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Keith Barch, among others

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The @viragoalley @rvarenfaire crew took a field trip to the Maryland Ren Faire today!!! @mdrennfest

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VIRAGO: AN EXHIBITION

Opening downstairs at Gallery5 in conjunction with Virago Alley, this exhibition brings together more than a dozen artists from the Richmond Ren Faire and Virago Alley community, each exploring what the word virago means to them.

Through these works, artists consider the virago’s historical significance, its evolution, and the ways the term continues to be understood and represented today.

Featuring works by:
Amanda Robinson · Betsy Ebson · Bizhan Khodabandeh · Brandi Walker · Brent Stubblefield · Brit Austin · Cheryn Rapp · Chiara Scuro · Emily Miller · Kale Jeffery · Keith Barch · Kevin Berry · Kiersten Thomas (O’Wisteria) · Lady Octavia · Nico Cathcart

Opening Friday, September 4 · 5–11 PM
as part of First Fridays Art Walk and Gallery5’s Season Kickoff.

Come wander downstairs and discover the many faces of the virago.

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A short break during a board development session. Go figure, it involved sword fighting and juggling! 🤺🤹

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This weekend is the second ever Warriors in Bloom, put on by the faces in these photos & so many other talented, creative & skilled people in the RVA community.

A little over a year ago @rvaamanda & @ashmeanythingg invited me to join the board of directors for @viragoalley & I actually hesitated & asked them if I could think about it for a few weeks because of how many things were on my plate. I didn’t know if I had the capacity to take any more on, & I finally decided it couldn’t hurt to at least try.

I am so grateful I did as it’s been one of, if not the most rewarding & fulfilling experiences of my life. Working alongside so many creative people & being aligned in our goals & decisions, to build a community for historic events & education, & to highlight vital marginalized parts of our past that history has not always given the proper recognition to, is so deeply important now more than ever when we are facing the current events we are. I am grateful to be a part of this & to contribute my incredibly nerdy background to supporting a non profit & a group of people I not only heavily believe in, but have become close to, & who on a daily basis I am grateful for the trust on my ideas, decisions & input (even when I’m not fully sure of them myself lol). I am excited for where we are heading & what we are helping to build in the community. I truly feel like the @rvarenfaire is just a peek of what we can do.

Warriors in Bloom tickets are on sale. I’ll be there reprising my role as Joan of Arc alongside so many badass marginalized historical & folklore viragos. Come hang out, meet us, participate in our stamp rally. Enjoy food, music, shopping, combat demos, history & get your Renfaire whimsy fix in August. ⚔️

📸 @bevelcut_shawti

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Thank you @ashmeanythingg for the pretty birthday sunflowers! Now, get y’all’s butts over to Blue Bee Cider tonight from 5-9pm to celebrate the launch of a collaborative Warriors in Bloom cider, and to celebrate my big 44!

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Wishing a happy birthday to our board member, Keith Barch ⛓️🏴‍☠️

Keith brings a unique perspective as a working artist focused on Renaissance festivals and conventions of all sizes.

A self described jack of all trades, he is also a master Chain Maille artist and a massage therapist. Keith’s broad experience base and diverse interests makes him excited to serve on the Virago Alley board and share those gifts with the wider RVA community.

We hope you have a wonderful birthday today despite the war with the sun that we are all collectively in. Thank you for your support for this community buddy 🖤

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So many exciting changes are in motion. We’ve moved into a new warehouse, a space where we can grow our organization, create together, and bring even more to the Ren Faire as we look ahead to 2027.

Big things are in store, and I’m incredibly grateful for this amazing community. Thank you to everyone who continues to show up, lend a hand, and help bring this mission to life while carrying our vision forward. Here’s to what comes next.

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The Volunteer Application for Warriors in Bloom is LIVE 👀

Become a part of a growing community of passionate volunteers that contribute to Virago Alley’s mission.

Shift are available in the following departments:

🌷Set Up
🪻Front Gate
🌻Guest Services
🌹Pickle Booth
🌷Merch Booth
🪻First Aid
🌻Grounds Management
🌹Breakdown

Volunteers receive a complimentary ticket for each shift they are assigned to to share with a friend or to use on a day they are not scheduled.

The form to apply for a shift is open through June 30th on the event platform (Eventeny).

We are incredibly grateful for the folks that continue to show up to uplift artisans, makers, historians, and enthusiasts from our community. We look forward to coming together in August to do it all again.

🌷For more information or to apply for a shift, visit the link below!

https://www.eventeny.com/events/warriors-in-bloom-30292/?srsltid=AfmBOoqtTO0BuGFL0398iirGElRfFRj97NbOlyaqhQt5tBq2Pvx2eGNP

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Less than two weeks to go, and we’re feeling it in the best way.

What brings an event like the Richmond Ren Faire to life isn’t just the stages, the costumes, or the planning. It’s people. It’s community. Every smile, every helping hand, every hour volunteered has shaped something truly special.

To our incredible volunteers, thank you. You are the heart of this fair. Your energy, creativity, and generosity are what turn a vision into a living, breathing experience for everyone who walks through our gates.

We couldn’t do this without you, and we wouldn’t want to. 💛

Here’s to building something unforgettable, together.

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We are two weeks away from welcoming thousands of community members into the world that we have spent the past year+ building.

It’s important to take a second to stop and appreciate the moments along the way that make this project so meaningful. The Richmond Ren Faire is not just a massive celebration of our local arts and culture communities, but a collaborative effort amongst them. The energy behind this work is infectious and it’s inspiring creativity, teamwork, and resiliency at a time when people need it most.

That is the power of the arts.

The arts have an ability to bring people together through shared passion, allowing them to be the architects of the world that they want to see reflected around them. That is what this project represents. It is a creative revolution at the grassroots level that promotes sustainability, supporting our local economies, shifting away from mass consumption, and caring for one another.

We may not be able to save the world with a ren faire, but the momentum and creative drive that we are surrounded by feels like a new kind of renaissance taking form with each passing day.

I am so grateful for this crew that I am lucky enough to work alongside and I am proud of the work that everyone has put in. Those pictured and the MANY who are not. Thank you, Richmond 🖤

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Thank you to @bevelcut_shawti for capturing our leadership crew this winter. You are an icon and I am so grateful for all you do to uplift this community.

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Tickets to the inaugural Richmond Ren Faire are officially sold out ⚔️

Richmond really knows how to show up for its community. You guys did that.

For those who were unable to purchase tickets, please know that this is only the beginning. Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey. We look forward to seeing at The Regathering soon.

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📸: @seafoodjefe

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Our crew is getting ready for The Worker’s Revel taking place at @vasenbrewing TOMORROW from 6-9pm 🍻

This event celegrates the launch of Tools Down, the Dortmunder Lager that Väsen has brewed for the Richmond Ren Faire.

The event will include…

Music by @dead_possum_girlfriend 🎸

Beer stein combat demos in the brew house.

Local vendors👇
@joinordieknives
@rvakatana
@rvacatapults
@buildrva
@gorgeouschain
@helleborus_studio
Riding Raiders

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This will also be one of the final chances to view the sword being raffled off this spring before the raffle closes on April 12th. All funds raised support the Richmond Ren Faire Artist Fund.

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We look forward to seeing you tomorrow 🍻

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