Your Summer 2023 Bucket List
Memorial Day Weekend and Fourth of July are behind us, but summer’s not cooling off just yet. Make sure you check off these to-dos before autumn gets here and is all, “Do YoU wAnT a PuMpKiN sPiCe LaTtE?”
— by Kelsey Heintz, Managing Editor
See an outdoor concert at Main Street Station
Friday Cheers has come to an end for the season, but lucky for us, the Richmond Department of Public Works and Main Street Station partnered to offer another concert series. Every Thursday this month, music lovers can catch a *free* show on the back patio of Main Street Station (or inside, if weather isn’t permitting) from 5:30 to 8 pm. The participating artists each have ties to RVA and play a variety of genres, from jazz to rock.
Location: 1500 E Main St (Shockoe Bottom)
Catch a flick at Goochland Drive-In
The drive-in is a great way to spend an evening with your partner or your pal, and Goochland Drive-In has plenty of classics and recent(ish) releases playing on its big screens each week — Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible, and Spider Man are just a few of the films on the schedule right now. Chow down on some tasty eats and drinks from the snack bar and get comfy for an epic movie night out.
Location: 4344 Old Fredericksburg Rd (Hadensville)
Make ice cream at Sweet Wynns
Partake in some ice cream history education, sample different ice cream flavors, and create your own pint to take home and enjoy! During a Sweet Wynns ice cream workshop, you pick your base (vanilla, chocolate, or peanut butter), choose up to three add-ins, follow the provided recipe (or improvise!), then bon(bon) appétit. The sweet spot offers adult, kid, and specialty workshops, or you can plan a private event!
Location: 1209 E Main St Suite A (Shockoe Slip)
BTW: Don’t forget your member perk when you register.
SUP, float, or [other] on the James River
Whether you’re warrior-posing on water with ReWild Spirit and Waterfront RVA, grabbing your cooler and inner tube for a leisurely float, or climbing aboard Tiki Club RVA, getting out on the James in one way or another is a must-do when you’re summering in the River City.
But however you choose to spend a day on the river, make sure you’re staying safe out there! Refer to Westham Gauge or @howsthejamesrva to check the water level and other conditions, wear a life jacket, and keep park rules, trail rules, and other safety tips top of mind.
BTW: We’ve got city guides to help with all that — PLANNING YOUR RIVER FLOAT: A COMPLETE GUIDE and 8 WAYS TO SPEND THE DAY ON THE JAMES RIVER, FROM RELAXING TO THRILL-SEEKING.
Cool off in the AC at The Valentine
Richmond has no shortage of amazing museums to peruse when those hot-and-sticky Central Virginia temps start to take their toll and you need to beat the heat. The Valentine recently debuted an exhibit that’s sure to up the cool factor in more ways than one. Sign Spotting offers visitors a look at RVA’s iconic signage history, including vintage neon signs, public facility signs from the Jim Crow era, and local advocacy signs, highlighting how it’s “been used to inform, advertise, and persuade.” Admission to the museum is 10 bucks (for adults) — but for a limited time, it’s free every Thursday!
Location: 1015 E Clay St (Capitol District)
BTW: Apollo: When We Went to the Moon at Virginia Museum of History & Culture is another one to keep in mind this season!
Pick some peaches at Chiles Peach Orchard
Peaches are in season through the end of August, and Chiles Peach Orchard is one of our favorite Chiles Family Orchards locations to literally reap the benefits. When you’re in the mood for a mini road trip this summer, head to the fresh fruit spot in Crozet, and get your peach-picking on. The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain views you’ll get to peep are just a bonus on top of the market and bakery finds, wine, and produce you’ll get your hands on when you visit.
Location: 1351 Greenwood Rd (Crozet)
BTW: Charlottesville is nearby, and we’ve got a guide for that, too!
Plus, these other RVAx team must-dos:
A bicycle tour of the city with Basket & Bike
Flowers After 5 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
A Richmond Flying Squirrels game at The Diamond (featuring post-game fireworks, if possible!)
For more ways to get out & about:
