The 66th edition of Richmond’s Festival of the Arts at Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park will launch Saturday, June 10, with a six-hour showcase of music, dance, food and culture of immigrants who now live in the Richmond area.
Set to run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the celebration will feature performers of music and dance from such places as Afghanistan, Argentina, Bolivia, El Salvador, Mexico, India and Puerto Rico, according to organizer Karla P. Almendarez Ramos, a city employee.
There also will be a play area for children, games associated with those lands and traditional food.
Ms. Almendarez-Ramos said the festival, held to mark National Immigrant Heritage Month and International Refugee Day, is moving to the Dell after being held for 18 years at Broad Rock Park in South Side.
The event will begin a summer parade of weekend shows that will close out on Saturday, Sept. 9, with the Afro-Fest extravaganza of African music, food and culture.
The programming continues a tradition that the city Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities began in 1956 of presenting a variety of shows free of charge in the 2,400-seat amphitheatre.
Upcoming highlights this month will include popular Richmond songbird Desiree Roots and Friends performing 8 p.m. Friday, June 16, and the long-running Legacy Band taking over the Dell stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 17.
Other performances this month will include an Erykah Badu appreciation program and the Kings of Swing Band
As is traditional, the festival will host a regional Independence Day celebration on Tuesday, July 4, featuring a concert of patriotic tunes and fireworks.
July also will feature concerts from Plunky and Oneness, a tribute show to Prince and the annual Gospel Music Fest that Sheilah “The Belle” Belle stages. The musical “Something Rotten” will be featured on the final two weekends.
August offerings will include the Ezibu Muntu dance company performing African Dance, a tribute show to James Brown, a Festival of Virginia Fiddling and the Latin Jazz Festival.
Details: (804) 646-3355. A full schedule also is available online at www.rva.gov/parks-recreation/dogwood-dell.
