photo: man dancing

SPONSORS: Ukrop's/First Market Bank | Genworth Financial | SunTrust | Dominion | NewMarket | The Community Foundation | Altria | Richmond Times-Dispatch | CenterStage | MWV | Loveland Distributing Co | City of Richmond | Children's Museum of Richmond | National Council for the Traditional Arts | Virginia Folklife Program | VFH | Comcast | Glory Foods | JHI | JAMinc. | House of Hayes | SIR | Graphics Gallery | Y101 | NBC 12 | K95 | 96.5 KLR | Mix 103.7 | Comcast | Wachovia | DoubleTree Hotel | WCVE | Plan 9 Music | GRTC Transit System | T.F.C. Recycling | R.M.C. Events Staff | City Ice | VHDA | CW Richmond | RVA News | National Park Services | Hohner

Sponsors

The Second Richmond Folk Festival,
October 9-11, 2009

Last year, nearly 185,000 people came down to downtown Richmond's riverfront to celebrate the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance traditional crafts, storytelling and food.

This year will offer the same overwhelming excellence you enjoyed last year, with a whole new list of performers, artists and exhibitors.


Hours of Operation:

Friday, October 9, 6 PM-10:30PM
Saturday, October 10, Noon-10:30PM
Sunday, October 11, Noon-7PM


FREE Shuttles brought to you by SunTrust

SunTrustFREE parking and FREE shuttles, provided by SunTrust, are available from both Spring Rock Green (formerly Beaufont Mall – directly across the street from Cloverleaf Mall) and the Diamond, for your convenience. All shuttles will stop at two festival locations: one at 2nd Street and one at 5th Street.

Spring Rock Green: 7202 Midlothian Turnpike, corner of Chippenham Pkwy
The Diamond: 3001 North Boulevard

Friday - 4:30 - 10:30.
Saturday - 11:30 - 10:30
Sunday - 11:30 - 6:30

The buses will leave every 15 minutes.

Shuttle hotline: 804-358-4782


Downtown Parking

Parking at the festival is easy. Multiple $5 parking lots are available downtown.

Lanier Parking
Riverside on the James, 1001 Haxall Point
Riverfront Plaza, 901 E. Byrd Street
Richmond Plaza – 110 S. 7th Street
6th & Main Streets
Federal Reserve Parking Lot – 5th & Byrd Streets (Handicap Only)

Central Parking
Shockoe Bottom, 100 Virginia Street
Crowne Plaze, 555 E. Canal Street
                                    
Standard parking
300 E. Cary Street (between 3rd & 4th on Cary)
4th & 5th Cary and Canal Streets
6th and Cary Streets
5th and Canal Streets
8th & 9th Cary Street (Dominion Lot)
824 E. Cary Street (between 8th & 9th on Cary)
                                    
City Parking
Main and Foushee

Handicap Parking

Handicap parking will be available on the corner of 5th and Byrd at the new Federal Reserve Parking Deck. A traffic control officer will be on hand to allow properly identified vehicles into the lot. For onsite assistance, visit any of our four information booths.


In the Event of Rain

The Richmond Folk Festival will go on, rain or shine. In the event of rain, please visit information booths located throughout the festival to receive an updated performance schedule.

There are 4 tented stages: The Richmond Times-Dispatch Dance Pavilion, the Altria Stage (both on Brown’s Island), the MWV Family Stage and CenterStage Virginia Folklife Stage.  So in the event of rain you can enjoy the performances in a dry environment.


Admission

The Richmond Folk Festival is a FREE event – you can enjoy the performances, the CenterStage Virginia Folklife Area, and the Genworth Financial Family Area at no cost. Food, drink and merchandise are available for sale.


Hearing Impaired Interpretation

Check your Pocket Schedule or stop by any of the four Community Foundation Information Booths located throughout the festival for details about which performances will be interpreted.


Emergency Services/First Aid

Emergency service centers will be available at several locations at the Richmond Folk Festival. They will be well-marked on festival maps for download and onsite.


Restrooms

Portable restrooms and hand-washing stations will be located in numerous locations throughout the festival.


NO Pets

DO NOT BRING PETS (other than service animals) to the festival. We expect very large crowds and your pets will be more comfortable at home.


Lost People

If a child or person in your party gets lost please approach a volunteer immediately. Volunteers will have access to persons with radios, who can get you help right away.


Bucket Brigade

Help keep the Richmond Folk Festival a FREE event! A group of community volunteers carrying orange buckets will be circulating the festival asking for your support. All donations made through the bucket brigade help directly cover the costs of the festival. Thank you in advance for your support!


Your Presence is Your Permission

Special photographers and videographers have been hired by festival organizers to document the event. Some images may be used in later promotional materials. Your presence at the event is seen as your permission for such promotional use by the non-for-profit organizers.


Richmond Folk Festival GOES GREEN, thanks to SunTrust

SunTrustEverywhere you turn at the Richmond Folk Festival, you will be able to help our environment! Recycling is available throughout the festival site sponsored by SunTrust.

We are fortunate to have a wonderful volunteer core from Benedictine High School who are serving as our official GREEN TEAM at the Richmond Folk Festival. They will assist you in making sure you place your products in the correct containers and are helping us GO GREEN!


Richmond Folk Festival In The Schools

Through the generous support of its sponsors, the Richmond Folk Festival will fill Richmond city school auditoriums and classrooms with performances and presentations of deeply-rooted cultural expressions.
 
The week prior to the festival master musicians and artists will visit 15 public schools. Together, the artists and students share music, song, craft, stories and memories that will last a lifetime.


The American Civil War Center and the National Park Service Visitor Center

The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar has waived admission fees and has extended their hours from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday during the festival. For more information call 804.780.1865 or visit www.tredegar.org www.tredegar.org.

The National Park Service Visitor Center is also open during the festival. The exhibits are free and visitors are welcome.