Spring in RVA

As mentioned in my previous post I wanted to highlight some of my favorite Spring Activities…because in case you missed it..Spring is the best…correction Spring in RVA is the best!

One of the many reasons that I love spring is that because it’s still cool enough that you can wear leggings and a light jacket – not hot enough yet to be in tank top and shorts…home girl needs to slowly ease her way into shorts and tank tops…because this glow in the dark winter body ain’t cutting it yet!

You still get warm enough that you have those days where the sun is so warm and it feels so damn good!

When you have days like those let me encourage you to…

find a brewery or restaurant with a porch and grab a beer with friends. It is amazing what the warm weather will do to my attitude and social life. Come spring I crawl out of the cave I have been hibernating in for the past several months – I call up the friends who I haven’t talked to since hibernation and I strongly request brunch or happy hours with them!!

Next - do anything near the James River – walk, hike, run, picnic, layout, heck even get in the river! In a kayak or canoe of course cause if you get in that water now you are frickin crazy and you had too many mimosas at brunch my friend.

Festivals 

RVA is literally known for the festival playlist- there are a ton all year long but they really kick off the Festival season in May

If you haven’t checked out the Dominion River Rock Festival at Brown’s Island – mark your calendar now(May 20-22nd)! Even if you don’t want to, like to, or have the energy to be active there are all these vendors there handing out free stuff, there are plenty of things to watch, participate in IF you want, and of course beer trucks and food vendors (and of course it’s FREE to get in but they encourage donations!). If the weather is nice plan to be there all day!!

Arts in the Park, this sounds cheesy, and for old people and maybe it is but go ahead and mark your calendar and check it out – April 30th and May 1st – its FREE and there are tons of local vendors and vendors from all over the U.S.A. The event is not dog friendly but it’s something that you can check out for a few hours and then head home to hang with your pup!

Friday Cheers  – okay this one is a cheat cause I have never actually been to one, BUT I know I will LOVE this once I go! So this is not a free event and it is not dog friendly BUT it is outdoor concert series at Brown’s island that starts in May and goes throughout the summer ever Friday. They bring local talent, breakout bands, and national acts to Brown’s Island and it usually cost between $5-$10 to attend. You can bring lawn chairs, blankets, or walk around while the bands are playing! Again, I have never been, but what is not to love?!

So the next thing that is clutch about warmer weather is ALL the Farmer’s Markets in Richmond!! I am a huge fan and I have such a tough time finding people to go with me cause usually the best time to go is at the ass-crack of dawn! (Well like 8am which during the summer is the WAY too early!) Richmond has a ton, I suggest you try them all once since they all offer something a little different. My favorite is the South of The James, there is a great set of nature trails right there in Forest Hill Park so I love to walk/run/hike those and then after I am all good and sweaty walk around the Farmer’s market and pick up some local finds!

The Bizarre Bazaar –  I don’t even know how to describe this event – it’s like a MASSIVE craft show but the best part of it this event is the people watching. It’s not my favorite event because it’s indoors BUT again the people watching is on point!! This is the Spring Bizarre Bazaar which is held at the Richmond International Raceway and  is the weekend of April 1st through the 3rd – this is NOT to be confused with the Christmas Bizarre Bazaar which is a whole other monster in itself. I love this event, but before entering, make sure you have a water bottle, wear walking shoes, and take a deep breath because it’s a mad house!!

Side Note: This post was supposed to be posted two weeks ago....sorry you missed this event, mark your calendar for next year!

This post is MUCH longer than I was originally planning but this doesn’t even touch the million of warm weather activities I like to do. To find out more, find me on a porch sippin mimosas this weekend.

Cheers!