The Richmond Folk Festival returns to Brown’s Island September 27-29, celebrating its 20th anniversary. The initial lineup of artists for the 2024 Richmond Folk Festival includes go-go band Trouble Funk, jazz artist Lonnie Holley, bluegrass group Junior Sisk Band, among many others.

This year, the festival is scheduled earlier than usual to avoid coinciding with Yom Kippur. Additionally, there are changes to the festival site, with two of the six stages relocated due to ongoing developments. An updated festival site map will be available on the festival’s website and in guides distributed at the event.

“The festival site on Downtown’s riverfront is an ever-changing one, as we see its growth and progress lead to a number of modifications,” said Stephen Lecky, director of events at Venture Richmond. “You’ll still find all your favorite things to see and do, but this year, you may need to look at the festival map to chart your course. We’ll provide you with everything you need to find what you’re looking for!”

Over the past two decades, the festival has grown into one of Virginia’s largest events, attracting fans to Downtown Richmond’s riverfront to celebrate American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and food.

The Richmond Folk Festival is a free event that welcomes approximately 200,000 people over a three-day weekend. It features six stages and over 30 performing groups from across the nation and around the world, showcasing a diverse array of cultures and traditions. To mark the 20th anniversary, the festival will bring back several favorite performers from previous years.

Other artists announced this week include: Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, performing Southern Italian pizzica tarantata from Salento, Italy; John Doyle & the Irish American Music Masters, featuring Irish music from Chicago, Brooklyn, Bristol, Vermont, Asheville, North Carolina, and County Louth, Ireland; Mis Blandine, showcasing Congolese soukous from Toronto, Ontario; Peni Candra Rini, performing Javanese sindhen from Tulungagung, East Java, Indonesia; and Rancho Aparte, featuring Colombian chirimía music from Quibdó, Colombia.

The Richmond Folk Festival is presented by Venture Richmond Events in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, Virginia Humanities, Center for Cultural Vibrancy, the Children’s Museum of Richmond, and the City of Richmond.