Richmond, VA – Beautiful weather, beautiful people, beautiful music, and great fun. That about sums up the 2022 Richmond Folk Festival held in downtown Richmond on October 7-9, 2022. Promoted by Venture Richmond, Folk Fest is one of Richmond’s largest events and brings the world (literally) of arts to Brown’s Island.
I had the opportunity to walk the Festival on Saturday and Sunday. I do not recall seeing so many people in one place in Richmond at one time in the nearly 14 years I have lived here. It was such a breath of fresh air to see so many craving to take in the worldly arts.
Richmond Folk Fest Photo Gallery 1
This year I took in more of the festival than I have in previous years. One of the most interesting exhibits was the Virginia Folklife area where 11 instrument makers got together to share their crafts with the Festival. It was really interesting to see how the real instruments are made (not the electronic) and then hear the craftspeople play them. Regardless of the sound, the instruments themselves were works of art.
Richmond Folk Fest Photo Gallery 2
The big draw for me each year is the music. Folk Festival, once again, did not disappoint. With 6 stages and a common performance area, the Festival provided something for everyone. Whether you are into Moorish griot (kinda rockish) music by Noura Mint Seymali from Mauritania (in Africa), to Korean traditional dance performed by the Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago, Indian Carnatic Violin by Kamalakiran Vinjamur, zydeco by Andre Thierry, or bluegrass by Sideline (and many other acts) one could stay within their comfort zone or take a trip to another part of the world without leaving Richmond. For a complete list of performers (please check them out) go here Richmond Folk Fest Schedule.
Richmond Folk Fest Photo Gallery 3
The great thing about Folk Fest is there is always something new to take in. The magnitude of the event is such that one can never take it all in. That is a good thing, because as the sun goes down on the last day of the festival and everyone is leaving the island, we are all thinking about the type of performances we can catch at next year’s Folk Festival.
Festival Dates: October 7-9, 2022
