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Artsline - Music, history, performance and more for a festive 4th of July!

Red white and lights meadow farm park richmond symphony
The Richmond Symphony offers the free Independence Day concert, Red, White & Lights featuring No BS! Brass Band and a laser-light show at Meadow Farm Park. See below for details. (Image used with permission.)

Artsline || Jun 27, 2022

"The fact is, with every friendship you make and every bond of trust you establish, you are shaping the image of America projected to the rest of the world." ~ Michelle Obama

It’s a great week to experience independence in our arts & culture community! RVA offers patriotic music from local bands and orchestras, paired with fireworks and laser light shows – plus historic reenactments to get you into that freedom feeling. But that’s not all – there are many more opportunities to experience theatre, music, art, and literature even without the special holiday. Get out and enjoy your local arts & culture scene!

To list your events on Artsline, go to vpm.org/artsline.


1. “GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH” REENACTMENT
History, Theatre
Every Sunday of the Summer, 1:30 pm
Special 4th of July performance, Monday, July 4, 1:30pm
Historic St. John's Church, 2401 East Broad Street, Richmond, 23223
$10 adults | 12 & under free

Celebrate our country’s birthday at Historic St. John’s Church by witnessing the extraordinary rhetoric of Patrick Henry as he convinces his fellow delegates to take up arms against the King of England. Professional actors portray key delegates to the 2nd Virginia Convention, including Col. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Edmund Pendleton, and Peyton Randolph. Limited seating available. Purchase tickets online.


2. FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Music, Culture
Monday, July 4, 6pm
Dogwood Dell Amphitheatre, 600 S Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, 23220

The City of Richmond’s Festival of the Arts at Dogwood Dell celebrates Independence Day at Byrd Park with a free concert from Richmond Jazz Band and fireworks at dusk. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. No registration required.


3. THE WRITING SHOW | COMMON WRITING MISTAKES
Literary Art
Tuesday, June 28, 6pm
Online
$12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students

Show don’t tell. Avoid adverbs. Get action on the page, but not too soon. Introduce your characters, but don’t dump exposition. James River Writers brings a dynamic duo (and real-life husband/wife team!) to examine the most common writing mistakes often mentioned—whether they’re really important, and how to avoid the most critical ones. Get the scoop from an editor and an agent on putting your best foot forward. Register online.


4. COMMUNITY DAY AT THE FARMERS MARKET
Literary Art, Music, Visual Art
Wednesday, June 29, 4pm
Urban Farmhouse, 13849 Coalfield Commons Place, Midlothian, 23114

Come out and meet with first responders from Chesterfield Police and Chesterfield Fire, plus take a selfie with a firetruck!  Plus live music from Marcy Horwitz and Turf Fire. While you're at the market be sure to visit vendors providing fresh produce, meats, eggs, baked goods, sweet treats, ice cream pops, kettle corn, flowers, pantry items, home decor, pet accessories, coffee, tea, photography and SO MUCH MORE! No registration for this free event.


5. COMEDYSPORTZ
Improvisational Comedy
Every Saturday, 7pm
CSz Improv Theatre, 8906-H W Broad St, Richmond, 23294
$12

ComedySportz is improvisational comedy played as a sport, with two teams and a referee taking suggestions from the loyal fans and creating scenes, games and songs with those suggestions. Always hilarious, family-friendly improv comedy for everyone - bring your date, your bachelorette party, your kids or your grandma. Everyone laughs. Purchase tickets online.


6. YOUTH SUMMER ART & THEATRE CAMPS
Theatre, Visual Art
Mondays – Fridays, through August 12
Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, 23060
$140-$175/week

Theatre Arts Camp and Visual Arts Camp for ages 7-15 at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen! Registration now open! Register online.


7. FLOWERS AFTER 5: TRIPLE CROSSING JAZZ PROJECT
Music, Landscape Art
Thursday, June 30, 5pm
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, 23228
Free with Garden Admission: $8-$17

Enjoy Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens’ Flowers After 5, with music from the Triple Crossing Jazz Project. Relax on Thursday evenings from mid-May through mid-September at Flowers After 5. Stroll through the gardens; listen to relaxing live music and enjoy food and drinks! Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.Triple Crossing Jazz Project specializes in swingin’ classic Jazz from the ’30s-’60s. Classic Standards as light instrumental background music or featured entertainment with their talented female vocalist! Purchase tickets online.


8. MAN / SEASON 1
Theatre
Wednesdays, June 29 – July 20, 7:30pm
Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street, Richmond, 23220
$15/single performance | $40/all episodes

Firehouse Theatre presents the world premiere serial theatre experience + podcast, MAN  / season 1 by local playwright Chandler Hubbard. Synopsis: It’s the end of the world as we know it… sort of. After a global catastrophe strips all Superheroes and Supervillains of their powers, former enemies Dom “Marvelous Man” Taylor and Patrick “Professor Peril” Pritchard team up to survive this brave new world. Along with intrepid reporter April Anderson and elusive vigilante Iron Maiden, Dom and Patrick must save River City from itself, all while facing their greatest challenge yet -- just being regular ole guys. ​Recordings of each performance will be available for all ticket holders. Purchase tickets online.


9. RED, WHITE, AND LIGHTS 2022
Music, Culture
Monday, July 4, 4pm
Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park, 3400 Mountain Rd, Glen Allen, 23060

This free event, produced by the Henrico Division of Recreation and Parks, will provide an evening of family entertainment, including a performance by the Richmond Symphony featuring a repertoire of patriotic and America-themed selections with guest artist No BS! Brass Band and a laser-light show finale. No registration required.


10. OASIS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Music, History
Every Wednesday, June – July, Noon
The Valentine, 1015 East Clay Street, Richmond, VA 23219-1527

The Valentine offers free performances from a diverse mix of local musicians in The Oasis: A High Noon Summer Concert Series playing in their garden, every Wednesday of June & July.  Relax in their historic green space, enjoy some live music and take a break from the daily grind. Immediately following each concert, The Valentine will lead a free tour previewing a new exhibition in the Edward Valentine sculpture studio. No registration required.


If you are an arts or cultural organization with lectures, exhibitions, performances, or even book readings, submit your events to Artsline  here

If you are an artist or an arts or cultural organization in need of resources and tools, check out the  list of local and national resources from Richmond CultureWorks.

The Richmond Symphony and The Valentine are sponsors of VPM.

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