More What’s Booming RVA: April 3 to 10
A one-of-a-kind look at Richmond events plus a day trip and news
Talk of taverns, musings on Madeira, geeking out on flowers – plus First Friday events, feasts of foods, a range of concerts (including some FREE!), wheelchair basketball, authors galore, lots of learning events, soccer/museum night. Much to choose from in Richmond, Virginia, in “RVA Events & News: April 3 to 10, 2025.”
Also check out:
- Boomer’s Top 5 picks in RVA this week,
- Browse the week ahead below, and
- Go to our updated events page for Down the Road happenings and ongoing exhibitions and performances.
April 3 to 10
Thursday, April 3
Tavern Talk: Life in the Colonial Virginia Tavern – Virtual Lecture. Examining the contradictions, customs, and cordials commonplace in 18th-century Virginia taverns and how they compare to other states. Presented by the Spirits Museum. FREE. April 3, 5:45 to 6:45, online.
Times Too Hard: Single African American Women in Post Civil War America. See Boomer’s Top 5 picks.
The Battles of Appomattox. Highlighting the April 8, 1865, Battle of Appomattox Station and the April 9, 1865, Battle of Appomattox Court House, with discussions, photos, and maps, plus the tragic casualties and deaths in the final hours of fighting. April 3, 7 p.m., at Pamplin Historical Park, Petersburg.
Three Performances: Haydn’s Drum Roll. Franz Josef Haydn composed an astonishing 104 symphonies, with the “Drum Roll” one of his final masterworks in the form. Featuring the Orchestra’s Jeannette Jang and Shawn Okpebholo, one of America’s collective of powerful, young musical voices known as The Blacknificent.
- April 3, 7:30 p.m., at Perkinson Center, Chester.
- April 5, 7:30 p.m., at St. Christopher’s School, Richmond.
- April 6, 3 p.m., at Blackwell Auditorium, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland.
The Lovin’ Spoonful. See Boomer’s Top 5 picks.
Friday, April 4
Friday at the Museum – Clarke-Palmore House. Learn about the history of this home and its people and how they contributed to local heritage. April 4, noon to 4 p.m., at Clarke Palmore House, Henrico.
First Friday Events
- RVA First Fridays. Stroll the art galleries along and around Broad Street, plus restaurants, shops, and other organizations. Presenting live music, special events, tastings, and more. April 4, beginning at 5 p.m. – various times and venues, Richmond.
- 20 Year Anniversary Celebration. Gallery5 and RVA Magazine are both celebrating the milestone with a block party featuring a night market, live music, exhibition, festival of fire, and more. April 4, 5 p.m. to midnight, a Gallery5, Richmond.
- First Friday at the Library of Virginia: Flora & Fauna. Works from local artists reflect Virginia’s plants and animals, with related items from the library’s collections. Plus flower origami in the makerspace, demonstrations of Ikebana Japanese flower arranging, and readings from “Writing the Land: Virginia.” April 4, 5 p.m., at the Library of Virginia, Richmond.
- First Fridays. Free museum admission, family-friendly activities, live music, food trucks. FREE. April 4, 5 to 8 p.m., at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Richmond.
The Double Bass Experience. Jacob Webb and Phylicia Rae present contemporary jazz, from Rae’s history-making status as a female bassist and Webb’s bass proficiency and other diverse work in the industry. April 4, 8 p.m., at The Tin Pan, Richmond.
Richmond African Violet Society Show & Sale. Discovering interesting and unusual varieties, on display and for purchase, plus creative floral arrangements. Expert growers on hand to answer questions. April 4 to 6 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond.
Chesterfield Restaurant Week. See Boomer’s Top 5 picks.
War in Pieces: 4th Annual Festival of One Act Plays. Eight performances of four plays written by veterans and a veteran’s spouse, guided by the Mighty Pen Project and professionally produced. April 4 to 13 at the Virginia War Memorial, Richmond.
The National Wheelchair Basketball Championships. Junior and adult teams from across the nation compete for national championship titles – more than 100 teams and 1,200 athletes. NWBA Junior Championships, April 4 to 6; NWBA Adult Championships, April 11 to 14; at Henrico Sports & Events Center, Glen Allen.
