Thursday, October 1st, 2026

Spectrum

More than a market: Celebrating Latino culture in Midlothian

September 30, 2026

Deborah Aguilera, Contributing Writer Music and food fill the Latino farmers market at 13900 Hull Street Road every Saturday from April 4 to Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors sell a variety of handmade products, foods and other goods, giving local businesses a chance to share what they offer with the community and meet new customers. RVA Bakehouse, founded by Kim Buehler in 2023, has been selling their goods at the farmers market and opened their store front in Libbie Mill last October. Stephanie Maranon-Estrada, a VCU alumna, represented RVA Bakehouse at the market on Saturday. Maranon-Estrada said she enjoyed the atmosphere of the market and the different activities happening throughout the event because there was something for everyone, regardless of age.  The market offers activities such as painting, games and a moon bounce, giving families and younger visitors something to do while they browse the market. Snyder Family Farm, a family-owned business based in Keysville, attends the market weekly. The farm raises cattle, pork, chicken and turkey. Heidi Snyder and Jeremy Snyder co-founded the business together.  Heidi Snyder said they started their business because they wanted better and safer food options for their family. “It’s more

Let the good times bark at Woofstock

September 30, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor Peace, love and plenty of paws took over 4951 Lake Brook Drive on Sept. 26 as Richmond Animal League hosted its 16th annual Woofstock festival. The event brought together animal lovers, pets, rescue organizations and potential adopters while giving RAL and its partners an opportunity to showcase animals in need of homes and raise money for the organization.  Woofstock, a play on Woodstock, the music festival of the late 1960s, ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and featured a dog parade, agility course, live music, vendors and adoption areas. Dogs in strollers and costumes moved through the event as attendees stopped for food and pup cups.  Steve Bardy, deputy director of development at RAL, said the fundraiser money supported general operations, including animal care, clinics, foster care and work with community cats through trap-neuter-vaccinate-return programs.  This was Bardy’s first Woofstock, but not his first dog festival. Before joining RAL, he was executive director at Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, where he worked with a similar event called Paws in the Park.  Bardy has been involved with animal welfare for years, fostering over 60 puppies and a handful of kittens. He said that one of the

‘Was that the bite of ’87?’; VCU’s Doomsday presents ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s the Musical’

September 30, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor Did you survive five nights at Freddy’s? For audiences at the Richard Newdick Theatre in Shafer Street Playhouse, the answer came Sept. 25-27, when Doomsday VCU brought “Five Nights at Freddy’s the Musical” to the stage.  The production had five performances in total, with two showings on the 26 and 27.  The production was based on FNAF the Musical, created by Random Encounters in 2016, a YouTube channel created in 2011 by AJ Pinkerton, Nathan Morse and Peter Srinivasan. The musical was inspired by the 2014 horror video game “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”  Doomsday VCU used the original musical’s five songs and storyline while allowing the cast and creative team to make changes for the stage. The Random Encounters video runs for 30 minutes, while the stage production ran for 35 to 40 minutes due to transitions.  FNAF the Musical followed a night guard trying to survive five nights against the animatronics before eventually teaming up with them. Cole Hurd, director of the musical and a fourth-year VCU theatre performance BFA student, said he grew up listening to the Random Encounters musical. He contacted Pinkerton about putting the musical on stage and, to his surprise, the

Gavin and his troupe of merry men: ‘Wizard Wednesday’ adding a little bit of whimsy to your week

September 30, 2026

Maeve Bauer, Executive Editor  What do a wizard, a priest, a jester, a knight and a beast all have in common? They are all members of the Monroe Wizard’s “Wizard Wednesday.” Once a week this group of adventurers gather together in Monroe Park to go out on quests throughout VCU’s campus. Gavin Paisley is a third-year VCU mechanical engineering student, but on Wednesdays he practices sorcery. Paisley started Wizard Wednesdays around two years ago, or as he put it, “many an eon ago,” after noticing a lack of magic on campus.  “One day I was in my tower, looking upon the people of Monroe,” Paisley said. “And I saw upon their eyes, a lack of joy, a lack of whimsy.”  Paisley started his mission alone, but eventually gathered a group of like-minded individuals who shared his passion for spreading joy and whimsy to students and other passerbys in the park.  Beyond Paisley’s crew, there are people who join in each week to help accomplish quests. Community member, Jessica Dekovitch, has assisted Monroe’s mythical mob for the past three weeks and is beginning to brainstorm character ideas for herself. While exiting their last class of the evening, Crow Stephens, a first-year

