What’s Booming RVA: History Through Art
Boomer’s top picks for the week ahead
History can be entertaining! Explore local lore through photography, performance, and a unique annual road run/walk. Plus an O’Neill classic and VA Pride. In “What’s Booming RVA: History Through Art.”
“West by Water: Richmond’s James River and Kanawha Canal.”
The new exhibition features Richmond photographer John Henley and writer Harry Kollatz Jr. along the city’s historic James River & Kanawha Canal, which even after two centuries, remains to some, resident and visitor alike, elusive and mysterious.
Sept. 26 to Sept. 7, 2026, at The Valentine, Richmond.
“Long Day’s Journey Into Night.”
Widely recognized as one of the greatest plays in American and world theatre, Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize–winning masterpiece portrays a single day in the turbulent life of the Tyrone family. Addiction, unfulfilled dreams, and the complexities of love intertwine in this searing portrait of fragility and forgiveness. Cadence partners with CultureWorks’ artoberVA program on October 2 to offer a pay-what-you-will performance.
Sept. 26 to Oct. 11 at The Carol Piersol Stage at Firehouse Theatre, Richmond.
“Gabriel.”
ATLAS Partnership brings to life the people and events surrounding Gabriel’s Rebellion, one of the most significant uprisings of enslaved people in American history, set in and around Richmond in 1800. An official program of the Virginia 250 Commission (VA250).
Sept. 26 to Nov. 9 at the Historic Hanover Tavern, Hanover.
Run Richmond 16.19.
Two distances – a 16.19k (10 miles) and 6.19k (3.85 miles) – take you through 400 years of Black history, with historic sites, street art, and markers along the way. Runners and spectators can enjoy the finish festival, with a drum circle, Black history exhibit, live music, and more.
Sept. 27, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Kanawha Plaza, Richmond.
VA Pridefest 2025.
Saucy Santana, an American rapper known for his viral hits on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, trans pop singer Mila Jam, club icon Kevin Aviance, and RuPaul Drag Race star Aja will entertain crowds at Virginia’s largest LGBTQ festival. Organizers also announced the 2025 Pridefest theme “Live. Out. Loud.” as a rallying cry in the face of amped up attacks on the LGBTQ community. The event includes age-appropriate entertainment for LGBTQ youth and their allies, a focus on accessibility, and a Sober Space.
FREE. Sept. 27, noon to 8 p.m., at Midtown Green, Richmond.
Check websites for more details, including prices and registration requirements.
More of What’s Booming in Richmond besides history through art
Food and more fun to fill your plate
Boomer’s local flavor of the week:
Read more about Gabriel the man and “Gabriel” the musical
