July in RVA: Your Guide to the Best Events This Month
Look, we're biased — but July in Richmond might be the best month of the year to be here.
The James River is alive with kayakers and swimmers. The neighborhoods are buzzing. The Allianz Amphitheater is booked solid with acts you actually want to see. And whether you're grilling out in the Fan, catching a free festival in the Northside, or just wandering Scott's Addition on a Saturday evening, there's an energy to this city in July that's hard to put into words.
This is the kind of summer that makes people fall in love with Richmond — and stay.
Here's what's on tap this month.
🎆 4th of July — Chesterfield County Fairgrounds
July 4
Fireworks, live music, and good old-fashioned summer fun right in our backyard. The Chesterfield Fairgrounds celebration keeps it local and delivers exactly what the holiday calls for.
Want a little more funk with your fireworks? The Star-Spangled Squirrels Fest on Arthur Ashe Blvd features Grateful Shred with special guest No BS! Brass Band starting at 5:30 PM — a seriously fun alternative way to spend the 4th.
🍅 Hanover Tomato Festival — Pole Green Park
July 10–11
This one's a Richmond rite of summer. The Hanover Tomato Festival is free, family- and pet-friendly, and celebrates the region's famous Hanover tomatoes — known for their unbeatable flavor — with live music, food vendors, and more. If you've never been, this is the year. If you're a regular, you already know.
🎸 The Strokes — Allianz Amphitheater
July 12
The Strokes hit the Allianz Amphitheater for a high-energy summer show on the riverfront. Grab tickets, pack a blanket, and enjoy one of the best outdoor concert setups in the region. The Allianz is in its second full season with a calendar that spans rock, country, pop, R&B, and indie — and it's quickly becoming one of those venues locals are genuinely proud of.
🌮 Sazón Latin Food Festival — Main Line Brewery
July 18
Sazón brings Richmond's taste of Latin American food and culture to Main Line Brewery starting at noon. A perfect Saturday afternoon — good food, cold drinks, and a lively crowd. This is what summer weekends are made for.
🎵 Bob Dylan — Allianz Amphitheater
July 23
A legendary artist performing an unforgettable night of music on the Richmond riverfront. Six decades in and still touring. Some things you just don't miss.
🍺 Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival — Meadow Event Park
July 25
Southern flavors, tastings, and live music at this crowd-favorite summer festival up at Meadow Event Park. It's a short drive to Doswell and 100% worth it. Come hungry.
🎶 O.A.R. with Gavin DeGraw and Lisa Loeb — Allianz Amphitheater
July 26
O.A.R. with Gavin DeGraw and Lisa Loeb bring a feel-good summer night to the Allianz Amphitheater riverfront stage. Pure nostalgia, great venue, perfect July evening.
While You're At It...
A couple of things worth keeping on your radar all month long:
Richmond Shakespeare Festival — Outdoor performances running through July. Check their site for the current schedule and grab a blanket.
VMFA: Promise and Peril — The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is showing Promise and Peril, a photography exhibition featuring works spanning more than 150 years examining the beauty of the natural world and the human impact on American landscapes — open through October 4. A great call on a brutally hot afternoon.
Why We Love This City
This is just a small slice of what's happening in Richmond this July. The truth is, there's always something going on here — a neighborhood block party, a pop-up market, a free concert in the park that nobody marketed but everybody somehow found. That's the thing about this city. It takes care of its people. If you're not already here, it might be time to change that.