The Richmond Jazz Festival is a World-Class Musical Destination.

Do you enjoy good wine, great jazz, and historic Richmond sites? The Richmond Jazz Festival, the East Coast's premier musical event, is definitely the event for you. The eighth annual installment of this multi-day jazz festival will take over the Richmond area from August 10 to 13 with performances throughout Carytown and the main acts taking the stage at Maymont. Whether you're new to Richmond or looking for new things to love about your hometown, this festival is quickly becoming a town tradition, and we encourage you to participate too.

So, what happens during the Jazz Festival? Here are some of the fun things you can do during our annual jazz celebration:

Catch Erykah Badu, Common, and Other Major Talents

Who needs Bonnaroo when you have Erykah Badu right here in Richmond? A festival that emphasizes "elevation music" over "elevator music", the Richmond Jazz Festival attracts world-famous talent and local legends alike. This year, the R&B queen Badu headlines an all-star lineup that also includes recent Oscar winner Common (performing alongside our very own Richmond Symphony), the Isley Brothers, Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, David Benoit, The Manhattan Transfer, Robert Cray, Peabo Bryson, and many more.

Enjoy Free Jazz Performances

While the Jazz Festival is well worth the price of admission, you don't have to buy a pass to enjoy jazz this August in Richmond. Before the festival, CaRue takes over Carytown for six days of free, pre-festival jazz shows. Catch performances at the Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and the pop-up Jazz Café at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, all completely free, along with performances by local artists at smaller venues throughout the town. And the night before the festival, "Homegrown at the Hipp" takes over the Hippodrome Theater for a collaborative jazz show that features Nathan East and only costs $30.

Explore the Maymont Grounds

The Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont is designed to be an immersive sensory experience, not just a place to hear good music. Maybe that's why the venue is one of Richmond's most beautiful and historic places to spend the day. Maymont is a 100-acre estate that includes one of the most historic homes in Richmond, Maymont Mansion. This Victorian home will be open during the festival to make sure you get the full Maymont experience. The estate also houses hundreds of native animals, including river otters, a bobcat, black bears, goats, and bald eagles. Conservation and education are important to the staff at Maymont, and if you make the festival a family affair, your kids will get to see some of Virginia's most awe-inspiring and threatened species.

Try Some of Virginia's Finest Wine, Food & Art

Of course, no festival can engage all the senses without gorgeous artwork to browse and delicious foods to taste (and wine to sip). During the Richmond Jazz Festival, some of the region's best chefs and artists will be putting their work on display. Catch chef demonstrations, shop for jewelry, art, and more from local merchandise vendors, and sample amazing local cuisine in between jazz performances. And don't miss the complimentary wine tasting from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, whose products pair perfectly with jazz music whether you're in the bathtub or the middle of Maymont.

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