Richmond Folk Festival: What you need to know

Richmond Folk Festival: What you need to know
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No more chatter.

No more waiting.

The Richmond Folk Festival is ready to launch tomorrow with its eclectic lineup that will commandeer the downtown riverfront area for three days.

To make sure you're fully prepared, we thought we'd break down the basics to help you navigate your time there. HOURS

Tomorrow: 6-10:30 p.m.

Saturday: noon-10:30 p.m.

Sunday: noon-7 p.m.

ADMISSION

Free. But patrons are encouraged to donate to the Bucket Brigade (the big orange buckets you'll see in various places along the festival site -- the downtown riverfront -- or carried by volunteers) to help keep the event free.

PARKING

Many lots are available downtown for a $5 fee:

  • Riverside on the James, 1001 Haxall Point
  • Riverfront Plaza, 901 E. Byrd St.
  • Richmond Plaza, 110 S. Seventh St.
  • Sixth and Main streets

  • Shockoe Bottom, 100 Virginia St.
  • Crowne Plaza, 555 E. Canal St.
  • 300 E. Cary St. (between Third and Fourth on Cary)

  • Fourth and Fifth, Cary and Canal streets
  • Sixth and Cary streets
  • Fifth and Canal streets
  • Eighth and Ninth at Cary St.
  • 824 E. Cary St. (between Eighth and Ninth on Cary)
  • Main and Foushee streets
  • Handicapped parking is available at the corner of Fifth and Byrd streets at the parking deck. A traffic-control officer will allow properly identified vehicles into the lot.

    Streets will otherwise be closed, and there will be no access to Fifth or Byrd streets without properly identified handicap tags, or a state-issued handicap hang-tag.

    FOOD

    If you pack your own bottle of water or peanut butter and jelly sandwich, don't worry, you won't get shipped off to Folk Festival Prison. But this might be the perfect opportunity to sample something from Croaker's Spot (fried fish with green peppers and onions and cornbread are specialties), Hammerheads Seafood (check out the alligator nuggets or, for the less adventurous, Louisiana crab cakes), Gail's Gumbo House (Cajun seafood gumbo and andouille jambalaya jump off the menu) or Africanne on Main (vegetarian and meat dishes prepared African-style).

    If none of those piques your interest, 23 other vendors will be on site with everything from Indian cuisine to Nathan's hot dogs.

    WEATHER

    The Richmond Folk Festival is a bit like the post office -- neither rain, nor sleet, etc., will prevent it from functioning. If the skies don't cooperate, though, head for one of the four tented stages: Altria Stage and Richmond Times-Dispatch Dance Pavilion, both on Brown's Island, the MeadWestvaco Family Stage and CenterStage Virginia Folklife Stage.

    At press time, the forecast for tomorrow, according to The Weather Channel, calls for temperatures in the mid-70s with no chance of rain. On Saturday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers (though most are expected in the morning) and a high of 72. Look for a high of 70 with a 30 percent chance of rain Sunday.

    INFORMATION

    www.richmondfolkfestival.com or (804) 788-6466.

    PETS

    Sorry. We love our furry friends, but they need to stay home and away from the crowds this weekend. Service animals excluded.

    EXTRAS

  • Today and tomorrow, six of the Folk Festival acts will perform at 15 schools in the city of Richmond. Each group will perform for 30 to 45 minutes as a way to introduce youngsters to music, dance and culture. The school visits are coordinated in partnership with local music nonprofit JAMinc.
  • At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, a jazz-funeral/parade in honor of Gary Gerloff will snake from the Dominion Stage to Brown's Island. Gerloff, a well-known Richmond musician and festival volunteer, died in May.

    Contact Melissa Ruggieri at (804) 649-6120 or . Follow her at http://twitter.com/MRuggieri

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    Reader Reactions

    Flag Comment Posted by BJ on October 08, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    what happened to the buses? are they running this year from the Diamond and Cloverleaf?

    Flag Comment Posted by citygirl on October 08, 2009 at 9:16 am

    The RTD failed to mention that the “Gerloff/Parch Parade” on Saturday not only honors Gary Gerloff, but another Richmond Folk Festival family member who passed away in July, Francesca Parch.  Francesca was the Volunteer Coordinator for the National and Richmond Folk Festival for the past few years.

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