By Kathy Chouteau
A popular Richmond event has been reimagined this year as the āVirtual Spirit & Soul Festivalā and will be streaming live on social media in what organizers are calling a groundbreaking event. The Richmond Main Street Initiativeās (RMSI) 12th incarnation of the free annual festival is set for Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Anyone wanting to join in the fun can tune in to KOFY TV20, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube to watch the Spirit & Soul Festival live. The broadcast will reportedly be the first of its kind: a fully produced program of a traditionally in-person concert event translated for virtual platforms, according to RSMI.
On hand will be a full lineup of top performers including Andre Thierry Accordion Soul Music, SambaFunk!, Carnaval Explosion with King Theo, as well as talented young Richmond artists. LeChat Nail Care Products will join RMSI in presenting this Saturdayās festivities, which organizers refer to as a ātime to celebrate, relax and dance.ā
Ronnie Mills, RMSI project manager, will emcee the event from various locations around Downtown Richmond, “highlighting the performances, opportunities for viewers to participate by entering to win a $500 cash prize, patronizing Macdonald Avenue businesses, honoring our 2020 Downtown Champions, and becoming a Friend
of Main Street,” according to RSMI.
Five Richmond businesses will add to the festival experience by offering Festival Specials: discounts on purchases at Kaleidoscope Coffee and Gratitude Afrocentric Gift Store, special menu items at San Francisco Pizza and Roux, and East Brother Beer Companyās unique ābrewery-in-a-boxā.Ā Download the Festival Specials Passport to get deals on food, beverages and shopping.
For more info or to RSVP, click here. Questions? Contact [email protected].