Saturday, April 5
3D Photos of Henrico Battlefields. Civil War images, newly digitized by the Library of Congress, can now be seen in three dimensions, in incredible detail and in their original format. Program led by National Park Ranger Mike Gorman. 3D glasses provided. All ages. April 5, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Henrico Theatre, Henrico.
Medicine Through the Ages, Part 3: Modern Medicine. For centuries, people have tried to treat and prevent disease and injury, with great success and epic failure. Learn about medical practices of the 20th century – which curatives have become common practice or perhaps malpractice. April 5, noon to 1 p.m., at Magnolia Grange, Chesterfield.
Black Authors’ Book Signing Expo. The city and Resist Booksellers are gathering authors and readers for connections and books. April 5, 1 to 4 p.m., at Petersburg Public Library, Petersburg.
¡FridaFest! See Boomer’s Top 5 picks.
Opus 20: Party of 7. The Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia presents Beethoven’s Septet, opus 20, “one of the true party pieces in history.” Plus a premiere by Antonio García. FREE. March 5, 2 p.m., at Richmond Main Public Library, Richmond.
Generations: A Concert Celebrating Treble Choirs. Performances by Vox Concordia, Richmond Allied Voices Treble Chorus, Orchard House Middle School Chorus, and Greater Richmond Chorus, highlighting the power of treble choirs in bringing voices together across generations. Each ensemble presents selections before joining in a grand finale piece of all. FREE. April 5, 4 p.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond.
The English Channel – Heroes & Legends: The Music That Makes Them Immortal. The British Invasion band recreates British rock, pop & prog hits of the mid 1960s and 1970s to sound like the original recordings. The new 2025 version presents many unforgettable artists. April 5, 8 p.m., at The Tin Pan, Richmond.
“Aguas da Amazonia.” Third Coast Percussion and dancers of the Twyla Tharp Dance company will perform an original adaptation of Philip Glass’s work for percussion quartet and flute. April 5, 7:30 p.m., at Dominion Energy Center, Richmond.
RRRC Fools Fest Race Weekend. Two days of fun and/or fast running at the inaugural RRRC Fools Fest, with four races of distances ranging from the ultra-challenging No Foolin’ 50K to the playful Mischief One Miler (a charity race benefiting local running non-profits). Run, community, fun, and giving back. April 5 to 6 at Dorey Park, Henrico.
Sunday, April 6
Spring Artisan Market. Local artists and makers in this indoor market. April 6, noon to 5 p.m., at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery on Ownby, Richmond.
Global Sounds. Relax on the green with student and community performances of traditional Japanese, West African, Brazilian, and Indonesian music. FREE. April 6, 3 p.m., at Westhampton Green, University of Richmond.
Harlem Quartet. The music of Beethoven, López-Gavilán, and more from this New York-based quartet, as part of VCU Music’s Mary Anne Rennolds Chamber Concert Series. April 6, 3 p.m., in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Richmond.
Profs & Pints Richmond: Bird Songs – A Listeners’ Guide. See Boomer’s Top 5 picks.
Tom Rush with Matt Nakoa. Rush takes listeners on a journey into the tradition and spectrum of music. He has a distinctive guitar style and a warm, expressive voice, presenting the laughter of story-telling, the melancholy of ballads, and the passion of blues. April 6, 7 p.m., at The Tin Pan, Richmond.
Monday, April 7
Reveille Ringers. An evening of handbell and organ music with sacred music from several parts of the world. April 7, 7:30 p.m., in Watts Chapel at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond.
Tuesday, April 8
“When Mayor Doug Wilder Ruled Richmond.” Book talk and signing with author Linwood Norman. Norman, a former press secretary to the mayor, recounts the turmoil of Richmond’s transition to the “strong mayor” model of local government in 2005, a memorable chapter in the city’s rich political history. (See Boomer’s coverage of the book here.) FREE, registration required. April 8, noon to 1 p.m., at the Library of Virginia, Richmond.
Genealogical Virtual Event: Your Puzzles and Questions. Examples of genealogical puzzles and how they might be solved using DNA matches and results. Hosted by GRIVA, the Genealogical Institute of Virginia. FREE, registration required. April 8, 7 p.m., online.
