More What’s Booming RVA: April 6 to 13
Plus announcements and a link to more calendar fun
A week of RVA events, or go to our updated events page for Down the Road events and ongoing exhibitions and performances.
April 6 to 13
Every day, more to occupy mind and feed your body and soul, in and around the Richmond region.
Thursday, April 6
Special Spring Break Hours at Maymont Mansion and The Robins Nature Center. Learn more about the people who lived and worked at the Gilded Age mansion, and visit the 30,000 gallons of aquaria showcasing animals of the James River and Chesapeake Bay. Through April 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, at Maymont, Richmond.
Richmond Kickers v. Cleveland SC. The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Second Round game. April 6, 7 p.m., at City Stadium, Richmond.
“The Confederate Alamo.” Author John J. Fox speaks on the Battle of Fort Gregg as part of the Petersburg Civil War Roundtable. April 6, 7 p.m., at Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, Petersburg.
Friday, April 7
National Beer Day! Celebrate the repeal of Prohibition at your favorite craft brewery!
Open Museum Day: Deep Run School and Clarke-Palmore House. Drop by the early 1900s two-room school and a furnished 1930s home, which are usually open by appointment only. April 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Short Pump Park and Clarke-Palmore House Museum, both in Henrico.
First Fridays for the Whole Family. Free museum admission (Apollo!), food trucks, family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and happy hour specials. April 7, 5 to 8 p.m., at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Richmond.
Living It Forward: Opening Reception and Exhibition. More than 45 works by artists inspired by themes of renewal, life, and hope, in honor of National Donate Life Month. Sponsored by UNOS to bring awareness to organ donation. Opening reception on April 7, 5 to 8 p.m., at UNOS, Richmond.
Mountainfilm on Tour. Films about people, stories, and ideas, shown at the annual festival in Telluride, Colorado. April 7 at Deep Run Park and April 8 at Henrico Theatre, both in Henrico.
The Richmond Flying Squirrels Season Opener. See Boomer’s top five picks.
Super Sugar Beats. See Boomer’s top five picks.
Down the Road (literally!)
42nd Annual Easter Decoy & Art Festival. Decoy carvers from the region exhibit their work. Meet the artists and watch them create. Other crafters and artisans present their works as well. Chincoteague Combined School, Chincoteague.
Saturday, April 8
Spring in Your Step 5k. Run, jog, or walk to benefit the Chesterfield Police Activities League. April 8: packet pickup from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., race at 8 a.m., from the Chesterfield County Police Training Academy, Chesterfield.
Family Easter at Maymont. See Boomer’s top five picks.
Reptile Expo. Slither on down to one of the longest-running and most extensive reptile shows in the Mid-Atlantic. Family friendly, entertaining, and educational. April 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Richmond International Raceway’s Colonial Building, Richmond.
Origin Stories: Court End Walking Tour. Explore Richmond origin stories in The Valentine museum’s Court End neighborhood, one of the oldest Richmond neighborhoods. Learn of stories of early Richmonders, surviving architectural gems, and the 1811 Richmond Theater Fire. April 8, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., meeting at The Valentine, Richmond.
1st Drafts and Bagels: The Last Stop. Mimosas, bagels, and the chance to help create a new play. “The Last Stop” by Kieran Rundle is about a timeless train ride of fleeing passengers. April 8, noon to 2 p.m., at Firehouse Theatre, Richmond.
Poe’s Enchanted Garden. Celebrate National Poetry Month with poetry writing, gardening workshop, storytime, and more. FREE. April 8, noon to 2 p.m., at the Poe Museum, Richmond.
Annual Oyster Roast at Trapezium. Live music, cold beer, and Chincoteague oysters, raw and steamed. April 8, noon to 10 p.m., at Trapezium Brewing, Petersburg.
Benchtop RVA 1-Year Anniversary. The Norfolk-based brewery celebrates the anniversary of its Manchester location with its regular food and drink plus special releases, food cart, live music, and permanent jewelry from Spark Studio. April 8, noon, at Benchtop RVA, Richmond.
Service and Soldiery: Reflections on the Black Military Experience Past and Present. A look at Black Virginians’ involvement in five major conflicts in American history, from the Revolution to Vietnam, up to today. FREE, registration required. April 8, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center, Richmond.
Castleburg Brewery Renaissance Faire. See Boomer’s top five picks.
Richmond Night Market. A wide array of crafters and artisans, small businesses, and live musicians, plus makers’ spaces for kids and for adults. April 8, 5 to 9 p.m., at the 17th Street Farmers Market in Shockoe Bottom, Richmond.
Easter Weekend BRUNCH Pop-Up! Special ciders plus wine, beer, and food in the orchard. April 8 and 9 at Courthouse Creek Cider, Maidens.
