F.R.E.E. = Frugal Richmond Events for Everyone! All events free admission unless noted
FRIDAY
Lebanese Food Festival – Friday 10am-10pm; St. Anthony’s Maronite Catholic Church, 4611 Sadler Road, Glen Allen
Enjoy Favorite Lebanese Delicacies, Sweets, Music, Dancing

Dominion Riverrock – Friday 5-11pm; Downtown riverfront around Brown’s Island
Dominion Riverrock is a three-day celebration of sports, music and river life in Richmond, VA. The event on May 17-19 includes outdoor sports, music and interactive activities set against the backdrop of Richmond’s downtown riverfront. This year’s celebration will include competitions in a variety of adrenaline-pumping athletic disciplines including a mud run, freestyle bike competitions, trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, bouldering, slacklining and the Ultimate Air Dogs for our four-legged friends. In addition, each day is filled with live music featuring Soulive followed by Lettuce on Friday night and Anders Osborne and Toots and the Maytals on Saturday night. Complete schedule
Target $1 Family Night ($1) – Friday 5-7:30pm; Children’s Museum of Richmond Central
Bring the whole family to enjoy what The Children’s Museum of Richmond – Central has to offer from 5:00-7:30pm on the third Friday of every month for just $1 per person
LiveSky: The International Space Station ($5) – Friday 6pm; Science Museum of Virginia
Uncover life on the International Space Station — cramped quarters, far from favorite restaurants and hard to take evening strolls, but the view is amazing! After the show, weather permitting, join members of the Richmond Astronomical Society as they point telescopes up into the vastness of space! $5, free for members.n members of the Richmond Astronomical Society as they point telescopes up into the vastness of space! $5, free for Museum members.
The Rinard Family – Friday 7pm; Henrico Theatre
For all ages. Join us for another wonderful performance by a Henrico Theatre favorite, The Rinard Family. You’ll hear beloved hymns, original creations, and toe-tappin’ favorites – from Amazing Grace to Crazy, with a little bit of everything in between! Call 328-4491 for reservations.
SATURDAY
Living History Weekend – Saturday 10am-4pm; Drewry’s Bluff, 7600 Fort Darling Road
The naval defenses of Richmond will come alive again as National Park Service volunteers portraying Confederate sailors, heavy artillerymen, and Marines will demonstrate artillery action at historic Drewry’s Bluff in Chesterfield County on the James River. Throughout the weekend, park rangers and volunteers will also give talks on the role of Fort Drewry in the defense of Richmond, especially the battle that occurred there on May 15, 1862, when a Federal fleet of five ships was stopped just seven miles below the Confederate capital.
Camp Wilton on the James – Saturday 10am-5pm; Wilton House Museum
For 10 days during May of 1781, Marquis de Lafayette and over 900 troops made camp in the tobacco fields surrounding Wilton before the Siege of Yorktown. This day of living history features demonstrations of the military drill of the Continental soldier and artillery. Enter Lafayette’s Continental camp to find out how soldiers –and campfollowers– slept, ate, and lived while on the march. Entrance to encampment is free. Admissions fee for the historic house still apply.
Family Safety Fair – Saturday 10am-3pm; Chesterfield Towne Center
Richmond Alarm Company presents “Spring Family Safety Fair”. Meet with fire fighters, Chesterfield police, EMS and McGruff. Tour the Life-Evac helicopter and Chesterfield Mobile Command Center and much, much, more. Free to the public. Entertainment brought to you by The Taters.
National Kids to Parks Day: Fun Family Adventure ($5 parking, fees for some activities) – Saturday 10am-5pm; Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield
Come out and enjoy some fun adventures at Pocahontas State Park. The day will be filled with fun activities including recreational tree climbing, fishing on the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries floating fishing school, canoeing, animals from Off the Ark, kids mountain bike obstacle course, entertainment, crafts, face painting and MORE! Most programs and activities are free (parking fees apply), except:Tree climbing — $18/person canoeing — $9/person or for families of 4 or more $6/person crafts — $5 includes instructions and all materials. Each of the above activities has limited participation, so please call 796-4255 to register for them (separately).
Lebanese Food Festival – Saturday 10am-10pm; St. Anthony’s Maronite Catholic Church, 4611 Sadler Road, Glen Allen
See Friday
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – Saturday 11am and 1pm; Main Plaza, Short Pump Town Center
Celebrate your unbirthday at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party! Wander down the rabbit hole, and enjoy entertainment, face painting, balloon twisting and more with Alice and her friends. Alice and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party showtimes are at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, with character Meet and Greets following each performance.
