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RVA Big Market is leaving Bryan Park for Midtown Green

The farmers market will relocate to Midtown Green in spring 2027, with more room to grow.

News

Richmond&#x27;s popular <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="RVA Big Market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/06/07/virginia-farmers-markets-gold-certified" data-vars-content-id="b512a26d-ae88-406a-8e13-1a49850cf3b8" data-vars-headline="RVA Big Market is leaving Bryan Park for Midtown Green" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/06/07/virginia-farmers-markets-gold-certified" target="_self">RVA Big Market</a> will move from Bryan Park to Midtown Green next spring — a permanent relocation for the farmers market that draws thousands to the Northside park every Saturday.Why it matters: It marks the second major move for the nearly 20-year-old Richmond institution, but organizers say the new location could help the market grow even larger.

Virginia's $150M health insurance relief starts Sunday

The savings could reach 200,000 residents, but income limits and funding restrictions leave others out.

Thousands of Virginians could see their monthly health insurance premiums shrink — or drop to $0 — under a new $150 million state savings program opening for enrollment Sunday.Why it matters: State leaders say rising insurance costs have already priced some Virginians out of coverage. <ul><li>Nearly 100,000 didn&#x27;t re-enroll in the state&#x27;s Marketplace this year, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per the governor&#x27;s office" data-vars-click-url="https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/october-releases/name-1127635-en.html" data-vars-content-id="ca232d3b-38f1-4324-9605-1585966f933d" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s $150M health insurance relief starts Sunday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/october-releases/name-1127635-en.html" target="_blank">per the governor&#x27;s office</a>, and Richmond-area hospitals are already seeing more uninsured patients in their ERs.</li></ul>

Richmond's new Mayo Bridge design revealed after 2 years

After years of debate, the $190M bridge replacement would halve traffic lanes, add bike protection and slow drivers.

Richmonders are getting their clearest look yet at the proposed $190 million replacement for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mayo Bridge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/10/09/richmond-mayo-bridge-lane-closure-rush-hour" data-vars-content-id="f3fbbd9f-6053-4a18-b58f-478a4e81043a" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s new Mayo Bridge design revealed after 2 years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/10/09/richmond-mayo-bridge-lane-closure-rush-hour" target="_self">Mayo Bridge</a>, with protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks and river overlooks.Why it matters: The latest design reflects years of debate over how to make one of Richmond&#x27;s oldest river crossings safer for pedestrians and cyclists without worsening traffic.

Virginia Election Day 2026: What's on the ballot

Among the major decisions: the future of abortion rights and marriage equality.

Virginia&#x27;s elections on Tuesday could reshape the state constitution on abortion, marriage equality and voting rights — and help determine control of the House. The big picture: On Nov. 3, voters will decide three constitutional amendments and pick members of Congress while Richmond and Chesterfield voters weigh new taxes for school construction.

VCU launches digital archive of Latino Virginia stories

It's a public record of how immigrant and U.S.-born Latinos built their lives here, told in their own words.

The stories of 156 Latino Virginians are being preserved through a VCU oral history project — and dozens are now available online.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new bilingual digital archive" data-vars-click-url="https://latinovirginia.vcu.edu/interviews/" data-vars-content-id="5958e703-2664-4706-b6f2-f2a26937d518" data-vars-headline="VCU launches digital archive of Latino Virginia stories" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://latinovirginia.vcu.edu/interviews/" target="_blank">new bilingual digital archive</a> creates a public record of how immigrant and U.S.-born Latinos have built lives across the state, all told in their own words.

The Richmond history behind Kehinde Wiley's "Rumors of War"

A look back at the sculpture that foreshadowed a historic Richmond transformation in front of the VMFA.

History

It&#x27;s been 10 years since the Confederate statues on Richmond&#x27;s Monument Avenue inspired artist Kehinde Wiley to create &quot;Rumors of War&quot; as a counter-response.

The story behind Richmond's Sauer's Vanilla sign

The 60-foot sign has a wild backstory involving 1,200 light bulbs and a helicopter ride.