Sunday, April 9
Easter on Parade. The bonnet-boasting, porch-posting parade of people and pets returns after pandemic postponements. April 9, 1 to 5 p.m., down Monument Avenue between Davis and North Allen, Richmond.
“Easter Parade.” The 1948 movie with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. April 9, 2 p.m., at the Byrd Theatre, Richmond.
Monday, April 10
Earth Day: Nature Nurturers. Celebrate Earth Day by participating in activities and crafts that will increase your understanding of the natural world in your own backyard. All ages. April 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Three Lakes Park, Henrico.
Weekly Yoga at the Inn. All-levels outdoor yoga from Guiding Tree Yoga, every Monday. Take yoga mat or towel and water. Pay what you can. Beginning April 10, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Virginia Cliffe Inn, Glen Allen.
Tuesday, April 11
Uncommon Comfort Reads with Malka Older, Martha Wells, KJ Charles, and T Kingfisher. Authors from four genres – fantasy, sci-fi, horror, romance – discuss their go-to’s. Bring your thoughts on the subject for the audience Q&A. Presented by Fountain Bookstore. FREE, registration required. April 11, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., online.
The Brown’s Island Explosion of 1863. Learn about the worst home front disaster in the Confederacy, which killed 50 civilians at Brown’s Island in 1863, mostly teenage girls, at the Confederate Laboratory ammunition factory. Includes items from the museum’s collection. April 11, 1 p.m., at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond.
Virtual Book Club: “Sophie’s Choice.” Regular discussions focus on books written by Virginia authors or with a Virginia setting or theme. FREE. April 11, 6:30 p.m., presented by Chesterfield County Public Library on Zoom.
Genealogical Virtual Event: Working with Shared Matches. What we can learn from DNA matches, people we match with on testing companies. Hosted by the Genealogical Institute of Virginia. FREE. April 11, 7 p.m., online
“Hamilton.” See Boomer’s top five picks.
Wednesday, April 12
History Mythbusters – Top 10 Edition. Examining myths or facts commonly heard at historic sites throughout the U.S. Ages 12+. April 12, 3 to 4 p.m., at Dorey Park, Henrico.
Literary Virginia Book Group. The group discusses “Children Under Fire: An American Crisis,” by John Woodrow Cox. Group is FREE, pre-registration required, and the book can be borrowed from public libraries, including the security desk at the Library of Virginia. April 12, 6 p.m., online.
Happy Hour Poetry. Showcase poets Courtney LeBlanc and Chapman Hood Frazier, plus an open mic. April 12, 6 p.m., at Firehouse Theatre, Richmond.
Thursday, April 13
Bird Watching 101. Learn the basics on a guided hike. April 13, 3 to 4 p.m., at Dorey Park, Henrico.
Murals of Jackson Ward Walking Tour. Visit murals, revitalized buildings, and historic homes and learn the neighborhood’s rich history. Guides trace the evolution from immigrant working-class neighborhood to the “Harlem of the South” to a modern community, exploring how art is telling the story of Jackson Ward. April 13, 6 p.m., meeting at 325 N. 2nd St., Richmond.
Tickets, announcements, and new events
Parliament Funkadelic Featuring George Clinton: Just for The Funk of It – Presale and public ticket sales. Presale NOW with code FUNK; public sales open on April 7 at 10 a.m. Performance on Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., at Altria Theater, Richmond.
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” Tickets on Sale. Virginia Repertory Theatre has released tickets to the story of King’s rise to stardom. Running June 23 to Aug. 6 at The November Theatre, Richmond.
Artwork and Open Mic Performers for First Fridays Events. The Library of Virginia is accepting artwork submissions for “First Fridays Exhibitions – Virginia Stories” for events on June 2, Aug. 4, and Dec. 1. Works should explore Virginia experiences, communities, or culture, and submissions must include a paragraph describing the Virginia story told by the artwork. Virginia artists of all ages and skill levels are eligible. Submissions for the June 2 event are due by May 1, 2023. Open mic performers for First Fridays events can include poets, writers, songwriters, and other performers of all ages and abilities for 10 minutes at the mic. At the Library of Virginia, Richmond.
Read Broadly: 2nd Annual Ashland Book Festival Announced. The two-day event includes journalist Maggie Haberman and best-selling author Jeannette Walls, with a matinee showing of “The Glass Castle.” May 5 to 6 at Ashland Theatre, Ashland.
Share Your Vietnam War Story. The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is calling on Virginians with personal connections to the Vietnam War to share their stories for a new exhibition, “Virginia and the Vietnam War,” from veterans to pro- and anti-war activists, refugees, and others. Registration online.
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