5 Things for Families

This weekend has fun runs, haunted events, haunted fun runs (I think I’m making that up, but I’m sure it’s a thing), music, festivals, and the biggest festival of all: the State Fair–which has everything anyone could want to do, including rides, agricultural expos, and competitive place setting.

September 25, 2013; 7:10 AM • by Kelly Gerow

1. State Fair of Virginia

What can I say about the State Fair that no one knows? Except that once I was there by myself and paid to watch a poorly-attended sideshow act, and when volunteers were requested, no one answered and I felt bad and volunteered (which is strange for me) to put my head in a guillotine. And even though I knew that the whole thing was fake, I did have a feeling that I would die there. I love the State Fair.

• Friday, September 27th through Sunday, October 6th • see website for daily schedules
• Meadow Event Park (Caroline County)
• $8-12 for single day admission (Children four and under are free)

2. VCU Broad Street Mile

This event is one part mile-long festival featuring exhibits from VCU organizations, corporate sponsors, and community groups, one part crowd-pleasing activities, food, and music, and 16 parts one-mile fun runs benefitting various charities. It’s almost twenty events in one!

• Saturday, September 28th • 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Broad Street between Belvidere Street and Hermitage Road
• Festival is free to attend, 1k registration fee is $15-$30

3. Festival of India

The Festival of India should be called “The Weekend that All Non-Indian Women Silently Wonder if They Could Pull Off Wearing Saris,” but that looks weird on a banner. And also they can’t pull it off. This Richmond favorite celebrates the music, art, and traditions of India (and unlimited DVDs of Bollywood song collections), plus food from local restaurants and families.

• Saturday, September 28th and Sunday, September 29th • 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. 3rd Street
• Free

4. Richmond Music History Tour

I remember the mid-to-late 90s, Richmond had the best shows and great national acts come through. Someone 10 years older than me thinks that way of the 80s, and so on, but we can all agree that cool things have happened and still happen with the music scene in Richmond. The Richmond Music History Tour, presented by and benefitting WRIR, covers 150 years of local music. The two-hour bus tour highlights Richmond hotspots. Learn about the different music scenes by neighborhood, and hear a few good stories that will shed a different light on what you already know about music in and from Richmond.

• Saturday, September 28th • 11:00 AM or 3:00 PM
• Bandito’s Burrito Lounge, 2905 Patterson Avenue (tour starts and ends here)
• $25

5. Happy Camper Fest

Happy Camper Fest doubles as a benefit for Fetch-A-Cure and Communities in Schools of Richmond and a good ol’ festival with kid’s activities, craft and food vendors, artists, and presumably beer.

• Sunday, September 29th • 12:00 — 5:00 PM
• Hardywood Brewery, 2408 Ownby Lane
• $5 suggested donation

Photo by krakatoa

September 25, 2013 7:10 AM 0