Richmond, you’ve got that back-to-school groove going as summer’s waves diminish, but fear not — all the fun hasn’t ebbed away. Quite the contrary, seeing as Indian Summer, fall and spring are crucial festival times in the River City.

This year some heavyweight classics — some veritable institutions — return to the festival circuit, and some new events surface that look super fun.

Don’t miss Antoinette Essa’s A-List events around town. To sign up for a weekly event emails delivered on Friday afternoon, click here.

Time for deep-fried bliss that only the State Fair can offer? This weekend it kicks off, and will run through Oct. 5.

SEPTEMBER 26 – SEPTEMBER 28

Richmond Italian Festival (Sat. and Sun. )

Downtown 17th Street Market transforms into an authentic Italian village for the tenth year. Get ready for the sights, sounds and aromas of the Italian countryside

The festival raises money for charities Reinhart House, Slow Foods, Autism Society Central VA, Ninth Dimension. The festival will also support the VCU Italian Studies Program by providing financial assistance to students who are studying our Italian culture and heritage.

Free admission

Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

17th Street and Main Street, downtown

SATURDAY, Sept. 27

Capital Ale House Oktoberfest

Virginia beers paired with traditional German food items. Surrounding streets are closed off. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. and the first keg is ceremoniously tapped at noon. There will be live musical performances, German dance groups and family-friendly Kinderplatz: a kid’s space with giant inflatables, face-painting, balloon animals and many other family features.

$3 entry fee

11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Cap Ale House open until 1:30 a.m.)

623 E. Main Street

Off the Rails Craft Beer Festival

A sampling of Virginia’s best beers. Expect 12 breweries, six food trucks and four bands.

1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Hanover Arts and Activities Center on 500 South Center Street

Admission/$10 (Commemorative glass with admission)

Full glass/$6 2oz

Tasting $1

Children 12 & under free

Pridefest 2014

PRIDE is switching venues again this year, and will be held on Brown’s Island. There will be food, brews, music, organizations, outreach, and performances.

Free admission

1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Brown’s Island

Bottom of 12th St (at the James River)

Sunday, Sept. 28

Beast Feast 2

A Belmont Butchery and Preservation Virginia shindig at Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown.

This event is to promote local farms, chefs, and historic properties like Scotchtown. There will be teams of Richmond chefs serving multiple courses that are cooked on open fires. In addition, there will be open wine and beer bars and live music from Honky Tonk Experience.

VIP ticket holders have access to their own open bar with cocktails whipped up by Richmond craft cocktail extraordinaires; chances to mingle with the chefs; and a complimentary swag bag.

$50 for general admission (food, beer and wine)

$80 VIP (limited; food, beer, wine, specialty cocktails by Richmond’s finest bartenders and more)

Happy Camper

A fundraiser with plenty of beer and local food trucks at Hardywood festival.

Benefits Fetch a Cure’s Pixie’s Pen Pals and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Richmond & Tri-Cities.

12:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Free to enter, beers and food cost

Bands include:

Downbeat Switch

After We Praey

The Big Payback: A Tribute to James Brown

Susan Greenbaum

McBeth

Church Hill Music Co.

The Atkinsons

Food trucks include:

Boka Tako

Truck Pizza Tonight

Red Eye Cookie Company

King Of Pops

Richmond Curbside Creations

The Boardwalk Hot Dogs

Leashed dogs are welcome will have their own pup camp. Family friendly, with kid’s activities planned.

Continuing events throughout Sept.:

Innsbrook After Hours: Also, Dierks Bentley (Sept. 11 )and Big Head Todd and the Monsters (on Sept.24).

Music in the Park: Sept. 7th Paulo Franco (Alt-Country) from 5 – 7 p.m.

Quirk Lawn Chair Movie Series: Takes place the fourth Saturday of each month, thru October. Bring or pull up a chair in the parking lot beside the gallery. September 27, “Grease” is the word.

