A crisp fall week around the Village, with bluegrass under the stars, a very pink museum opening, candlelit ghost stories, and two free midweek evenings worth leaving the house for. Here is what is on from Thursday, October 15 through Wednesday, October 21.
1. Flowers After 5: Jackass Flats
Thursday, October 15, 5:00–8:00pm
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave, Henrico
Thursday evenings at the Garden are a Richmond institution: stroll the grounds as they wind down for the day, bring a picnic or grab food on site, and catch live music in the Grace Arents Garden. This week the stage belongs to Jackass Flats, a Virginia quintet weaving bluegrass roots with an electric edge. The Garden stays open until 9 PM on Flowers After 5 nights, so you get the conservatory and exhibitions after hours too.
Cost: Included with garden admission — $24 adults, $20 seniors/military, $14 youth ages 4–17; free for members and children 3 and under
More info: https://www.lewisginter.org/visit/events/flowers-after-5/
2. Pride and Protest: Carytown Walking Tour
Thursday, October 15, 6:00–7:30pm
The Valentine (tour meets in Carytown), 1015 E Clay St, Richmond
A guided walk through Carytown’s “mile of style” tracing the neighborhood’s history of LGBTQ+ pride and protest — a natural pick for LGBTQ+ History Month. Carytown is practically our backyard, and this is the rare tour that treats its story with real archival depth rather than boosterism.
Cost: Ticketed; check thevalentine.org for pricing
More info: https://thevalentine.org/events/list/?posts_per_page=23
3. Murder, Mayhem and the Marshalls
Saturday, October 17, 6:30–7:30pm
John Marshall House, 818 E Marshall St, Richmond
The oldest surviving brick home in Richmond opens after dark for a candlelit tour of its darker side: Marshall family secrets, tragic episodes from early Richmond history, and even a few pirates. Spooky-season programming at its best — atmospheric without being campy, and the 12-and-up guidance means it is pitched at adults rather than trick-or-treaters.
Cost: $15 general; $12 seniors, military, and AAA; $10 students; free for Preservation Virginia members
More info: https://preservationvirginia.org/event/murder-mayhem-and-the-marshalls/2026-10-17/
4. Barbie™: A Cultural Icon — Opening Weekend
Opens Saturday, October 17 (on view through January 18, 2027)
Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond
The blockbuster lands on the Boulevard this weekend: more than 250 vintage dolls, original fashions, a full-size 1984 Corvette, a Dreamhouse re-creation, and Virginia-specific additions like a George Washington Barbie, Ella Fitzgerald, and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson. Expect crowds early — beat them by going this opening weekend. Timed tickets; museum open daily 10 AM–5 PM.
Cost: Included with museum admission — $15 adults, $13 seniors/students/military, $10 youth 6–17, free for ages 5 and under and VMHC members
More info: https://virginiahistory.org/exhibitions/upcoming-exhibitions
5. Silent Music Revival: The Fall of the House of Usher (1928)
Sunday, October 18, 7:00–9:00pm
The Poe Museum, 1914 E Main St, Richmond
Presented by the James River Film Society, Richmond’s enduring live-music silent cinema series screens the 1928 adaptation of Poe’s classic in the museum’s Enchanted Garden, with live accompaniment from thereminist Caroline Scruggs. Bring your own chairs and snacks; beer and wine available on site. A perfect October night out.
Cost: Free
More info: https://poemuseum.org/calendar/list/?tribe-bar-date=2026-10-18
6. Agatha Christie Book, Bingo, and Trivia Night
Tuesday, October 20, 6:00–8:00pm
Agecroft Hall & Gardens, 4305 Sulgrave Rd, Richmond
Agecroft’s autumn Christie night returns, timed for spooky season with “Hallowe’en Party” as the featured read. Part book club, part game night: a book discussion, a short guided museum tour, and Christie-themed bingo and trivia with prizes. Reading the book is not required, and the mocktails are Agatha-inspired. Attendance is capped, so reserve ahead.
Cost: $15 per person; 20% off for museum members
More info: https://www.meetdaisy.co/calendars/agecroft-hall-gardens
7. Know Your Poe: Poe and Illness
Wednesday, October 21, 6:00–7:00pm
The Poe Museum, 1914 E Main St, Richmond
The museum’s quarterly evening program digs into Poe’s life through a specific lens — this time, illness and medicine in his world. Short, thoughtful, and very on-brand for October; a good low-key weeknight option for the literarily curious.
Cost: Free–$5
More info: https://poemuseum.org/calendar/list/?tribe-bar-date=2026-10-18
8. Dominion Energy Jazz Café: Counterpoint featuring Wayne “Big Patt” Patterson
Wednesday, October 21, 6:00–8:00pm
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Cochrane Atrium, 200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond
The weekly Wednesday jazz series continues with Counterpoint, led by local guitarist Wayne “Big Patt” Patterson, in partnership with the Richmond Jazz Society. Free, no registration, in the gorgeous Cochrane Atrium — but seats fill fast, so arrive early. Museum stays open until 9 PM on Wednesdays, so pair the music with the galleries.
Cost: Free; no registration required
More info: https://www.vmfa.museum/programs/dominion-energy-jazz-cafe
That’s the week. Know of something we missed — a porch concert, an open house, a club meeting? Send it our way via the contact page and we’ll include it next time.