October brings plenty of ways to get out and enjoy Richmond, from fall festivals and Oktoberfest celebrations to Halloween happenings, live music, local markets, and family-friendly fun. Whether you’re looking for a weekend tradition or something new to try, something is happening all month long.
📅 Friday, October 2nd
- Plant BINGO | 6 pm to 7:30 pm |📍 James River Cellars Winery
- Join us for Plant Bingo—where greenery meets fun, and you could win indoor houseplant prizes! Plus, leave with a succulent and planter by RR. | 🎟️ Tickets Required
- First Annual Pink Ball | 7 pm to 11 pm | 📍The Lobby Bar @ Quirk Hotel
- An unforgettable evening of elegance and purpose benefiting the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. | 🎟️ Tickets Required
📅 Saturday, October 3rd
- Powhatan’s Festival of the Grape | 11 am to 6 pm |📍 Powhatan’s Historic Courthouse Village
- Powhatan’s favorite fall tradition is back— gather in Powhatan’s Historic Courthouse District to sip, shop, and celebrate 23 years of the Festival of the Grape with bold reds, crisp whites, and a few sparkling surprises! | 🎟️ Tickets required
- VÄSTOBERFEST | 12 pm to 5 pm | 📍Vässen Brewing Company
- “Join us for food, friends, music, and of course… Beer!🍺 ” | Free Admission
- Lager World Invitational 2026 | 12 pm to 10 pm | 📍The Veil Brewing Co
- A festival dedicated to crispy lagers, guest (lager) breweries, friendly competition, and plenty of beer and food to welcome the changing seasons. | Free Admission
- Spookeasy Punk Rock Flea Market | 12 pm to 7 pm | 📍 17th St Farmers Market | Shop local. Support DIY. Keep it weird. | Free Admission
📅 Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th
- 2nd Street Festival | Saturday (11:30am – 7pm) + Sunday (12pm – 6pm) | 📍 Jackson Ward
- 38th annual festival celebrating the rich culture of the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood | Free Admission
- Hardywood OktoberFest | 12 PM Saturday – 8 PM Sunday |📍Hardywood West Creek
- “Join us for traditional German beers, festive bites, stein hoisting, live music, and more!” | Free Admission
📅 Sunday, October 4th
- Richmond’s Crystals & Mystics Festival | 11 am to 4 pm | 📍Carillon
- Join us for an enchanting outdoor festival filled with crystals, handmade treasures, holistic wellness, mystical experiences, delicious treats, and unique small businesses from across the region. | Free Admission
📅 Tuesday, October 6th – Sunday, October 11th
- Broadway in Richmond: Mamma Mia! | Showtimes Vary | 📍Altria Theater | 🎟️ Tickets Required
📅 Friday, October 9th
- Spooky Fun Fest | 4:30 pm to 8 pm | 📍Pole Green Park
- “The ultimate family-friendly Halloween celebration, filled with festive activities, games, and not-too-spooky fun for kids of all ages.” | Free Admission
📅 Saturday, October 10th
- 2nd Annual Francine Fest | 2 pm to 10 pm | 📍Main Line Brewery
- “Celebrate Queen Francine and her great return while raising money and pet supplies. This year we will have vendors, live bands, performance art, DJ’s, and a Francine costume contest!” | Free Admission
- Francine will not be present!
📅 Friday, October 9th – Sunday, October 11th
- Richmond Folk Festival | Friday (6:30pm – 10pm) + Saturday (12pm – 9:30pm) + Sunday (12pm – 6pm) | 📍 Brown’s Island
- Celebrate the roots, richness, and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling, and food. | Free Admission
📅 Wednesday, October 14th – Sunday, November 8th
- Maymont’s Garden Glow | Opening Times Vary | 📍Maymont/The Robins Nature Center
- Spectacular light displays transform Maymont after dark into an unforgettable evening of color and light. | 🎟️ Tickets Required
📅 Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th
- 56th Richmond Oktoberfest | Friday (6pm to 10pm) + Saturday (3pm to 10pm) | 📍 Old Dominion Building @ Richmond Raceway
- Enjoy authentic German food and beer, live music, Bavarian dancing, family-friendly activities, a stein-hoisting competition, and more. | 🎟️ Tickets Required
📅 Saturday, October 17th
- Hog on the Hill | 12 pm to 6 pm | 📍 Libby Hill Park | Enjoy music, food, and drinks | Free Admission
- 2026 Harvest For All | 10 am to 2 pm | 📍 Good Foods Grocery
- Join Commonwealth Autism and Good Foods Grocery for our annual fall festival! This community centered event features live music, local food & craft vendors, mini train rides, a pumpkin patch and so much more! | Free Admission – RSVP
- Oystoberfest | 12 pm to 6 pm | 📍St. Thomas’ Episcopal
- “Oysters the way you like them in a fun, family-friendly festival in Richmond’s Northside. A day full of live music and a Kids’ Zone, featuring moon-bounces, face painting, and other activities.” | Free Admission
📅 Sunday, October 18th
- Zorch Pizza’s Fall Market | 1 pm to 5 pm | 📍Zorch Pizza Parlor
- Market Highlights: curated lineup of local artists, pizza, and pints | Free Admission
- The 2026 Wine Expo | 5 pm to 8 pm | 📍Blue Atlas
- Grab a glass and enjoy 25 different wines from 6 different vendors. | 🎟️ Tickets Required (Ticket price includes buffet table and smash burgers.)
