For the past 18 years, the Richmond Folk Festival has been a window on the world. The first three years, from 2005 through 2007, the city was the host of the National Folk Festival. You can read our past oral history of the festival here.

But since it has become known as the Richmond Folk Festival, it has been a self-sustaining highlight of the annual arts calendar, drawing crowds of over 200,000 people for the weekend, especially when the weather is nice. [Update: It’s looking like rain on Saturday, so Friday and Sunday could be bigger crowds than usual].

Although this free downtown festival has been around awhile, there are a surprising number of people who never go and, in conversation, seem somewhat hazy about exactly what the festival is all about. Like a pledge week over local radio, they think it’s all fine and good that it happens, but when it does their attention may go elsewhere.

It’s understandable. The riverfront site is sprawling and there are a bewildering number of choices repeating over multiple stages; the large, family-friendly crowds can seem even larger crossing one of the canal bridges at peak times. Some people may think the music is not in their wheelhouse, or that the walk is too much of a hike to explore unusual cultural sounds for free. Fortunately, there is beer – and this article to help.

Some basic things to know about the festival:

Folk music does not mean just bluegrass, country or earnest, early-1960s acoustic Americana from the time the term meant a major pop genre.

You can find music that fits these descriptions among the dozens of acts booked to play the festival, but most of the artists represent vibrant and diverse global traditions that will likely be, at best, marginally familiar. For example, this year there is highlife music from Africa, two groups from Quebec, Chicago blues, zydeco, honkytonk, Hindustani violin. If you are steering clear of the festival because you don’t think you have an interest in the “folk” genre, then, with all due respect, you have no idea what you are missing.

The festival is free and public transportation may be.

There are free GRTC buses every 30 minutes (#3A, 3B, 3C) or hourly (#87) to the stop at Belvidere and Holly (southbound) or Belvidere and War Memorial (northbound) by the river. Satellite parking is available on Saturday and Sunday at Dogwood Dell with a $5 roundtrip cost. Of the days, Friday evening may have the smaller crowd, and street parking could be the best option. See new updates below:

New updates as of Oct. 11 (from organizers) “CoStar is opening up their Manchester parking lot for free at 901 Semmes Ave. on Oct. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and on Oct. 15 from 10 a.m.to 7 pm. Details can be found here.

More great news, they are running shuttles to and from Dogwood Dell on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, Oct 14 from 11:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Oct 15 from 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. Buses run roughly every 30 minutes. It will cost $5 per adult roundtrip and takes debit/credit card only. Details can be found here.

Have a plan but be willing to scrap it.

Enthusiastic volunteers with orange buckets will be handing out tiny schedules at every entrance. As a general rule, the biggest crowds are usually at the Altria stage, which stretches up a hillside on Brown’s Island Way. If you carry your own chairs that could be the place to leave them to reserve space, for when you go to other nearby venues with chairs or dancefloors (or maybe you’re not that trusting). You could just stay put at Altria; all of the major acts pass through this stage at one time or another, so staying ensures a good sampling. However, it misses the thrill of discovery and the fun of seeing the musicians on the smaller scale CarMax and CoStar stages, or the even more intimate Family Life stage.

If you are coming primarily for bluegrass and gospel, the all-Americana Virginia Folklife and Center for Cultural Vibrancy stage, tucked into the elbow of the Tredegar Ironworks buildings, is the place to hang out. And if you want to move your body, the Dominion Dance Pavilion at the far end of Brown’s Island is usually a safe bet, especially the evening sets.

Pro-tip: Many of the bands play several times, but some play only once. Be aware of your options. And there are a few combination events scattered through the program, most often at the CoStar stage. These often provide some of the most memorable moments, with musicians from diverse traditions coming together to explain their playing and inevitably ending with an impromptu jam session that can go in totally unexpected places.

How do I know which acts to see?

You mean besides reading this veteran outlet? Honestly, often you can’t know ahead of time, but you can improve your odds. Generally, there are not bad choices, but there is always a breakout band or two (like Son Rompe Pera last year) that people will be talking about based on an earlier performance. So talk to people you meet. Listen out for the largest cheers in the distance.

Maybe one day, chart a path through your familiar genres – blues, rock, funk, bluegrass – and another decide to take repeated chances on something unfamiliar. Also, you don’t have to stay for an entire performance. It’s a party, not a test. Skip out a little early and take the temperature on other stages.

What about those volunteers with the orange buckets that keep asking for donations?

There is a simple trick to keep them at bay. Get one of those little “I donated to the Richmond Folk Festival” stickers and slap it on your clothing. Sure, to do that you must donate some cash to one of the bucket brigade, but no plan is perfect. When volunteers see your sticker, they’ll know you’re one of the good ones and let you pass, maybe with a smile.

[Updated: Bring cash for the buckets, but we’ve been told by organizers that there are NO CASH SALES on site for beer, sodas or festival merchandise. Debit/credit cards accepted. Food vendors do accept cash and credit cards. ]

Final notes

If you are closing out the festival either Saturday night or Sunday afternoon, the one-two punch of Richmond’s Bio Ritmo and Baba Commandant and the Mandingo Band is heavily recommended. In past years, there has always been something special about ending the event at the Dominion Dance Pavilion. And for a more religious, if no less energetic ending, the hometown gospel favorites, the Legendary Ingramettes, provide the final Sunday act at the Virginia Folklife Stage – and they never disappoint.