More than a market: Celebrating Latino culture in Midlothian

Spectrum Editor September 30, 2026

Deborah Aguilera, Contributing Writer Music and food fill the Latino farmers market at 13900 Hull Street Road every Saturday from April 4 to Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors sell a variety of handmade products, foods and other goods, giving local businesses a chance to share what they offer with the community and meet new customers. RVA Bakehouse, founded by Kim Buehler in 2023, has been selling their goods at the farmers market and opened their store front in Libbie Mill last October. Stephanie Maranon-Estrada, a VCU alumna, represented RVA Bakehouse at the market on Saturday. Maranon-Estrada said she enjoyed the atmosphere of the market and the different activities happening throughout the event because there was something for everyone, regardless of age.  The market offers activities such as painting, games and a moon bounce, giving families and younger visitors something to do while they browse the market. Snyder Family Farm, a family-owned business based in Keysville, attends the market weekly. The farm raises cattle, pork, chicken and turkey. Heidi Snyder and Jeremy Snyder co-founded the business together.  Heidi Snyder said they started their business because they wanted better and safer food options for their family. “It’s more wholesome than what’s at the store,” Heidi Snyder said. The couple travels to several farmers’ markets in the area to sell their products directly to customers. Heidi Snyder said this is her favorite market.  “I love the people, the vibes, and we do a lot of good business here,” Heidi Snyder said.  The goal of Snyder Family Farm is to share and inspire others to buy and connect with local food, Snyder said. She said she believes that consumers should know where their food is coming from. Safa Mahmood, a third-year VCU pre-dental student, attended the market for the first time on Saturday after hearing about the event. She explored the different stands, tried food and enjoyed the live entertainment. “I really liked the atmosphere and how much there was to see,” Mahmood said.  Mahmood said the variety of vendors was one of the highlights of her visit. She said she enjoyed how the entertainment made the market feel more like a community gathering than simply a place to shop. The market was an opportunity to discover local businesses and experience something new, Mahmood said. Its welcoming atmosphere and range of activities made her interested in attending again. From food

More than a market: Celebrating Latino culture in Midlothian

September 30, 2026

Deborah Aguilera, Contributing Writer Music and food fill the Latino farmers market at 13900 Hull Street Road every Saturday from April 4 to Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors sell a variety of handmade products, foods and other goods, giving local businesses a chance to share what they offer with the community and meet new customers. RVA Bakehouse, founded by Kim Buehler in 2023, has been selling their goods at the farmers market and opened their store front in Libbie Mill last October. Stephanie Maranon-Estrada, a VCU alumna, represented RVA Bakehouse at the market on Saturday. Maranon-Estrada said she enjoyed the atmosphere of the market and the different activities happening throughout the event because there was something for everyone, regardless of age.  The market offers activities such as painting, games and a moon bounce, giving families and younger visitors something to do while they browse the market. Snyder Family Farm, a family-owned business based in Keysville, attends the market weekly. The farm raises cattle, pork, chicken and turkey. Heidi Snyder and Jeremy Snyder co-founded the business together.  Heidi Snyder said they started their business because they wanted better and safer food options for their family. “It’s more wholesome than what’s at the store,” Heidi Snyder said. The couple travels to several farmers’ markets in the area to sell their products directly to customers. Heidi Snyder said this is her favorite market.  “I love the people, the vibes, and we do a lot of good business here,” Heidi Snyder said.  The goal of Snyder Family Farm is to share and inspire others to buy and connect with local food, Snyder said. She said she believes that consumers should know where their food is coming from. Safa Mahmood, a third-year VCU pre-dental student, attended the market for the first time on Saturday after hearing about the event. She explored the different stands, tried food and enjoyed the live entertainment. “I really liked the atmosphere and how much there was to see,” Mahmood said.  Mahmood said the variety of vendors was one of the highlights of her visit. She said she enjoyed how the entertainment made the market feel more like a community gathering than simply a place to shop. The market was an opportunity to discover local businesses and experience something new, Mahmood said. Its welcoming atmosphere and range of activities made her interested in attending again. From food

