October Festivals, Halloween Fun & More

Presented by CultureWorks, artoberVA is a month long celebration of arts and culture in the Richmond and TriCities region, each October, which is National Arts and Humanities Month. artoberVA increases participation in arts and culture experiences and expands the exposure of organizations, venues, and artists shaping our vibrant and creative scene. We invite artists, organizations, businesses, and community members to take part. Explore, engage and be inspired by hundreds of events and artists during artoberVA. Learn more at https://richmondcultureworks.org/about-artoberva

Lizz Dwayne Johnson poses beside a homemade Day of the Dead ofrenda or alter, dressed in a folkloric Mexican dress. Day of the Dead is a pre-Hispanic celebration coinciding with All Saints Day on Sunday, November 1st and All Souls Day, Monday, November 2^nd, stemming from the indigenous cultures of Mexico that believed that the souls of the dead return each year to visit with their living relatives – to eat, drink and be merry. Just like they did when they were living. There are several days of offerings and candles. October 28 is for the souls who walk alone and have not found the light. October 29 for the forgotten and helpless souls. October 30 for those who died in an accident. October 31 is for grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents. November 1 is called All Saints’ Day and is dedicated to children. November 2 day of the faithful departed who are adults. November 3, all the dead are dismissed and the altar offering is dismantled. In the Day of the Dead observances, the deceased are not to be feared but rather celebrated and enjoyed as they were in life.