Second Street Festival returns Oct. 3-4

Thousands of people will step back in time this weekend as they converge on downtown Richmond for one of the mid-Atlantic's largest street festivals.

The Second Street Festival returns for the 21st year Saturday and Sunday in historic Jackson Ward, the neighborhood bounded by Interstate 95 to the north, East Broad Street to the south, Fourth Street to the east and Belvidere Street to the west.

Organizers expect as many as 50,000 people to attend the free two-day festival that takes up four city blocks. It runs Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

The festival brings people together and celebrates the rich history of Jackson Ward, which was known in its heyday as "the Harlem of the South."

"A lot of people use the Second Street Festival as a homecoming or high school reunion," said Mavis Wynn, event operations manager at Venture Richmond.

The festival features live music, fashion shows and performances by community groups on four stages set up throughout the neighborhood.

Second and Clay streets will become artists' row, featuring nationally renowned artist Larry "Poncho" Brown, who designed a limited-edition Second Street poster. Other artists will have their work on display as well.

There also will be a kids' zone on Second Street between Clay and Leigh streets that features hands-on activities, balloon art and temporary tattoos. The Richmond Metropolitan Antique Car Club of Virginia will set up at Second and Marshall streets.

Pets are not allowed. -- Jeremy Slayton