More What’s Booming RVA: Feb. 27 to March 6

Wine, Broadway in Richmond news, music from tribute bands, classical, bluegrass and Zydeco, Lake Anna homes tour, and more. In What’s Booming, Richmond, Virginia, February 27 to March 6.

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.

February 27 to March 6

Thursday, February 27

Book Swap for Black History Month. Swap books by and about African Americans and people of color, for readers of all ages. Bring one, take one. February 27, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Hull Street Branch Library, Richmond.

1890s Winter Warmer Grown-Up Field Trip. 1890s-themed drinks and activities in honor of the closing week for the exhibit “Turning Points: Richmond in the 1890s.” Historic cocktail recipe to sample, light snacks, period crafts to make and take, and a curator-led tour of the exhibition. February 27, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at The Valentine, Richmond.

Pride in Black Voices: A Loving Community. Virginia Opera blends powerful storytelling with music from the Civil Rights era of the 1950s and 1960s in excerpts from the upcoming opera, “Loving v. Virginia,” performed by Virginia Opera Emerging Artists. Q&A to follow. February 27, 6 p.m., at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond.

“The Cost of Fear” with Meg Stone. The author discusses how most safety advice is sexist and how to reduce gender-based violence. February 27, 6 p.m., at Fountain Bookstore, Richmond.

VMFA’s History-Making Art Loan to Lusanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. Last year, VMFA became the first major US art museum to lend a work from its permanent collection to a sub-Saharan African institution. This talk details the collaboration between the museum and the Congolese Plantation Workers Art League in the remote village. February 27, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond.

Virtual Book Talk: “Freedom Was in Sight!” with Dr. Kate Masur. A leading historian of Reconstruction shares from her most recent book, a graphic history using the words and experiences of Black Americans in Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas to tell the story of the post-Civil War era: how people worked to reunite their families, build communities, and claim rights long denied them. Presented by The American Civil War Museum. FREE. February 27, 6:30 p.m., online.

Historically Speaking: Black Revolutionary Soldiers. Historian John Pagano of Henricus Historical Park focuses on the role played by Black Virginians who camped, marched, and fought side by side with their neighbors in pursuit of liberty and independence from English rule. Ages 10+. February 27, 7 to 8 p.m., at Libbie Mill Library, Henrico.

Brad Upton. In 2018, the 62-year-old comedian became a viral sensation. He has a likeable onstage persona with a rather cantankerous take on work, parenthood, marriage, and anything else that gets him fired up. Sharply observed but never cruel. February 27, 7 p.m., at Funnybone, Richmond.

Love Canon. Sprouting from the musical foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Charlottesville, the Virginia group brings its own raucous blend of bluegrass to the masses, funky tunes with traditional instruments such as mandolin and fiddle. February 27, 8 p.m., at The Tin Pan, Richmond.

“Rhinoceros.” In this iconic play about the dangers of conformity, a tranquil French village is trampled by pachyderms. A disheveled and absentminded daydreamer becomes the last person standing in a world of Rhinos. Can he resist them? Ionesco’s play revels in its absurdity while reflecting the divisions that permeate contemporary society. February 27 to March 2 at Singleton Center, Richmond.

Friday, February 28

“Hidden Figures.” Fourth Friday Films presents the movie of three female African-American mathematicians who provide crucial calculations for NASA’s space race against the Soviets, all while dealing with the racist and sexist assumptions of their white co-workers. Feb. 28, 2 to 4 p.m., at Westover Hills Library, Richmond.

“Baking in the American South” with Anne Byrn. The author shares from her newest cookbook and how Southern cooking moved from humble, make-do recipes to a reputation as one of the world’s richest culinary traditions. Feb. 28, 3 p.m., at Fountain Bookstore, Richmond.

“Fences.” The compelling story of one man’s attempt to come to terms with the meaning of life and the opportunity he was denied due to his race and the times. A Black History Month presentation. FREE, registration required. Feb. 28, 6 to 8:30 p.m., at Beulah Recreation Center, North Chesterfield.

Eat.Talk.Connect: Ghana. Culture Encounters presents an immersive cultural and culinary experience highlighting the vibrant culture of Ghana: authentic cuisine, cultural conversation, and dance performances. Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m., at the former Blue Sky Fund building, Richmond.

Frontiers: A Tribute to Journey. Five NYC musicians recreate the greatest hits of Journey from the late ’70s to the ’80s. Feb. 28, doors at 6:30 p.m., at The Beacon Theatre, Hopewell.

Motown & More: The Legacy Lives. The 11-piece musical ensemble presents the music of Motown and more recent hits. Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., at Ashland Theatre, Ashland.

University Dancers 40th Anniversary Concert. Celebrating four decades of engaging dance, with three innovative guest coreographers and work by department faculty and adjudicated student choreography. FREE, tickets required. March 1, 7:30 p.m., and March 2, 2 p.m., at Modlin, University of Richmond.

