More What’s Booming RVA: Dec. 28 to Jan. 4
A week of events, announcements, and a link to future fun
More of What’s Booming in Richmond, Virginia, December 28, 2023, to January 4, 2024. Enjoy a quiet recovery week with these events curated for Boomer readers. Music, Kwanzaa festivities, history, and outdoor therapy.
Check out the Boomer Top 5 picks in RVA, browse the week ahead below, or go to our updated events page for Down the Road happenings and ongoing exhibitions and performances.
December 28, 2023, to January 4, 2024
Thursday, December 28
Stephen Rudlin’s IF I SING Cabaret. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.
Favorite Things at the Science Museum of Virginia. What better time of year to experience a winning combination of favorite science-is-fun programming, from Dome features and live demos to tapas taste testing (space food or insects, anyone?), collaborative building, and more. Through Dec. 31, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, at the Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond
“The Silver Belles.” “Golden Girls” meets “Designing Women” as a group of friends are thrown into a new endeavor, supporting their small-town Christmas pageant. With Christmas tunes and country and western ditties. Through Dec. 31 at the November Theatre, Richmond.
Friday, December 29
Black and Free Kwanzaa Expo. Shop with local businesses, enjoy vegan food, and experience the sounds of local talent. Including children’s activities. Dec. 29, 5 to 10 p.m., at Beulah Recreation Center, Chesterfield.
Paul Brown and Sharon Rae North. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.
Saturday, December 30
18th-Century Chocolate-Making Demonstrations. Learn how chocolate was prepared and enjoyed in 18th-century Virginia – and how it tasted! FREE. Every Saturday in December at 11 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Richmond.
Capital City Kwanzaa Festival. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.
Sunday, December 31
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
NOON Year’s Eve Show. Enjoy an early celebration with a classic local cover band (64 Crayons Band plays from 4 to 6 p.m.), plus beverages, food, and fireworks. Dec. 31, beginning at 1 p.m., at Hardywood Park West Creek, Henrico.
New Year’s Eve Party with Turf Fire. All are invited to celebrate with this traditional Irish, Scottish, and American folk music band. Includes hors d’oeuvres (including vegetarian items) and beverages. Dec. 31, 7:30 to 10 p.m., at Congregation Or Ami, Richmond.
Monday, January 1
WELCOME, 2024!
RRRC First Day 5k. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.
First Day Hikes. Set out on your own or with friends, or take part in one of the many activities at a Virginia State Park. Ranger-led hikes highlight the parks’ natural, cultural, and historical resources. FREE (including free admission and parking on Jan. 1). Activities near Richmond include
- Orienteering hike at Pocahontas State Park, 11 a.m.
- Wildlife Watch Hikes at York River State Park, 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
- Cumberland Plunge at Bear Creek Lake State Park, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, January 3
Used Book Sale at the VMHC. Restock your library and support VMHC Education initiatives. Jan. 3 to 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond.
Thursday, January 4
Women’s Rights are Human Rights. Elizabeth Resnick leads a webinar examining posters that speak to the role women play locally, nationally, and internationally in protecting and promoting human rights. The ideas challenge religious and cultural norms and patriarchal attitudes that subordinate, stigmatize, or restrict women from achieving their fullest potential and argue for eliminating discrimination against women and girls and empowering them. Presented online, sponsored by The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design, Richmond. Jan. 4, 6 p.m., on Zoom.
Four-Day Commemoration of the Revolutionary War in Richmond. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.
Road Trip
Cool venue, warm festival
HeArt & SOUL Winter Fest. Massanutten Resort presents a diverse schedule of events for a variety of ages and interests, from wine tastings, live music, games, food, and more. In partnership with Unlocking RVA, Hmble Hstle Clothing, Richmond Black Restaurant Experience, and Virginia is for Lovers. Jan. 4 to 8 at Massanutten Resort, Massanutten.
News Worth Knowing
Something old is what’s new
76th Annual Antiques Forum. An weekend-long exploration of domestic objects, architecture, and interiors. Presented virtually and in-person, examining public and private collections, new research, and revitalized spaces from London to Nova Scotia and across the U.S. Feb. 23 to 27, in Colonial Williamsburg.
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