Weekend Events!

It's Friday folks - grab your galoshes and get ready for an epic weekend. From shows, to festivals, to dance parties - we've got you covered with the {list} below. (We know we're a tad late but c'mon, did you really think we'd leave you hanging without your official weekend guide?)


Cults know how to get down.

FRIDAY

1. This weekend kicks off with the Cults / Foster the People show at The National tonight at 9 pm. Cults first self-titled album has been on repeat in my iTunes pretty much since it hit NPR's First Listen back in May. I saw them play at the Rock & Roll Hotel up in DC early in the summer and it was fantastic. This Manhattan born band is sure to get you in dancin' mood. Foster the People's Pumped Up Kicks has been the anthem of Summer 2011 and I can't imagine it will disappoint. Tickets are $20 at the door. Hope to see you there!

2. Also happening tonight is the wildly intriguing Faberge Burlesque show at the VMFA. This event is from 7 pm to 8 pm and is actually already sold out, but if anyone attends we'd love to know what it was like - leave your burlesque reflections in the comments!

3. Already well underway is Poe's Haunted Homecoming Tour series. How completely fitting is this dreary weather for a dramatic tour lead by Edgar Allen Poe?! The infamous Richmond poet will be played by Mr. Chris Patrick, and the tour will take place in Shockoe Hill Cemetery, as he leads participants through his "old haunting grounds". Tickets are still available for tonight and tomorrow night, so don't miss out on this unique event!

4. Round out your Friday evening with some late night dancing in costume at Balliceaux's PLF Speak Easy dance party. Come in your best fancy dresses, fedoras, and suits to get down with Sir Reinhold & Mr. Jennings. They will be providing you with swingin' mashup electro and crunk music! This party will also have a photo booth by Ian Graham, special drinks, dance contests and costume contests! RSVP on Facebook here for this free show.

SATURDAY

5. Want to watch some runners slip and slide outside as they scramble to cinch first place? The Maymont X-Country Festival kicks off early tomorrow AM with their annual 8K trail run at 7 am. Throughout the day various other competitive races will be taking place, click here for a comprehensive schedule. Visit the official Facebook page for more information!

6. VA PrideFest is here yet again and will be returning to Kanawha Plaza, located at 8th & Cary downtown. Come out (zing!) between and 1 pm and 8 pm for this fanciful festival featuring an epic list of vendors and live music! To top it all off, over a dozen of Richmond's finest and most favorite restaurants are sponsoring the event and providing free transit for festival-goers by way of the 2BNB bus! They've even provided a live tracking map so you can hop on with ease.

7. The 6th Annual GoGreen Garden Festival is happening on Saturday at the Virginia Science Museum from 9 am to 4 pm, rain or shine. There you can find local VA growers with various plants and shrubberies for sale, as well as live music provided by Triad, a wine tasting put on my James River Cellars, and lunch provided by the Boka Tako Truck and Buz and Ned's Barbecue!

8. If that isn't enough to satisfy your green thumb, Strange's is hosting Richmond's First Ever Bonsai Show from 10 am to 5pm. On display will be some incredible bonsai arrangements provided by Richmond's Bonsai Society, and at 1 pm there is a free Bonsai 101 class - all you need to do is register! See the links above for details.

9. For those of you that would prefer to stay indoors, it just so happens that this Saturday is National Museum Day! "Well by golly... what is National Museum Day?" you ask? From the official website:

"In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket...for free."

There are eight local Museums participating, including Maymont, Valentine Richmond History Center and Virginia Historical Society. All you have to do is request a free ticket and indicate which museum you plan on visiting. Piece of cake!

SUNDAY

10. Finish out your weekend at Byrd Park with the Family Peace Festival. From 11 am to 5 pm, the park will host musicians, games, arts and crafts, cultural exhibits and food vendors. The festival aims to promote peace, community, diversity and mutual respect among Richmonders. Read more about the awesome origins of this festival here.

Edgar Allen Poe wants you to have fun.

Phew! How about that for an epic to-do list? Despite the wet forecast, we hope you all are able to get out and enjoy at least one of these fantastic events!

Emily Jones & Christie Thompson