2nd Street Festival aka Two Street

I love this festival but this year I couldn't believe the crowd.  I'm not sure if it was due to the time we went (around 4pm on a Sat.) but it was sooooooo packed.  I was lucky to stumble across 527 serving food in front of the Hippodrome.  I gave the shrimp and grits a go and they were excellent.  We also had the wings and peach lemonade.  Very reasonably priced and no wait.  The other lines were literally 60+ deep.  I enjoyed a live band performance and cut it super short this year due to the sheer amt of people.

This event for 2010 is Saturday-Sunday, October 2-3
The festival is open on Saturday Noon to 10 p.m. and on Sunday 1 to 6 p.m and is located on 2nd Street in Jackson Ward (North of Broad Street). This is another great free event open to everyone in Richmond.

2nd Street was the heart and soul of Richmond's African-American community. This is a celebration of what used to be known as "The Harlem of the South" where the performers who played on what was called "The Chitterling Circuit" earned a living playing jazz, rhythm and blues, and other types of music in the Jim Crow South. I have been several times and there is always great "soul food", people watching and some Jazz, Blues and Fusion bands that will knock your socks off.  

Jackson Ward is also known for amazing turn of the century architecture and iron work second only to Savannah and New Orleans. It is one of Richmond's most historic neighborhoods and was developed around the same time as the early parts of the Fan.

Each year thousands of people come to Richmond's historic Jackson Ward to hear live music on four stages, enjoy children's activities, eat some great food, shop, and dance in the streets