Imagination Richmond – Saturday 11am-3pm; Willow Lawn Plaza
Join The Shops at Willow Lawn for the Fifth Annual Imagination Richmond. Bring the whole family and enjoy live music and performances, horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, balloon art, moon bounces, giant inflatable slide, popular costumed characters, free giveaways, merchants specials and more! All children’s activity lines close at 2:30 pm.
11–11:50 am – The Diggity Dudes
12:10–1:00 pm – Silly Bus
1:15–1:45 pm – Jonathan the Juggler
2:15–3 pm – Rocknocerous
Stories at the Museum – Saturday 11am; Virginia Historical Society
The Virginia Historical Society is offering special educator-led readins of history books for children. Every program will include a group reading of the selected book and a craft activity related to the text. Each month the books will have a different theme. Programs take place the first and third Saturday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Stories at the Museum programs are FREE, open to the public, and require no advance registration. All ages are welcome. This week: Snowflake Bentley
Family Fun Day – Saturday 11am-2pm; Commonwealth Sports Medicine, 4300 Pouncey Tract Rd, Downtown Short Pump
Join us May 18th to celebrate the Grand Opening of our new 7000sq ft location in Short Pump. All ages are invited to enjoy FREE food and activities. We will have an obstacle course, bounce house, face painting and many prizes to give away. As well, we will have demonstrations of our new 3D video gait analysis system.
Dominion Riverrock – Saturday 12-10:30pm; Downtown riverfront
See Friday
Blacksmithing: Too Many Irons in the Fire – Saturday 12:30-3:30pm; Meadow Farm Museum
For all ages. The blacksmith was a very important member of the 19th-century rural community. Watch and listen to the blacksmith as the iron gets red-hot and the smith pounds and bends it into useful objects. Information: 501-2130.
May Play Day – Saturday 1-5pm; The Armour House & Gardens
For all ages. The Armour House & Gardens at Meadowview Park is a gorgeous place to spend a sunny May day! Come join us for old-fashioned family fun, music, games, crafts, gardening activities, food vendors, and more. The Armour House and its beautiful gardens will be open for tours too! Information: 343-3506.
Johnny Jones and Friends Concert – Saturday 6pm; North Lawn, Appomattox Plantation, 1001 Pecan Avenue, Hopewell
On Saturday, May 18, the local bluegrass group, “Johnny Jones and Friends” will perform at the General Grant’s Headquarters Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield. This is a good opportunity to get outdoors and take advantage of the history and beautiful scenery that surrounds the City Point section of Hopewell. Feel free to bring a picnic dinner, lounge chairs or a blanket, and make yourself comfortable while you enjoy some good music. The concert is weather permitting and alcohol is not allowed.
SUNDAY
Living History Weekend – Sunday 10am-4pm; Drewry’s Bluff, 7600 Fort Darling Road
See Saturday
Lebanese Food Festival – Sunday 10am-8pm; St. Anthony’s Maronite Catholic Church, 4611 Sadler Road, Glen Allen
See Friday
Dominion Riverrock – Sunday 12-5pm; Downtown riverfront
See Friday
SPARC: Charlotte’s Web – Sunday 2-3pm; Children’s Farm Lawn, Maymont
E.B. White’s timeless children’s story comes to life in SPARC’s production of Charlotte’s Web. Featuring music and lyrics from Charles Strouse (Broadway’s Annie), this delightful musical is perfect for any age. Starring a cast of Richmond’s most talented singers, actors, and dancers ages 9-13, this show is the perfect way to usher in Spring!
The Stavna Ballet – Sunday 2pm; Henrico Theatre
For all ages. The Stavna Ballet’s wish is to captivate, enrich and inspire audiences through breathtaking artistry that explores the fusion of contemporary movement and the grace of classical ballet. They are passionate about making the art of dance accessible and inspiring young minds through engaging and interactive learning experiences. Call 328-4491 for reservations.
Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social – Sunday 4-6pm; Clarke-Palmore House Museum
For all ages. Treat your taste buds to Bruster’s delicious ice cream, tour the historic house and try out some old-fashioned games while listening to the toe-tapping sounds of period music. Great fun for the whole family. Information: 652-3411.
Sounds of Summer: Foster Spain – Sunday 4pm; Weston Plantation, 400 Weston Lane, Hopewell
Pack a picnic, grab your lawn chairs and come join Historic Hopewell Foundation’s 4th Sounds of Summer concert series on Sunday May 19 at 4:00pm. Enjoy a spectacular view of the lower Appomattox from the beautiful grounds of Weston Plantation. There is no admission charge for the concerts, which are funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Local Government Challenge Grant. Audience members are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating and may wish to bring their own refreshments.