Wednesday, April 9
Richmond Kickers – Night at the Museums. The hometown team takes on Union Omaha, and presents the Museum Zone on the concourse. Learn about eight RVA museums (fill out a passport for prizes): American Civil War Museum, Black History Museum, Richmond Railroad Museum, The Valentine, and more. April 9, 7 p.m., at City Stadium, Richmond.
Belonging – A Choral Celebration of Community. VCU Choirs presents performances by the Commonwealth Singers, Choral Arts Society, Vox Concordia, and Alexandria City High School Choir. Selections explore the power of music to foster community, create connections, and celebrate the human experience. Also available online. April 9, 7 p.m., at Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Richmond.
Jazz & Contemporary Combos. The annual spring concert showcasing UR student jazz combos performing rock, blues, swing, and more. FREE. April 9, 7:30 p.m., at Camp Concert Hall, University of Richmond.
Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi. A tribute show but not pure imitation – Jordan builds on the musician’s legacy, re-imagining his music and channeling his persona. “This is my fantasy Jimi Hendrix concert if Jimi were still alive and playing today,” Jordan says. April 9, 8 p.m., at The Tin Pan, Richmond.
Thursday, April 10
“Two Gentlemen in Saigon: Virginians in the Opening Act of the Vietnam War.” In 1961 President John F. Kennedy sent two Virginians to lead the US diplomatic mission in South Vietnam. Friends from graduate school in Charlottesville, Fritz Nolting and Bill Trueheart saw eye to eye – but their experiences changed their beliefs and their friendship. Author Charles Trueheart tells the story. April 10, noon, at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond.
Writing Civil War Richmond with Author Robert Hilliard. The author of “In Freedom’s Shadow” discusses writing and research to recreate Civil War-era Richmond on the page. The book is based on the true story of John Scobell, who was enslaved in Mississippi before the Civil War, made his way to freedom in the North, and was recruited as a Union spy. April 10, 6 p.m., at Richmond Main Public Library, Richmond.
Madeira Tasting. Learn about the fortified wine that journeyed across the Atlantic as a popular beverage among early American patriots. Enjoy tastings, light snacks, and a short talk about the history of Madeira. April 10, 6 p.m., at Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond.
Weinstein Author Series – Katrina Powell. The author and professor discusses “Beginning Again: Stories of Movement and Migration in Appalachia,” a collection of oral histories that share narratives of refugees, immigrants, and generations-long residents in Appalachia. The book presents a nuanced picture of Appalachia to counter damaging myths that circulate about groups of people. April 10, 6 p.m., at the Library of Virginia, Richmond.
Jokes For Sale Comedy Tour – Kenny Brooks & Gerald Huston. Brooks gained fame for his hilarious sales pitches as a door-to-door salesman. Huston is known for his prankster videos. April 10, 7 p.m., at Funny Bone, Richmond.
The Wellermen – Northern Sky US Tour. Storytelling in music with centuries-old traditional folk songs. With much-loved traditionals and more modern songs. April 10, 8 p.m., at The Tin Pan, Richmond.
A Conversation with David Brooks. The writer, author, and commentator addresses the intersections of public life and culture, exploring how the humanities is relevant today, especially in a civically engaged society. Followed by conversation moderated by Barbara Hamm Lee. April 10, 8 p.m., at Altria Theater, Richmond.
News to Know
Learn about RVA – even with your dog
2025 Season of Valentine Walking Tours. For 25 years, the Valentine’s guides have helped visitors and residents learn about important historic sites, discover off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods and engage with the diverse stories that define Richmond – this year, dog-friendly History Hounds series returns. Various times and locations around Richmond.
Road Trip
Green thumb gathering
Colonial Williamsburg’s Annual Garden Symposium. Curators, archaeologists, and gardeners from Colonial Williamsburg, plus award-winning authors, gardeners, landscape architects, naturalists, and horticulturalists. Presentations address topics such as the influence of imported prints on Virginia’s early gardens, spring flowering bulbs, gardening in the context of the Age of Exploration, and the horticultural impact of three cultures fusing into a new world. Virtual option. April 10 to 12 in Colonial Williamsburg.
Explore future events and ongoing exhibitions and performances here.
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