Let the good times bark at Woofstock

September 30, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor Peace, love and plenty of paws took over 4951 Lake Brook Drive on Sept. 26 as Richmond Animal League hosted its 16th annual Woofstock festival. The event brought together animal lovers, pets, rescue organizations and potential adopters while giving RAL and its partners an opportunity to showcase animals in need of homes and raise money for the organization.  Woofstock, a play on Woodstock, the music festival of the late 1960s, ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and featured a dog parade, agility course, live music, vendors and adoption areas. Dogs in strollers and costumes moved through the event as attendees stopped for food and pup cups.  Steve Bardy, deputy director of development at RAL, said the fundraiser money supported general operations, including animal care, clinics, foster care and work with community cats through trap-neuter-vaccinate-return programs.  This was Bardy’s first Woofstock, but not his first dog festival. Before joining RAL, he was executive director at Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, where he worked with a similar event called Paws in the Park.  Bardy has been involved with animal welfare for years, fostering over 60 puppies and a handful of kittens. He said that one of the

‘Was that the bite of ’87?’; VCU’s Doomsday presents ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s the Musical’

September 30, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor Did you survive five nights at Freddy’s? For audiences at the Richard Newdick Theatre in Shafer Street Playhouse, the answer came Sept. 25-27, when Doomsday VCU brought “Five Nights at Freddy’s the Musical” to the stage.  The production had five performances in total, with two showings on the 26 and 27.  The production was based on FNAF the Musical, created by Random Encounters in 2016, a YouTube channel created in 2011 by AJ Pinkerton, Nathan Morse and Peter Srinivasan. The musical was inspired by the 2014 horror video game “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”  Doomsday VCU used the original musical’s five songs and storyline while allowing the cast and creative team to make changes for the stage. The Random Encounters video runs for 30 minutes, while the stage production ran for 35 to 40 minutes due to transitions.  FNAF the Musical followed a night guard trying to survive five nights against the animatronics before eventually teaming up with them. Cole Hurd, director of the musical and a fourth-year VCU theatre performance BFA student, said he grew up listening to the Random Encounters musical. He contacted Pinkerton about putting the musical on stage and, to his surprise, the

Gavin and his troupe of merry men: ‘Wizard Wednesday’ adding a little bit of whimsy to your week

September 30, 2026

Maeve Bauer, Executive Editor  What do a wizard, a priest, a jester, a knight and a beast all have in common? They are all members of the Monroe Wizard’s “Wizard Wednesday.” Once a week this group of adventurers gather together in Monroe Park to go out on quests throughout VCU’s campus. Gavin Paisley is a third-year VCU mechanical engineering student, but on Wednesdays he practices sorcery. Paisley started Wizard Wednesdays around two years ago, or as he put it, “many an eon ago,” after noticing a lack of magic on campus.  “One day I was in my tower, looking upon the people of Monroe,” Paisley said. “And I saw upon their eyes, a lack of joy, a lack of whimsy.”  Paisley started his mission alone, but eventually gathered a group of like-minded individuals who shared his passion for spreading joy and whimsy to students and other passerbys in the park.  Beyond Paisley’s crew, there are people who join in each week to help accomplish quests. Community member, Jessica Dekovitch, has assisted Monroe’s mythical mob for the past three weeks and is beginning to brainstorm character ideas for herself. While exiting their last class of the evening, Crow Stephens, a first-year

To beet or not to beet at 22nd annual VegFest in RVA

September 23, 2026

Ariel Lebow, Contributing Writer Richmond will hold the 22nd annual VegFest on Sept. 26 at Byrd Park, offering a free community event for vegans, vegetarians and anyone interested in learning about plant-based diets. The festival will feature educational talks, live music, cooking demonstrations and more than 120 vendors offering prepared and fresh foods as well as non-food items.  Amanda Trenchard, lead coordinator of VegFest, found the festival while looking for ways to connect with the vegan community after her move to Richmond in 2019.  “You don’t have to just be vegan or vegetarian to go and enjoy vegan food or listen to music, have a good time with your friends on the weekend,” Trenchard said. While some vendors are fully vegan, many businesses are attending to highlight their plant-based options. The vegucation tent, a booth for education provided by registered nurses on vegan lifestyles and nutritional advice, will include seven different musical performances, according to Lynn Klanchar, entertainment coordinator for VegFest.  Klanchar has volunteered at VegFest for over five years, organizing its music and performances. “We want to have something for everybody, like Mary Moore and Høly River, two bands that are aligned with environmental issues,” Klanchar said. The event’s