Così fan Tuti. Love has many faces when buddies don disguises for the ultimate “loyalty test” of their fiancées. Cleverly concealed and with wily determination, who will come out on top in this comic battle of the sexes? Virginia Opera presents the Mozart opera, accompanied by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, sung in Italian with English surtitles. Preshow lecture 45 minutes before each performance. Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., and March 2, 2:30 p.m., at Dominion Energy Center, Richmond.

Richmond Home + Garden Show. Home celebrity headliners this year include real estate pros, design visionaries, and twin sisters Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb of the HGTV show “Unsellable Houses.” Plus 225+ home improvement exhibitors, the latest home trends, and more. Feb. 28 to March 2 at the Richmond Raceway, Richmond.

Virginia Orchid Society Show & Sale. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.  

History Blooms. Lectures and other engaging activities with a focus on Virginia history, gardening, and landscape preservation. A few tickets remain for two of the learning events on Friday, Feb. 28. The rest of the weekend features inspired floral displays throughout the museum. Feb. 28 to March 2 at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond.

“Appalachian Spring” – Three Performances. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.    

Virginia Wine Expo 2025. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.

Artspace Show Features Artists Hiratsuka, Kameen, and Scagnelli. Exhibit opens with reception on Fourth Friday: Feb. 28, 6 to 8 p.m., free and open to the public. Richmond-based artist Janet Scagnelli gives artist talk on March 1, 2 p.m. Additional  exhibits showcase Artspace members in Elisabeth Flynn-Chapman gallery. Exhibit through March 22, at Artspace, Richmond.

Saturday, March 1

VCU Music Around the World Festival. A celebration of global music, talent, and diversity, including presentation sessions on underrepresented composers, a workshop, and recitals. March 1, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Richmond.

World Wildlife Day. Animal keeper talks, animal feedings, presentations, and activities. Special guests from The Wildlife Center of Virginia and other experts present talks and film screenings. FREE, advance tickets available. March 1, 10 a.m., to 5 p.m., at Robins Nature Center at Maymont, Richmond.

Marie Curie: A Woman of Radiance. December 1898, Marie Curie discovered a new element: radium. For her accomplishments, she became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only woman to win the Nobel twice. Learn how her groundbreaking discovery shaped the scientific community and the sacrifices she made for her work. March 1, 2 to 3 p.m., at Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park, Glen Allen.

Book Event with William Ruberry. The author discusses his newest novel, “Harmony in Black and White.” In solving the mystery of why the former Capital of the Confederacy has the nation’s highest murder rate, a music-loving rookie newspaper reporter uncovers the truth about himself. March 1, 2 p.m., at Book People, Henrico.

River City Taiko – RESONANCE 共振. The Richmond-based group plays traditional Japanese drums and related instruments. Pay what you can, registration required. March 1, 3 p.m., at Perkinson Center, Chester.

Mamma Mania: ABBA Tribute. Travel back to the vibrant 1970s with the classic hits of one of pop music’s most iconic groups, presented with dazzling costumes and harmonies. March 1, 7:30 p.m., at Ashland Theatre, Ashland.

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.  

John R Miller, supporting Town Mountain. On his new album, “Heat Comes Down,” the West Virginia-raised, Nashville-based artist narrates his sleepless nights and nostalgic daydreams, existential dread, and nuanced observations of the troubled world around him. But while a number of the songs convey a certain unease, Miller endlessly imparts the kind of lovely reassurance that can only come from shared catharsis. March 1, 8 p.m., at The Broadberry, Richmond.

“Spring Break” by Joe Calarco. As spring break begins, 19 teenagers navigate a night of celebration, friendship, heartache, and self-discovery. Through moments of empathy and humor, this candid dramedy explores pivotal decisions and the quest for individual identity. March 1 to 2 at Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse, Richmond.

Sunday, March 2

Mary Anne Rennolds Chamber Concert Series: Goldmund Quartet. The quartet is known for its interpretations of the great classical and modern works of the quartet literature. March 2, 3 to 5 p.m., at Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, Richmond.

Knit at Night: “Mamma Mia.” The lights will be dimmed, but not off, so crafters can work while the movie plays. Projects not a requirement! March 2, 6 p.m., at Ashland Theatre, Ashland.

Winston Hodges. Known for his Southern charm and edgy wit, the comedian jokes about growing up in the South, teaching at a school for autism, race, religion, and more. March 2, 6 p.m., at Funny Bone, Richmond.

Hollywood Nights: The Bob Seger Experience. A nine-piece New Jersey-based band has set out to recreate Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band down to the smallest detail. March 2, doors at 6 p.m., at The Beacon Theatre, Hopewell.

Monday, March 3

C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band. Presenting Creole music royalty whose father, the legendary Clifton Chenier, invented the style of music we know today as Zydeco. Raised in this indigenous American culture with its own distinctive language, cuisine, and music, C.J. Chenier delivers soulful vocals and accordion-driven Rock, Zydeco and Blues. March 3, 8 p.m., at The Tin Pan, Richmond.

