Name: OystoberFest 2026
Start: 2026-10-17
End: 2026-10-17

Located in the L. Douglas Wilder Library at Virginia Union University, the galleries include collections of masks, sculptures and paintings from Africa and the South Pacific as well as African-American folk art.

The Museum Galleries at Virginia Union University

Virginia Union University was founded in 1865 to give newly emancipated slaves an opportunity for education and advancement. The University is the result of the merger of four institutions: Richmond Theological Seminary, Wayland Seminary, Hartshorn Memorial College, and Storer College. Virginia Union University offers a broad range of educational opportunities that advance liberal arts education, teaching, research, science, technology, continuing education, civic engagement, and international experiences.

Virginia Union University

Festive Mexican fare served with flair. Enjoy three salsas with your chips. Closed Sunday.

La Casita Restaurant

Serving fresh breakfast and lunch! Homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, & desserts. Nearly everything on our menu is made in house from the sauces to soups to fresh roasted meats to our daily baked bread.

Café 2100

Gourmet market. Healthy alternative food. Craft drinks. Health and beauty items. Grocery and dairy. And Candy!

Northside Gourmet Market

The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company focuses all of its efforts in the direction of the African American experience and those interested in preserving that legacy.

The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company

Specially designed to accommodate those with disabilities, PARK365 features an accessible treehouse, supportive swings, recycled rubber safety surfaces, creative and sensory play areas, and more! By focusing on inclusive fun for everyone, PARK365 encourages the entire community to be outside, active and playing together. Award-winning play space — PARK365 was voted Best Community Playground by Richmond Magazine in 2023. Popular event venue — In addition to being a premier playdate destination, the pavilion and patio are also available to rent for birthday parties or other events. With 2.4 acres of fun to explore, plus a sizable, covered area for eating and entertaining, PARK365 is the ideal party venue. What makes PARK365 so special:

Three state-of-the-art playgrounds for toddlers, school-aged kids and every age after that.

An abundance of swings.

Recycled, poured-rubber safety surfaces throughout the park.

A wheelchair-accessible treehouse with an extra-wide ramp and a four-ton, repurposed eucalyptus stump.

A custom-built, multi-sensory wall with panels that stimulate touch, hearing and sight.

A playhouse, a small stage, water troughs and musical instruments for creative play.

Accessible fitness equipment and a multi-purpose playing court.

Water misting stations.

A large, shaded pavilion with nine picnic tables.

A family restroom with an adult-sized changing table.

Charging stations for electric wheelchairs.

Park365/Soar365

Reservoir Distillery is a Double Gold award-winning distillery located within the Scotts Addition district of Richmond, Virginia. Here we work on every step within the distilling process—from creating the mashbill to bottling the final product. Virginia has a rich history of distillation—recorded as far back as 1620. Reservoir Distillery carries on that long-standing tradition by utilizing and highlighting everything Virginia. From our farmers and their grains, to the trees that make our barrels, and the climate that ages our spirit—we believe that whiskey is terroir driven, therefore, we craft whiskies that answer the question What does Virginia taste like? In addition to producing world class whiskeys from 100% local Virginia grains for our “Founding” and “Holland’s” series, we also capitalize on our team’s blending skills—highlighting the flavors of our provenance while artfully marrying hand-selected barrels from outside Virginia for our Hunter & Scott Bourbon and for collaborations with craftsmen from around the world. We are the third distillery outside of Kentucky to make bourbon following prohibition, and although a lot of our customers are initially impressed to hear this, what ends up sticking with them is Reservoir’s ideology. That which is inside each barrel is what truly matters. Reservoir Distillery—raising our spirits and yours since 2008.

Reservoir Distillery

Bar Buoy, a casual, fish shack-inspired restaurant drawing inspiration from her ancestors and the waterways of Virginia. Expect smoked fish dip, hefty salads and seafood mainstays such as oyster chowder, peel-and-eat shrimp, and briny bivalves from Matheson Oyster Co.!

Bar Buoy

All day takeout cafe offering coffee, wine, beer, cocktails, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!

Black Lodge

We’re a community of runners, hikers, bikers and ballplayers. We’re an outdoor playground, designed by Mother Nature, with class III and IV rapids running right through our downtown. A 52-mile bike trail runs along the James. The Richmond Marathon and Ukrop’s 10k are huge celebrations, and the whole region comes out to cheer on our local teams. In fact, we’re so sports-minded that the Washington Redskins have their training camp right in the center of the city. Add to that awesome hotels, beautiful venues, attractions, art, craft beer, more than 900 restaurants and a convenient location, and you’ve got a top choice for your next sports event. Welcome to RVA!

From indoor to outdoor facilities, the Richmond region has the fields, pitches, diamonds, venues and the dedicated staff to ensure your event is a huge success. 



Sports Richmond, VA

OystoberFest - in Historic Ginter Park in Richmonds Northside - Brought to you by the Cowart Mortgage Team

Richmond's Favorite Oyster Roast  
  
Oysters, Beer, Brats, Desserts, Wine, Bands, and a Kids’ Zone  
  
What: Oysters the way you like them in a fun, family-friendly festival in Richmond’s Northside. You can get them fried, steamed and raw – or order a po’ boy with homemade remoulade. We’ll have brats and hotdogs ta’ boot. Wine, Beer, Cider and Hard Lemonade, Water, and other refreshments will be available. A day full of live music and a Kids’ Zone, featuring moon-bounces, face painting, and other activities (an all-day pass is available for purchase).   
  
Music Line-up:   
Cheap Comfort  
Mills Family Band  
The Hot Seats  
Lazlo  
  
Free tp Attend ($2 Donation suggested) Food, drinks, kids’ zone charged separately.  
  
All the events oyster shells will be collected by the Oyster Shell Recycling Program – run by the VCU Rice River Center. The shells will be used to help restore oyster bed habitats in Virginia waterways. Rice Rivers Center will be on hand to answer questions about their programs.   
  
We-Pay-You Bike Valet - Each bike earns the rider $2 in tickets and is supported by BikeWalk RVA.

To Benefit St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church and its 40+ Outreach Ministries and the St. Thomas' Food Pantry

OystoberFest 2026

Business Type

Has Promotions Available

Special Features