This was a cute event! I didn't read the news article ahead of it closely enough to realize that…read more"we are the parade" so there wasn't any actual...parade, but it was still a great time. They had music, artisans, food trucks, desserts, and other vendors lined up around Monument Avenue. It was basically a street market with a cutesy name. There were lots of dogs in outfits and plenty of over-the-top Easter outfits and hats. They also had a hat competition. Parking was a bit nerve-wracking, but other than that, it was a good time. I'm glad to have finally experienced this Richmond tradition.

No disrespect to Sean C., but so that no one gets the wrong idea from his tongue in cheek comment,…read moreEaster on Parade is definitely not the unofficial Gay Pride Parade of Richmond. His comment may suggest to some that the gay and drag community has hijacked this one for themselves. The truth is that it's a community event embraced and attended by all sorts of folks, young and old, from the very diverse Richmond community. It's not a parade in the traditional sense. The audience IS the parade. Your Easter outfits and bonnets are the show. If you come, dressed in Easter attire or not, you're part of the parade. It is a leisurely stroll in a historic neighborhood on a special day. The bonnets and outfits and side shows are charming and provide plenty of relaxed entertainment.

Richmond's Pride may not be comparable to celebrations in San Francisco or D.C., but that's okay…read more VA PrideFest is a low-key, inclusive, family-friendly event celebrating love and openness that the whole community can enjoy. It's a breath of fresh air to have an event where everyone is so friendly and you know that you are accepted and that you belong. There's something incredibly powerful being surrounded by crowds of happy people who may not know you, but support you and who you are. Past Prides have included live music, drag and dance performances, awards presentations, speeches from local activists and community leaders, food trucks, full bars, vendors, and activities for kids and kids at heart. You can come just to enjoy the atmosphere and a bite to eat, as well as learn about the local LGBTQ scene and resources available to the community, from health services and STD testing, counseling and safe spaces, to social clubs and organizations to meet like-minded people. The one downside with holding the event in the city is that parking can be a nightmare, and it's not always the most accessible for those with mobility challenges. I strongly recommend carpooling or using a ride sharing service that can drop you off at the entrance (with the added bonus of having a designated driver!).

When your 17-year-old daughter requests your presence at an event, you must go, right?…read more Not that it's a burden. I'm a screaming liberal and believe in equality across the board. My empathy kicks in and I want everyone to feel welcomed, included and valued. I hadn't thought about going to PrideFest. I feel like id be a heterosexual crashing the party, but that wasn't my experience at all. I felt completely comfortable and welcomed. Thank you Richmond for being so inclusive. As a child of the 80s, I feel like we were on the verge of being really open and inclusive, but we weren't quite there. Thanks to my daughter's generation for taking it across the finish line. PrideFest was a wonderful celebration of humanity and acceptance. Thank you for being you and for allowing me to being me. Love and acceptance is what matters in this messed up world. Keep loving and fighting for each other, Richmond. That will make us the most proud in the long run. If you haven't gone to PrideFest, go. #noregrets #loveisbiggerthananythinginthisworld.

This ode to summer's red orb is coming up in a week or so and it's a blast. I didn't go last year,…read moreso it's time to head out for some of our region's best tomatoes and a dose of country and bluegrass music. The event is at Pole Green Park and it's free. It's also usually a scorcher so wear something cool and bring plenty of water. They have tons of vendors, recipe contests, and of course, the beauty pageant to end all vegetable pageants, "Little Miss Tomato". The winner of that title may need therapy for the rest of their adult life, although I suppose it's better than "Little Miss Watermelon".

Very nice area Festival with loads of vendors, many that you'd come across at like events…read more The organizers have the event down to a science with parking, but my hunch is to avoid long lines as it be, go before noon (say, 9 am) and you'll be fine ... though you won't be the first car in the spacious lot. On a summer Saturday, it's a good way to stroll around the grounds, pick up a bundle of free pens, grab some local tomatoes, and have quality family time with food and musical performances.

This is a cute neighborhood celebration. There's a nice selection of local crafters, live music, a…read moreflea market inside Fox Elementary School and just a fun day of hanging out in the Fan. There's also some delicious strawberry shortcake for sale. This probably isn't an event where you'd spend the whole day, but it's a nice hour or two of fun. The last time I went I got some cool wall art from a local potter. There are also some kid-focused tents and activities.