Tuesday, March 4

Wild & Scenic Film Festival Tickets. Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay presents its annual film festival, including its own short film, “Surf & Turk: A Chesapeake Bay Watershed Story.” Virtual showing, March 4 to 8. March 6, 6 to 8 p.m., at Studio Two Three, Richmond.

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.   

Wednesday, March 5

“A Loving Community.” Virginia Opera presents an educational touring program featuring music and history relevant to the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Excerpts from the world-premiere opera, “Loving v. Virginia,” co-commissioned with the Richmond Symphony, will be performed by Virginia Opera’s four Emerging Artists with piano accompaniment. Ages 15+. FREE, registration required. March 5, 2 to 3 p.m., at the Library of Virginia, Richmond.

Caroline Scruggs. Music with the thereminist and vocalist, who bends sound and space into something otherworldly: a voice that soars and an instrument played without touch. March 5, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design, Richmond.

Anzû Quartet. A new collaboration between four internationally renowned performers of contemporary music. FREE, tickets required. March 5, 7:30 p.m., at Modlin, University of Richmond.

Thursday, March 6

“A Prescription for Change” and Rx Partnership. Local healthcare leaders engage with the public, highlighting how Rx Partnership is providing critical access to medication for vulnerable communities. Pairs with the exhibition, “A Prescription for Change: Black Voices Shaping Healthcare in Virginia,” which highlights the contributions of Black medical professionals in the state and their impact on healthcare. Food, beverages, conversations, and connecting with those committed to healthcare equity. March 6, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Black History Museum of Virginia, Richmond.

Laser Show: David Bowie. Rock through the eras of Bowie with a spectacle of music and light in The Dome. March 6, 8:15 p.m., at the Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond.

“The Sound of Santiago.” Documentary film screening about the indigenous music of Santiago de Cuba. FREE, tickets required. March 6, 7:30 p.m., at Modlin, University of Richmond.

Enter The Haggis “Exit The Haggis Tour.” For over two decades, Toronto’s Enter The Haggis has combined bagpipes and fiddles with a rock rhythm section to create a distinctively eclectic sound. March 6, 8 p.m., at The Tin Pan, Richmond.

“Sanctuary City.” The play by Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok is a moving tale of two teenagers, brought to America as children, who grapple with an impossible choice: what are they willing to risk to stay in the only home they’ve ever known? As they navigate the tender moments of coming-of-age, they must confront the harsh realities that threaten their dreams. March 6 to 22 at Robert B. Moss Theatre, Richmond.

News to Know

New Broadway in Richmond season, call for entries

2025 to 2026 Broadway in Richmond Announced. Seven shows include four Richmond premieres – six subscription shows and an add-on option.

• “Kimberly Akimbo,” winner of five 2023 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, in its Richmond premiere, November 2025.
• “Back To The Future: The Musical,” the beloved, cinematic classic, brings the DeLorean Time Machine to Richmond for its Virginia premiere, January 2026.
• “Beauty and the Beast,” Disney’s first North American production of the beloved musical in over 25 years, March 2026.
• “The Outsiders,” winner of four 2024 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, another Richmond premiere, March 2026.
• “The Wiz,” The Tony Award®-winning Best Musical, April 2026.
• “& Juliet,” Broadway’s hilarious romantic comedy, May 2026.
• “Les Misérables,” the world’s most popular musical, is an add-on option for the subscription series, December 2025.

Call for Entries: Clay Creations: A Ceramic Celebration Exhibition. The Clay Creations exhibition will be a part of the May 16 open house at Crossroads Art Center and the RVA Clay Studio Tour on June 7 and 8, celebrating the beauty and versatility of clay. Open to local ceramic artists working in all styles and techniques. Submissions online, from March 1 to 31.

Road Trips

Lake vacay homes + mountain vacay festival

The Celebration of Homes Tour for Lake Anna. Begin with coffee and pastries at Home Point Lake Anna, pick up your tour map, and tour seven lake front homes and a boathouse. Each stop will provide sample sips and bites from local restaurants. Live demos will be held throughout the day from local decorators, florists, and more. March 1, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Lake Anna.

Snow Moon Festival. Outdoor adventures and winter fun including a torchlight parade, fireworks, live music, DJs, brunch, 4K on the Fairway, a doughNUT eating contest, and more. Feb. 28 to March 2 at Massanutten Resort, Massanutten.

FEATURE PHOTO CAPTION, TOP: Robert Petkoff as Harold Zidler and the cast of the North American tour of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

Anticipation … !

Click here to make plans with this list of events to come and ongoing exhibitions and performances.

Follow What’s Booming on Boomer, updated every Thursday.

And sign up at the bottom of our website for our twice-weekly newsletter.

Submit your event here.