📅 Monday, October 19th – Sunday, October 25th
- Richmond Restaurant Week | Each restaurant offers a three course prix-fixe dinner menu for $42.26 with $5.26 donated per meal to Feed More. | 🎟️ Make a Reservation
📅 Thursday, October 22nd
- Halloween Unhappy Hour | 6 pm to 9 pm | 📍 Poe Museum’s Enchanted Garden
- Presented by Triple Crossing | 🎟️ Tickets Required
📅 Friday, October 23rd
- Trick or Treat at VMHC | 4 pm to 7 pm | 📍Virginia Museum of History & Culture | Registration is not required but appreciated
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“Join the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) and more than 25 local non-profits for some pink Halloween fun at the annual Trick or Treat event. Participating partners will set up spooky stations throughout the museum for kids to safely trick-or-treat for candy and other free giveaways. There will also be crafts, games, a Halloween band, a bounce house, a trackless train, chocolate-making demos, and free museum admission.”
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📅 Saturday, October 24th
- The 21st Annual Richmond Zombie Walk | Begins at 1 pm | 📍Carytown
- Trough or Treat | 2 pm to 5 pm | 📍Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park
- Walk around the pastures to learn about the animals and history of the farm while gathering some treats and prizes. | Free Admission
- Smoketree Zombie Fun Run | 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm | 📍Smoketree (Starting Line)
- Not your typical 5K. Smoketree neighborhood is transformed into a spooky, family-friendly Halloween experience where runners navigate a 3-mile course filled with chasing zombies, elaborate decorations, neighborhood block parties, and fun surprises along the way. | 🎟️ Registration Required
📅 Friday, October 23rd – Sunday, October 25th
- Richmond Tattoo & Arts Convention | Friday (3pm – 2am) + Saturday (12pm – 2am) + Sunday (12pm – 7pm) | 📍1021 Kroger Center Blvd | A weekend of Art, Tattoo, Family & Fun! | 🎟️ Tickets Required
📅 Monday, October 26th
- Oyster Fest at Pinky’s | 6 pm to 9 pm | 📍Pinky’s
- Join us for a neighborhood hang with oysters, wine, and good vibes.
📅 Wednesday, October 28th
- artoberVA: Branch Halloween Open House | 6 pm to 9 pm | 📍 The Branch Museum
- Join us after dark for a night of haunted fun at The Branch. Our beloved costume contest returns, along with ghost stories from our friends at Haunts of Richmond. | 🎟️ Tickets Required
📅 Friday, October 30th
- Black Cat Market | 5 pm to 10 pm | 📍Main Line Brewery
- “Come shop with us with a beer in hand at Main Line with a costume party for Halloween! There will be 30+ vendors & food trucks along with live music from The Royal We!” | Free Admission
📅 Saturday, October 31st
- Scott’s Addition Pumpkin Festival | 12 pm to 6 pm | 📍Carmax Park
- Live music, food, drinks, and costume contests for all ages | Free Admission
- RVA Halloween Block Party | 12 pm to 10 pm | 📍Main Line Brewery
- Richmond’s Halloween Day + Night Festival — live bands, DJs, costume contests, Pilates, football, food, drinks & more! | 🎟️ Tickets Required (advance tickets recommended)
- Woofyween 2026 | 2 pm to 5 pm | 📍Center of the Universe Brewing
- Join us at this year’s Woofyween at Center of the Universe Brewing Company. Bring your furry best friend out to our fall festival where you can enjoy music, food, other activities, and even a pet costume contest! This year’s event will benefit Hanover Humane Society, so come out and enjoy the festivities!
- Richmond Symphony’s Halloween Spooktacular | Show starts at 3 pm | 📍Carpenter Theatre
- For this Halloween, the Richmond Symphony brings the thrills to the stage—mixing classical favorites like Danse Macabre and Night on Bald Mountain with cinematic hits from Harry Potter, ET, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. | 🎟️Tickets Required
📅 Ongoing Events
- Silent Reading Party | Day and location vary month to month
- Flying Squirrels Baseball Games | Days and times vary
- Shows at the Allianz Amphitheater
- Wine and Watercolors with Shop Made in Virginia
- Shows at The Altria Theater
- Sunday Artisan Market at Brambly Park | Sundays from 1pm to 5pm
- Trivia Night RVA at Benchtop Brewing Co. | Wednesdays from 7pm t0 9pm
- BINGO Night at Benchtop Brewing Co. | Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm
- Comedy Shows at the Funny Bone
- Music and Events at Hardywood Brewery | 📍Richmond | 📍West Creek
- South of the James Farmers Market | Sundays from 10am to 1pm | 📍4021 Forest Hill Ave
- RVA Big Market | May-Oct: Saturdays from 8am to 12pm | 📍Bryan Park
