2nd Street Festival Announces The Full Line Up

The 2nd Street Festival returns this fall marking its 36th anniversary year. The FREE annual festival celebrates the rich culture of Downtown Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward neighborhood and is produced by Venture Richmond Events.

Over the years, it has grown to be one of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest street festivals as thousands visit historic Jackson Ward to reminisce about the days when 2nd Street was the heart and soul of Richmond’s African American community and was known as “the Harlem of the South.” Today, Jackson Ward continues to be a thriving neighborhood and community.

The 2nd Street Festival is an annual celebration over two days that features three stages of live musical entertainment along with a Kidz Zone, popular food vendors, a marketplace and Artists Row to shop, and the Richmond Metropolitan Antique Car Club.

This year’s festival features headliner Arrested Development on Saturday, October 5, Desirée Roots on Sunday, October 6 and many other talented artists showcased over the two-day event.

Full Band and Stage Schedule

WAVERLY R. CRAWLEY MAIN STAGE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
11:40 – 12:30pm      Tuesday Verses
1:00 – 1:30pm          Richmond Urban Dance Company
1:50 – 2:40pm          Glennroy & Company
3:00 – 3:50pm          Kemel Patton – The Line Dance King of RVA
4:20 – 5:20pm           Soul Unlimited Band
5:50 – 7:00pm           ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
1:00 – 1:30pm           Rev D. Kay Logan & Nu Beginning Exp Ministry
2:00 – 2:30pm           Mervin Mayo
3:00 – 4:00pm           Aliyah The DJ
4:20 – 4:35pm            Style to Empower with Dr. Bert
5:00– 6:00pm            DESIRÉE ROOTS

JOE KENNEDY JR. JAZZ STAGE, sponsored by Walmart

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
12:00 – 1:00pm          Michelle Lightfoot & The Crescendo School of Music
1:30 – 2:30pm            Curv Appeal
3:00 – 4:15pm            Chan Hall Quartet
4:45 – 6:00pm            Nathan Mitchell

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 – Women Take the Stage!
1:00 – 1:45pm            Kia Bennett Duo
2:15 – 3:00pm            Lucy Kilpatrick Quartet
3:30 – 4:30pm            Marsha Meekins & Company
5:00 – 6:00pm            “Lady E” Duchess of the Blues & Her Blues Synsation Band

EGGLESTON HOTEL COMMUNITY STAGE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
11:50 – 12:00pm         Welcome – Historic Jackson Ward Association; Lift Every Voice and Sing-Milani Hopkins
12:15 – 12:45pm         RU
1:15 – 2:15pm            Kadencia
2:45 – 3:45pm             Sweet Potatoes Music
4:00 – 5:00pm             Line Dancing with Rhonda

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
1:00 – 1:15pm            VSU Marching Band
1:30 – 1:45pm             Style to Empower with Dr. Bert
2:15 – 2:45pm             40+ Double Dutch Club – Richmond, VA Subclub
3:00 – 4:00pm             Rick Elliott
4:30 – 5:30pm             Ban Caribe

Official Festival Poster Artist, Amiri Richardson-Keys
The 2024 official poster was commissioned to Amiri Richardson-Keys, an artist based in Richmond who celebrates and elevates the profound beauty, resilience and strength of the African American community with a particular focus on Black women, children and the essence of the Black family. Official posters and t-shirts will be available to purchase at the Venture Richmond tent on 2nd Street during the festival.

Radio One 2nd Street MIX Weekend
Back again for another year, 2nd Street Festival partner Radio One’s “2nd Street MIX” weekend will get you ready for the festival by bringing you mixes from the hottest DJs in the city! Tune into 99.3/105.7 KISS FM on Saturday, October 5 from 4:00pm-midnight and Sunday, October 6 from noon-7:00pm. Hear mixes from DJ King Tutt, DJ Drake, and DJ Lonnie B playing all your favorite 2nd Street Festival hits!

FREE Walking Tours, guided by Gary Flowers
Venture Richmond Events will provide FREE guided walking tours led by Gary Flowers who has a four-generation family connection to Historic Jackson Ward. “Educating the public to the place Historic Jackson Ward holds in commerce, education, and dismantling racial segregation in the United States of America is critically important to me,” Mr. Flowers said. Tour groups meet on the sidewalk at the Maggie Walker National Historic Site, 2nd & E. Leigh Street, and leave at 3:00pm on Saturday and at 3:00pm on Sunday. 60-minute tours.

Kidz Zone, produced by the Children’s Museum and Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia
The Children’s Museum and Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia are once again producing the much-loved Kidz Zone. Some of the fun activities planned include a community art project, historical quilting, storytelling with guest readers, bag hat creations as well as a physical activity area with a variety of yard games. Balloons By Extreme will be on site for some balloon twisting fun too. The Kidz Zone is located in the parking lot between Clay and Leigh Street off of 2nd Street.

For more detailed information about the 2nd Street Festival, artist information, vendors and parking, please visit our website.