Richmond weekend events: Marathon, Monet, vampire balls
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Speed racers. Photo: Courtesy of Sports Backers
Vampires, reptiles, bathrobe bar crawls and a whole lot of running. Just another weekend in Richmond.
Thursday, Nov. 12
🛍️ The VMFA Holiday Bazaar opens in the museum's Pauley Center with ornaments, holiday decorations, handcrafted gifts from local artisans, and more through Dec. 27. 11:30am-4:30pm. Free admission.
😋 Hardywood on Ownby is having a cheesesteak pop-up. 2-9pm. $14 for a cheesesteak.
🧀 Benchtop Brewing teams up with Truckle Cheesemongers for a guided tasting of five beers paired with five cheeses at its Manchester taproom. 6–9pm. $40.
🎤 Rapper Yung Gravy performs at The National. 7:30pm. $41.78.
Friday, Nov. 13
📮 The 48th Postcard & Paper Show opens at the Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum in Colonial Heights with thousands of vintage postcards and other paper collectibles through Saturday. Friday, 10am-6pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm. $8 donation covers both days.
✨ Merry Midtown has holiday lights, carriage rides, letters to Santa, vendors and food trucks at Libbie Mill Lake. 6–9pm. Free.
🧛 The Richmond Vampire Ball returns to the Hof with goth music, live performances, themed drinks and a midnight dance-off. 8pm-1am. Tickets start at $34.34.
😱 CHAMBERS is an immersive horror experience that combines live theater, sudden scares and sensory effects at a secret Richmond location — revealed after ticket purchase. 7-10:45pm. $25.
Saturday, Nov. 14
🏃 The Richmond Marathon takes over city streets with thousands of runners. Races begin around 7am. Registration is sold out, but spectating is free.
😎 The Big LeBYRDski Fest is back with a bathrobe bar crawl and a "Big Lebowski" trivia contest followed by a film showing. Bar crawl 3–6pm, trivia at 6:30pm and movie at 7pm. $31.95.
🧶 The Yarn Ball Festival at James River Cellars Winery in Glen Allen has yarn vendors, charcuterie and frosty wine slushies. Noon–5pm. Free admission.
💀 Dead People's Stuff Vintage Market takes over Main Line Brewery with over 35 vendors selling vintage clothing, records and jewelry. Plus: a tintype photo booth and food from "Eat My Eggroll." Noon–5pm. Free admission.
🍂 The Sweater Weather Market returns to Agecroft Hall with more than 50 artisans, four food trucks and drinks. Garden admission is free during the market. Noon–5pm. Free.
🦎 The Richmond Reptile Expo at the Richmond Raceway has snakes, lizards and other reptiles, along with specialty supplies and vendors. 9am-3pm. $10 for ages 12+, $5 for ages 6–11; ages 5 and under free.
🎬 The Richmond Symphony performs the score to "The Goonies" live alongside a screening of the 1985 adventure film at the Altria Theater. 6pm. Tickets start at $23 for adults.
🥃 Bourbon, Brisket & Brushes combines barbecue, bourbon tastings and live art demonstrations at the Perkinson Center for the Arts in Chesterfield. 6:30-9:30pm. $125, includes dinner from ZZQ.
🎨 VMFA's "The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse" opens with pieces by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas and more.
- The museum is also celebrating Monet's 186th birthday with free cupcakes, a DJ and art activities from noon–4pm. Exhibit runs through April 4. $20 for adults. Birthday party is free.
Sunday, Nov. 15
🏠 The 10th annual Gingerbread House Challenge lets teams compete to build Richmond-inspired gingerbread masterpieces at Hardywood on Ownby. This year's theme: "Richmond Through the Decades." Noon–5pm. Free.
🎨 RICE, a student-run Richmond Indie Comic Expo, brings independent comic creators, artists and guest speakers to VCU's University Student Commons. 2–7pm. Free.
👗 Richmond Really Sews' fifth annual "Frocktails" transports guests — who are encouraged to dress in vintage glamour — to a 1928 Parisian café for a Jazz Age-inspired celebration of fashion. 3-6pm. Tickets start at $65.
🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to Dolly Parton celebrates the country music legend with an hourlong candlelit tribute at The John Marshall Ballrooms. 6:45pm. Tickets start at $28.