Did we miss an event? Just click here to email us.

Past events listed:

SEPTEMBER 5 – SEPTEMBER 7

Fall Line Fest: Friday and Saturday

This is the second year of what looks to become a mainstay festival. Everything is primed for it. It’s a splendid time regarding weather (traditionally), everyone is back in town from vacation and school breaks, and hello – the music is great.

It works like this. There are two days of premier music at various venues around the city. You buy one pass (all weekend, or single day) and you get access to all the clubs where talented local and regional acts will be taking the stage.

Venues are The National, The Sara November Theatre, The Broadberry, The Camel, Gallery 5 and Strange Matter.

$30 advance weekend pass, $20 advance day pass, $75 VIP. Day of sales are $40/weekend and $30/day.

Join their email list for up-to-the-minute updates and announcements.

Saturday, Sept 6

7th Annual James River Cellars Harvest Wine Festival

Listen to live music, taste wine from four different wineries.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

11008 Washington Hwy.

$15/person

Sunday, Sept. 7



All Brass Kick-Off Bash

Join the Modlin Center for the Arts as they kick-off the 2014- 2015 season with an explosion of high energy brass band performances on the Westhampton Green (in front of Booker Hall of Music). The festivities will begin at noon and include local area food trucks, beer trucks, and an extraordinary amount of high octane brass.

12:30pm: No BS! Brass

1:45pm: Slavic Soul Party

3pm: Red Baraat

5pm: Rebirth Brass Band

Doors at noon

Ticket prices: Adult ticket is $34, UR student ticket is $10, Senior ticket (62+) is $31 and UR Employee’s pay $29. Children 0-12 pay $17.

SEPTEMBER 11 – SEPTEMBER 14

15th Annual Bluegrass Festival: Thursday and Sunday

Featuring performances by Ralph Stanley II, Little Roy & Lizzy, Code Blue, Commonwealth, Copper Ridge, Mel Hughes, Dark Hollow and others.

1 – 11 p.m.

$20/advance

Chesterfield County Fairgrounds

10300 Courthouse Rd. at Krause Rd.

FRIDAY, Sept. 12

15th Annual Bluegrass Festival continues

Richmond Comic Con Convention : Friday thru Sunday

Ok, not necessarily a festival, but a pop culture convention. The inaugural Wizard World event brings a ton of special guests into the city. The artists, writers and stars behind well-known comics and shows in the entertainment industry come to town as part of a well-known Comic Con circuit.

Tickets:

3-Day weekend ticket/$75 + service charge

Friday: 1-day ticket/$35 + service charge

Saturday: 1-day ticket/$45 + service charge

Sunday: 1-day ticket/$40 + service charge

Other ticket options, that include photo-ops, click here.

Friday, 3p.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m.– 7 p.m.

Sunday, 11a.m. – 5 p.m.

Greater Richmond Convention Center

403 N Third St.

SATURDAY, Sept. 13

15th Annual Bluegrass Festival continues

Richmond Comic Con continues

43rd Street Festival of The Arts

The 23rd year for this Forest Hill festival, which features 75 fine artisans selling their wares. Count on local music and food vendors. The event is a fundraiser for CARITAS.

Forest Hill Avenue and W.43rd Street

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Free to enter, but bring money to buy art, food and more art.

Chesterfield Chamber Craft Beer Festival

For the first time ever, the Chesterfield Chamber, in partnership with MARTIN’S, presents more than 30 regional and local craft beers for sampling. There will also be music and food.

Tickets are $20/advance, or $25/day of. VIP ticket/ $50 gets you in one hour earlier, special beers just for you and complimentary food.

Designated driver ticket/$10 includes complimentary soft drinks and children 12 and under admitted free with paid adult.

Tickets can be bought at most MARTIN’S locations.

List of breweries here.

Noon – 6 p.m.

