August in RVA: Your Guide to the Best Events This Month
August in Richmond gets a bad rap. Yes, it's hot. Yes, the humidity is real. But here's the thing — this city doesn't slow down for summer. If anything, August is one of the most packed months on the RVA calendar, with some of the biggest festivals of the year, a killer concert lineup on the riverfront, and the kind of community energy that reminds you why you live here.
Grab some water, find some shade between sets, and get out there. Here's what's happening this month.
🎸 The Black Keys: Peaches 'N Kream — Allianz Amphitheater
August 1
The Black Keys kick off August on the riverfront stage with Eddie 9V in tow. If you haven't caught a show at the Allianz yet, this is a great one to make your first — two-man band, big sound, great venue. Tickets are still available but won't last long.
🍺 Jam Packed: Craft Beer & Music Festival — Kanawha Plaza
August 1
Also happening on August 1 — craft brews, live music, and riverfront energy at Kanawha Plaza. Richmond's craft beer scene is legitimately impressive, and this festival puts it all in one place. A solid option if The Black Keys isn't your thing (though why not both?).
🎵 Richmond Jazz and Music Festival — Maymont Park
August 8
One of RVA's most beloved annual events. The Richmond Jazz and Music Festival takes over the beautiful grounds of Maymont Park for a weekend of soulful performances across two stages. This year's headliner is Erykah Badu — that alone makes it a must. Free to attend, which makes it even better.
🍉 Carytown Watermelon Festival — Carytown
August 9
Virginia's largest single-day festival, and it's right here in Richmond. The Carytown Watermelon Festival has been a summer institution for 44 years, shutting down eight blocks of Cary Street for a full day of live music across multiple stages, over 100 vendors, a massive kids' area, and — naturally — more watermelon than you can handle. Nearly 100,000 people show up every year. This is one of those events that is quintessentially RVA, and if you've never been, it needs to be on your list.
🎤 5 Seconds of Summer: Everyone's a Star World Tour — Allianz Amphitheater
August 9
5 Seconds of Summer brings their world tour to the riverfront with The Band CAMINO. A high-energy show at one of the best outdoor venues in the region — great pick for the pop-punk crowd.
🎸 Mini Bluegrass Festival — Pocahontas State Park
August 15
A laid-back afternoon of live bluegrass in the woods at Pocahontas State Park. Low-key, local, and exactly the kind of thing that makes Richmond's summer calendar interesting beyond the big headliners. Bring a blanket.
🎵 Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show — Allianz Amphitheater
August 19
If there's one show this month that country fans absolutely cannot sleep on, it's this one. Chris Stapleton is one of the best live performers in any genre, full stop. The Allianz riverfront setting makes it even better. Get tickets now.
🏮 Richmond Water Lantern Festival — Henrico
August 22
A beautiful, one-of-a-kind summer evening — participants decorate and release illuminated lanterns on the water as the sun goes down. It's peaceful, it's gorgeous, and it's genuinely unlike anything else on the RVA calendar. Great date night or family outing.
🦀 Crabs and Beer by the James — Kanawha Plaza
August 22
Steamed crabs, craft beer, and waterfront views. That's the whole pitch, and it's a great one. Summer in Virginia doesn't get much more on-brand than this.
🎵 19th Annual Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival — Dogwood Dell Amphitheatre
August 22
Free admission, free parking, authentic Latin food vendors, and live Latin jazz and salsa performances at the gorgeous outdoor Dogwood Dell Amphitheatre. This one is a Richmond gem that deserves more attention than it gets.
🎡 Chesterfield County Fair — Chesterfield Fairgrounds
August 28 – September 5
The Chesterfield County Fair caps off the summer in classic fashion — rides, games, livestock, local vendors, fair food, and live entertainment spread across more than a week. A multigenerational tradition right in our own backyard.
🎶 Kehlani World Tour: North America — Allianz Amphitheater
August 29
Kehlani closes out August at the Allianz, bringing the North American leg of her world tour to the Richmond riverfront. A strong finish to a really strong month of live music.
While You're At It...
VMFA: Promise and Peril — Still running through October 4. A photography exhibition spanning 150+ years of American landscape imagery. Perfect for a hot August afternoon indoors.
RVA Black Farmers Market — Held every second and fourth Sunday through November at Shalom Farms Northside (1311 Westwood Ave). Fresh produce, homemade goods, and crafts from Black farmers and artisans across Virginia.
Why We Love This City
August has a way of sneaking up on you — and then overwhelming you with options on the way out. From Virginia's biggest single-day festival to some of the best live music of the entire summer, RVA delivers right up until Labor Day. This city never really runs out of reasons to get outside and be part of something. That's not something you find everywhere.