Richmond weekend guide: "Stranger Things," Jonathan Van Ness and more
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It's the weekend before Thanksgiving, which means it's basically Christmas.
Here's how to spend it.
Thursday, Nov. 20
🎬 The "Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival" at the VMFA and Virginia Museum of History and Culture features a film lineup by and about Native people. Times and locations vary. Thursday-Sunday. $30.
🛍️ Memi's in the Fan is hosting a night market with local vendors, live doodles and happy hour until 9pm. 4-9:30pm. Free.
🎄 Watch the lighting of the 20-foot-tall Tredegar Tree inside the American Civil War Museum. The tree gets lit starting at 6:30pm. Free.
🔮 The Shockoe Institute has its first event with the ICA for a performance series. This one centers "Afro-Indigenous Futures and Perspectives." 7-9:30pm. Free RSVP.
⛲️ Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens is happening nightly (save Thanksgiving, Christmas and Christmas Eve) through Jan. 4, from 4-8:30pm. Advance tickets are required and priced based on peak and off-peak nights, starting at $22 for adults for nonmembers.
Friday, Nov. 21
🕳️ The Richmond Public Library on East Franklin has a "Stranger Things" escape room in honor of the new and final season of the show where people solve puzzles to escape the Upside Down. 10am-5:30pm. Call to register a group.
👨🏻🍳 Learn how to make crab rangoon cornbread bites and sushi at Ashton Creek Vineyard in Chester with Chef Kyle. 6:30-9:30pm. $95.
🧛 Watch "Twilight" at the Carpenter Theater while musicians surrounded by candles play along to the movie. 7:30pm. Tickets start at $39.
💇🏻♀️ Celebrity hair stylist, comedian and "Queer Eye" star Jonathan Van Ness is at The National. 8pm. Tickets start at $51.
🪴 The 14th Annual Ladies' Night Out at the Great Big Greenhouse on Huguenot Road will have wine, Santa Clause, the Grinch and raffles. 5-8pm. Free but donations go toward Fee More or Richmond Animal League.
Saturday, Nov. 22
🖼️ "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys" opens today at VMFA and runs through March 1. $12 for adults.
🍷 Dinner Party in Carytown is having a 'Saturday Sip + Snackgiving," where wine is paired with snacks. 2-4pm. Free, just reserve a spot.
💡 More tree lightings! This time at Stony Point Fashion Park's Holiday Makers Market. 5-7pm. Free.
🎤 If you feel like singing some Shania Twain or Carrie Underwood, James River Cellars Winery in Glen Allen has Kip's Karaoke Pallooza. 3-6pm. Free.
🎁 The Henrico Sports & Events Center is hosting its Holiday Craft Show on Saturday and Sunday, which is ideal timing for some early holiday gift shopping. Times vary. Tickets start at $12.
🛍 If you're itching to get a jump start on your holiday shopping, Visual Arts Center of Richmond's contemporary" craft show Craft + Design" is happening Friday through Sunday at Main Street Station. Tickets start at $15.
Sunday, Nov. 23
🧣 It's Sweater Weather Market time at Agecroft Hall & Gardens. Noon-4pm. Free.
💨 Air Supply is making their rounds for their 50th anniversary celebration — and that includes a pit stop at the Carpenter Theatre. 7:30pm. Tickets start at $71.60.