Culture

The glowing, mustached chef towering above Broad Street has been a Richmond fixture for roughly a century. Why it matters: The Sauer&#x27;s Vanilla sign at Broad and Hermitage is one of Richmond&#x27;s most recognizable landmarks, but little is known about how it got there in the first place.

Dolly Parton's surprising Richmond connections

From staying at the Jefferson Hotel to performing in Henrico, the country music legend left a local legacy.

Dolly Parton and Richmond go back nearly 50 years.The big picture: The country music legend, who <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="died Tuesday at age 80" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-has-died-at-80-obit" data-vars-content-id="5ad364eb-a027-46db-8c23-18626106d70e" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton&#x27;s surprising Richmond connections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-has-died-at-80-obit" target="_self">died Tuesday at age 80</a>, left her mark on Virginia through decades of performances and a literacy program that puts free books into the hands of over 9,000 local kids <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="each month." data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dce0gvEAO4J/" data-vars-content-id="5ad364eb-a027-46db-8c23-18626106d70e" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton&#x27;s surprising Richmond connections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dce0gvEAO4J/" target="_blank">each month.</a>

Richmond film tells overlooked Black stories from America's founding

As America turns 250, Abraham Peyton Skipwith's story is getting a new national audience through VPM and PBS.

A new Richmond-made documentary centers Black Americans in its telling of the nation&#x27;s founding story as the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary.Why it matters: One of the film&#x27;s main figures is a Richmonder whose own history is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="currently being restored" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/17/jackson-ward-skipwith-roper-cottage-homecoming" data-vars-content-id="612efd60-8118-4217-83b8-052a9e8baa84" data-vars-headline="Richmond film tells overlooked Black stories from America&#x27;s founding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/17/jackson-ward-skipwith-roper-cottage-homecoming" target="_self">currently being restored</a> in Jackson Ward.

Richmond unveils design for $18M Lumpkin's Slave Jail Pavilion

The project will preserve one of the nation's most significant slave-trading sites.

Richmond unveiled the design for the Lumpkin&#x27;s Slave Jail Pavilion, the next major piece of the city&#x27;s long-planned <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Shockoe Project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/29/richnmond-bfd-shockoe-project-slavery-museum" data-vars-content-id="a24220b6-96b5-43cc-b260-0850a860d086" data-vars-headline="Richmond unveils design for $18M Lumpkin&#x27;s Slave Jail Pavilion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/29/richnmond-bfd-shockoe-project-slavery-museum" target="_self">Shockoe Project</a>.The big picture: The $18 million pavilion will preserve and tell the story of one of the nation&#x27;s most significant surviving slave-trading sites, where thousands of enslaved people were imprisoned before being sold.

Richmond's time capsule picks: Drunk raccoon, Gun Hole, Marlboros

We asked what should represent Virginia 250 years from now. Here's what Richmonders said.

This week, after being underwhelmed that Virginia&#x27;s entry in &quot;America&#x27;s Time Capsule&quot; was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a coin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/07/02/virginia-americas-time-capsule-2276" data-vars-content-id="9954ddc9-63a6-45ae-b220-8fddc17e8a5a" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s time capsule picks: Drunk raccoon, Gun Hole, Marlboros" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/07/02/virginia-americas-time-capsule-2276" target="_self">a coin</a>, we asked readers what they would&#x27;ve picked instead.Why it matters: The responses were very Richmond — arguably the best city to represent our state for Americans 250 years from now.

Shockoe Institute opens, confronting Richmond's role in slavery

How its exhibit begins: "American racial slavery began in Virginia. Richmond played a central role in its expansion."

