate its artistic program and provide production and logistics support.
Oct. 9 - 11, 2026
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