Return to Renaissance: Virago Alley celebrates pre-industrial society

September 23, 2026

Wilder Rodriguez, Contributing Writer Virago Alley, the nonprofit responsible for Richmond’s first ever full-scale multicultural Renaissance faire, opened the doors to its first physical location on Sept. 4. The location is situated in Richmond’s arts district at 200 W. Marshall St. in Jackson Ward.  Regularly scheduled weekly classes offered include saber and longsword lessons on Saturdays and Renaissance Era fencing on Thursdays.  Beginning in October, Virago Alley will offer a wide variety of workshops including magic hat making on Oct. 18, book binding on Nov. 15 and Shaolin martial arts on Nov. 22.  Amanda Robinson, founder and artistic director of Virago Alley, said the original idea for a physical location came about to provide indoor space for historic martial arts groups, but quickly expanded into a broader celebration of pre-industrial society. She said the Renaissance faire acted as the main fundraising mechanism for the goals of the organization. Robinson said that the organization’s top priority is representing lost mediums. “Given this AI generated landscape, it’s very important to us to get back into working with our hands and remembering these tangible mediums,” Robinson said.  Robinson said that Virago Alley seeks to deconstruct the Eurocentric confines that many similar organizers of

Community picnic hosted by BornOutside

September 23, 2026

Sadie Porter, Contributing Writer BornOutside hosted a picnic in Monroe Park on Sept. 19, inviting everyone in the community to come as they are. The festival was a free event that combined culture and community while providing a space for creators, business owners and Richmonders to interact on a personal level. Events included a brunch, meditative practices such as sound bowls and yoga, an art show, a photo walk meetup, multiple DJ sets and a Night in Lagos themed fashion show.  Lado, a festival organizer, joined in the event because of his past creative projects and organization of community events. “I came here really trying to bring the aspects of what I bring to a party, except outside, and then make it a real community event where people, all types of people, can come out and enjoy themselves,” Lado said.  In troubling times, being outside with other humans who share similar interests makes a positive impact on the mind and body, Lado said.  “The biggest thing to me is community because Richmond has all types of people,” Lado said.  Lado said it is important to him to get out every once in a while and meet different people. He said

Iron Blossom Festival blooms for the fourth year

September 23, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor Bare feet pressed into the grass as live music carried through the open skies of Midtown Green, where Iron Blossom Music Festival returned Sept. 19 to 20 for its fourth year as the final days of summer unfolded.  Blankets and inflatable couches filled the grass as people of all ages played, laughed, cheered, danced, talked and sang along to the music while frisbees and footballs were tossed across the field. Music drifted between the two stages: iron and blossom.  When the sun moved in and out of the clouds throughout the days, the crowd had grown larger as the day continued and headliners took the stage. This year’s festival headliners included LCD Soundsystem, Jack White and Richmond-based bands, Shera Shi and Night Idea. Over the two-day event, which began in 2023, people came together around the live music. For attendees Julie Slivka and Lauren Hennessy, the festival became a part of their yearly routine. The two have been best friends for 31 years and counting, starting their friendship right next door. They have attended the festival together for three consecutive years. Slivka and Hennessy’s plans for the festival began before the lineup was announced. They bought

Cultivar y Celebrar: La Asociación de Estudiantes Latinos

September 16, 2026

Deborah Aguilera, Contributing Writer  La Asociación de Estudiantes Latinos (LSA, en Inglés) hace una mezcla de celebraciones culturales y oportunidades sociales por el campus.  Sea estudiantes buscando reconectarse con sus raíces, descubriendo nuevas perspectivas o simplemente buscando donde pertenecen, la organización ofrece una familia en el medio de la ciudad. . Alessandra Caceres Mendoza ha sido miembro de LSA desde su primer año en VCU. Ahora está cumpliendo su último año, trabajando como co-presidenta de relaciones públicas donde supervisa las redes sociales, afiches, y eventos de la organización.  “Es mi casa fuera de casa,” dijo Caceres Mendoza.  Caceres Mendoza dijo que el propósito de LSA es crear una comunidad segura para todos. Aunque la organización fue creada para los estudiantes Latinos, aceptan estudiantes de cualquier etnicidad y raza.  LSA se mantiene ocupado durante el año, dijo Caceres Mendoza. Los miembros están muy involucrados con la organización, compitiendo en deportes juntos, organizando proyectos de servicio comunitario por Richmond, participando en carreras para caridades, viajando juntos, y yendo a eventos formales.  Fuera de sus eventos LSA tiene una programa de “Familias” para ayudar a formar conexiones. Separan a los miembros en grupos pequeños basados en sus intereses y pasatiempos. Los grupos son