One of the first messages visitors will see inside the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Shockoe Institute" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/04/07/shockoe-slave-trade-history-center" data-vars-content-id="4587d483-1ff5-4928-8783-4e756df83cfb" data-vars-headline="Shockoe Institute opens, confronting Richmond&#x27;s role in slavery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/04/07/shockoe-slave-trade-history-center" target="_self">Shockoe Institute</a> is a blunt, unflinching introduction to a history the city has long struggled to confront:<ul><li>&quot;American racial slavery began in Virginia. Richmond played a central role in its expansion.&quot;</li></ul><figure><img alt="Exhibition gallery with tall white panels bearing bold maroon text about hierarchy and racial slavery; maroon wall on left with white text; track lighting, curved white line on dark floor." height="4284" id="6af4fbc5-5c2f-48a8-8762-6e085e1fc64b" src="https://images.axios.com/uXrH_YlAZ1Omlb-O1IhyDH3fTg4=/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg" width="5712" srcset="https://images.axios.com/LwIdbm5oY7DHIsojoPJSJeSjtmI=/0x0:5712x4284/1920x1440/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=1920 1920w, https://images.axios.com/-Nm35MiE3_PmeavW19uL5QSsREI=/0x0:5712x4284/1600x1200/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=1600 1600w, https://images.axios.com/ZvlLWvLRDiF5LoHKkRi3VVOGzdY=/0x0:5712x4284/1366x1024/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=1366 1366w, https://images.axios.com/3qWT8-A8ZUjZ1ERUyXw-3gkWB98=/0x0:5712x4284/1024x768/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https://images.axios.com/uB4iplTZCTL_46sihpgkatfdQbU=/0x0:5712x4284/768x576/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=768 768w, https://images.axios.com/EKfTzWev4QfJ1eKCIME8FqUkElw=/0x0:5712x4284/640x480/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=640 640w, https://images.axios.com/WJ3UEx59v6PKnCydK8N8ENRYtl0=/0x0:5712x4284/320x240/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=320 320w"/><figcaption>Some of the first words you see upon entering the exhibit. Photo: Sabrina Moreno/Axios</figcaption></figure>State of play: The 12,000-square-foot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="institute" data-vars-click-url="https://www.shockoeinstitute.org/" data-vars-content-id="4587d483-1ff5-4928-8783-4e756df83cfb" data-vars-headline="Shockoe Institute opens, confronting Richmond&#x27;s role in slavery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.shockoeinstitute.org/" target="_blank">institute</a>, housed within Main Street Station, is the first major piece of Richmond&#x27;s $265 million <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Shockoe Project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/29/richnmond-bfd-shockoe-project-slavery-museum" data-vars-content-id="4587d483-1ff5-4928-8783-4e756df83cfb" data-vars-headline="Shockoe Institute opens, confronting Richmond&#x27;s role in slavery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/29/richnmond-bfd-shockoe-project-slavery-museum" target="_self">Shockoe Project</a> — a sweeping, decades-in-the-making plan to memorialize the city&#x27;s part in the slave trade.

In photos: "Walk for Peace" monks arrive in Richmond

Their arrival drew thousands to City Hall on Monday.

The Buddhist monks&#x27; arrival in Richmond on Day 100 of their &quot;Walk for Peace&quot; drew thousands to City Hall on Monday.Why it matters: They said it was the biggest crowd they&#x27;d seen yet in Virginia.

Richmond's $265M Shockoe Project begins to take shape

The Planning Commission pushed through two new approvals for key parts of the project this week.

Richmond just made two big moves in its push to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="memorialize the city&#x27;s role" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/29/richnmond-bfd-shockoe-project-slavery-museum" data-vars-content-id="fce3d68c-9233-4543-8a21-ff58e280d612" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s $265M Shockoe Project begins to take shape" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/29/richnmond-bfd-shockoe-project-slavery-museum" target="_self">memorialize the city&#x27;s role</a> in the transatlantic slave trade.Why it matters: Once complete, the 10-acre <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Shockoe Project" data-vars-click-url="https://theshockoeproject.com/" data-vars-content-id="fce3d68c-9233-4543-8a21-ff58e280d612" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s $265M Shockoe Project begins to take shape" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://theshockoeproject.com/" target="_blank">Shockoe Project</a> will bring long-promised recognition to sites once ignored or erased — and transform Shockoe Valley.