Village Green at Westchester Commons in Midlothian

15786 WC Main St./Midlothian

Richmond Spoke & Hop Fest

Craft beer and craft bicycles converge at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

This event will showcase a combination of over 60 cycling advocates, vendors, Virginia breweries and fabricators at Hardywood, include all-inclusive sampling for guests, in addition to live music, film, food and demonstrations.

Event is a benefit for the Richmond Regional Ride Center, an organization with the goal of rehabilitating and constructing a total of over 70 miles of off-road cycling trails in Pocahontas State Park and the James River Park System, and also for the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild.

Noon -9 p.m.

2408 Ownby Lane

Sampling ticket/$35

Designated driver/$10

Pedal Fest 2014, a Beer & Bike &Benefit Fest

A benefit for the Richmond Cycling Corps, who do great work with the community.

Noon to 5 p.m.

Haxall Point/1001 Haxall Point

$5 Tickets at the door

SUNDAY, Sept. 14

15th Annual Bluegrass Festival continues

Richmond Comic Con continues

Shockoe on the Halfshell

Celebrate all things oysters at the festival, in its sixth year, where you can get your bivalves raw, steamed, fried, with sauce or without.

Beer and music will be on scene along with oysters

The event is free to attend. Food and beverage are available for purchase.

Noon to 5 p.m.

17th Street Farmer’s Market

Food Truck Rodeo

The first ever Food Truck Rodeo Festival will also include lots of local craft beer, and music. Bring an appetite like you do for Broad Appetite. It’s just safer that way. Note, this is not in the city. Head on out to Chesterfield Towne Center for a day of grazing from local food trucks.

Noon to 7 p.m.

11500 Midlothian Turnpike

SEPTEMBER 18 to SEPTEMBER 21

This is the weekend of excellent food and drink at churches.

Armenian Food Festival: Thursday – Sunday

The 56th annual event promises all sorts of delectable dishes prepared by members of the St. James Armenian Church: hyeburgers, lupia, pilaf, kebobs, pastries and Armenian wine.

Make sure to duck inside the church for a look at even more arts and jewelry vendors.

11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday thru Saturday

Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

834 Pepper Avenue, at Patterson Avenue

Free to enter, individual dishes cost money.

St. Benedict’s Oktoberfest: Friday – Sunday

A much anticipated festival that provides ample opportunity to try a tremendous amount of different beer, eat some tasty German food, and help support Catholic education.

For $20 the 2014 commemorative steins are available at the main ticket booth and include first pour. Or for $5 the 2014 taster glasses are available, and include first taste.

After that, beer samples are $1 and a beer pour is $5, with the 2014 Stein, and $6 without it.

300 N. Sheppard St., Richmond, VA

Free admission

Friday 4-11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Limited parking is available at the VMFA for $5.

Festival of India: Saturday and Sunday

At the Festival of India, expect a renowned cultural program, consisting of classical and modern Indian live performances, as well as East-West fusion dance and music.

One can also sample many different varieties of Indian cuisine, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies, such as dosa, kachori, samosas, tandoori chicken and sweets, all of which are supplied by local Indian restaurants and families, and prepared fresh in front of patrons.

Free admission

Richmond Convention Center

403 N Third St, Richmond

SATURDAY, Sept. 20

VCU Broad Street Mile

The second year of this fitness-themed festival. Broad Street will be transformed into two areas, a running course and festival.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Broad Street between Belvidere Street and Hermitage Road

Click to see the different themed runs and sign up.

SUNDAY, Sept. 21

RVA Fido Fest

A new festival this year on Brown’s Island. The Olate Dogs headline, who were the 2012 America’s Got Talent winner. Expect a family-fun event, dog-related vendors, interactive areas for pets, live music and beer and food trucks for humans.

Admission to Fido Fest is $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Children 12 and under and your furry friend are free. A portion of the proceeds from Fido Fest will benefit the Richmond SPCA.

Brown’s Island

Bottom of 12th St (at the James River)