The 31st Strawberry Street Festival kicks off in 2010 on May 8th from 12 noon to 4:30 pm. It is a…read moregathering to help raise funds for PTA funded programs such as grade level tutoring, Theatrix, Arts In Education, Spanish and Music. This elementary school is a classic and one of the best in the city. There is a Flea Market, Silent Auction, Raffle, Art Market, rides, food, and games. The vendors here are always amazing and I have always found something to buy. Prices are affordable and it is an amazing event for kids and adults alike. One of my favorite in Richmond events.

The first time I tried to attend the Church Hill Irish Festival, a few years ago, I walked in and…read morewalked out. It was so packed I couldn't breathe. This year I was able to handle the crowds a touch better but not by much. They really need to expand their footprint to make for a nicer festival experience. The festival happenings -- bands, drinks, food, etc. -- are all great fun. It'd just be nice to have perhaps some more seating and shade options. I feel like if they even just expanded two or three blocks, it'd be way better.

A fun annual event in churchill. The last time my husband and I went was about 2 years ago, but…read morethis was the first place I tried a "Mrs. Yoder's Donut". That was when I realized the meaning of a True Love's first bite. haha Unfortunately, Mrs. Yoder's was not at this event this year (or at least on the Saturday I showed up - haha). Beer selection is great as always - I was the DD so I partied hard first and then spent the rest of the time sobering up. As always, my husband and I order a beef Proper Pie "sandwich" to split, and then we finished the rest of the late afternoon with some Alamo BBQ! Both were delicious and the place was very crowded. Def be sure to wash your feet when you get home...mine was filthy and I wore some flip flops. There are a whole lot of other food trucks around the area and lots of local shops to shop if you're walking around. I tend to come for the social gathering with friends and (of course) the food!!! haha P.S. - a VERY helpful tip. Since it's soooo crowded here, I ended up wearing a fedora, because whenever my husband and I would lose each other, I would actually just hop up and down. He would then be able to find me. Just a suggestion - haha.

My best friend is a HUGE Masego fan. The moment she saw he was going to perform at the Richmond…read moreJazz and Music Festival she got really excited. She got us two VIP tickets which were amazing because we were able to watch the show from a snack and drink catered tent. The weather was absolutely gorgeous for this event. It's located in Maymont and was such a vibe. There was a map online that made it easier to figure out the layout and their website was really helpful for any questions we had. I loved how laid-back this festival was, guests could bring in wagons with blankets and lawn chairs. There were plenty of food tents as well as goods for sale tents. There were lots of talented artists in attendance too. I highly recommend checking out this festival.

The Jazz Festival was awesome! Great musicians and a beautiful setting at Maymont. A nice mix of…read morelocal and national talent. It's always SO HOT in August, though. I wish it was earlier or later in the year. So if in August again, be prepared to melt! You can bring your own chairs, coolers and food. No glass containers or outside alcohol. There are food and merchandise vendors on site and plenty of portable bathrooms Parking is a little tough. A lot of streets near Maymont are closed. They were running shuttles from Dogwood Dells There's a lot of people, though security is present, and everyone was respectful of others This year, I was lucky and attended in a corporate tent, so at least there was shade

I enjoyed the garden glow. It was such a pretty look for the garden. The walk to get to garden glow…read morewas very nice and the glow village was festive with great beer, hot coffee, cider and hot chocolate and food. So much fun! It was also a great healthy walk. That hill to get back to the village was killer

What a nice event! The lights were beautiful! The food choices were mixed and reasonable. There…read morewasn't a guide to help navigate the grounds, so we had to figure that out. Lots of walking and hill climbing.

To quote the song, "I love a parade" and even better, a parade of boats on the water all decked out…read morein Christmas lights. This is one of my favorite holiday activities, although I have to admit, sometimes when our winter weather is foul, I wish I was doing it in Florida. Boat owners go all out to create holiday themes with lights, props, costumed riders, music...you name it and it's probably been done. A yacht pulled by reindeer, a speedboat turned into a moving Christmas tree, elves, and snowmen glide down the river. At Libby HIll Park (my home watching turf), they have a bonfire with marshmallow roasting and serve hot chocolate and hot cider, but you can watch from several locations throughout the city and surrounding counties. This is an annual event run by the James River Advisory Council, who also sponsor the river clean up day, and there's a list on their website of where to watch.