State Fair of Virginia, RVA Con, Italian Street Festival and more this weekend

You can also find a complete list of events in our Richmond events calendar on WTVR.com. [Click here to add an event to our calendar]

State Fair of Virginia: September 27 – October 6 at Meadow Event Park, I-95, Exit 98, Doswell, Caroline County. www.statefairva.org.

2013 State Fair operating hours:

• Friday, September 27: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Saturday, September 28: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, September 29: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Monday, September 30: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 1: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 2: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Thursday, October 3: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday, October 4: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Saturday, October 5: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, October 6: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

These are the box office and building hours only; rides will continue to operate for a minimum of one hour after the box office closes, or longer at the discretion of fair management.www.statefairva.org. [BONUS: Complete State Fair of Virginia 2013 Guide]

Walk in Abraham Lincoln’s footsteps while sipping on some new and classic vintages of Virginia’s Wines and Craft Breweries. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce presents the 5th annual Festival of Grapes and Hops happening Saturday, September 28th from 11am to 5pm in Old Towne Petersburg. Each ticket holder will get a Festival of Grape and Hops Wine glass and can purchase a collector’s Beer Glass with Lincoln on it for $5. Tickets are $15 for tasters and $10 for non-tasters. For more information visit www.festivalofgrapesandhops.com.

Radio One Richmond Women’s Empowerment Expo, featuring Angela Bassett, special Guest Cathy Hughes, CBS 6 Anchor Lorenzo Hall, performances by Chrisette Michele, Earnest Pugh, Isaac Carree and more, for details visit kissrichmond.com/2512409/black-men-revealed.

RVACON launches this weekend Fans of anime, comics, gaming, design, music and technology will be excited for the first annual RVACON that kicks-off this Friday.

Sisters Network Central Virginia Inc. will once again walk the community with life saving information about Breast Cancer for The 9th annual Gift for Life Block Walk, Saturday, October 28, from 9am to 12pm. This year volunteers will walk the Randolph Community and Fifth Baptist Church, 1415 West Cary Street serves as the headquarters. The walk consists of volunteers canvassing a selected neighborhood door to door to distribute breast cancer information. Registration is $20 for an individual or $15 per person for groups of 10 or more, on site registration is suggested. For more information visit www.sistersnetworkcentralva.org or cal 804-804-447-4027.

Festival of India, at The Greater Richmond Convention Center, 11am-9pm, two days of music, dance, food and culture, free admission just pay for food, and clothing, jewelry from vendors. 804-346-9955 or http://www.thefestivalofindia.org/

 Richmond’s Original Italian Street Festival, September 28^th, 11am-8pm and 29^th, 11am-6pm @ The 17th Street Farmers Market, Richmond’s 17th Street Market will be magically transformed into an authentic Italian village for this year’s 9th Annual Italian Festival. Get ready for the sights, sounds and aromas of the Italian countryside – and a chance to experience what Italian’s call “la dolce vita”, the sweet life. The festival charity of choice is The Faison School, a non-profit autism center dedicated to providing resources for families of children with autism. The festival will also support the VCU Italian Studies Program by providing financial assistance to students who are studying our Italian culture and heritage and the Richmond Wounded Warrior Program.  http://richmonditalianfestival.org/

12^th annual Chester Fest on the Chester Village Green opposite the Chester Library, 11801 Centre Street, presented by the Chester Community Association, 10am-5pm, has an even bigger Kids Zone and the popular pie eating contest, 150 vendors with the usual flare along with a few new additions. The same goes for our unforgettable entertainment. http://chesterfest.org/ChesterFest/Welcome.html

First time Off the Rails Craft Beer Fest, in Ashland. You can sample brews from Center of the Universe Brewing Company, Legend Brewery, the Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and more. Food trucks like Monique’s Crepes, Popping Mealies, The Dog Wagon, Slideways Mobile Bistro and King of Pops will be there. Plus live music from The Bush League and The Big Payback. AT the Hanover Arts & Activities Center’s lawn. $10 admission, includes commemorative glass. A 2 oz. tasting is $1; full glasses sell for $6. 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. http://hanoverarts.org/events

The VCU Broad Street Mile Fun Run and Festival, Saturday, September 28. Think of it as a series of fun run courses combined with a community festival atmosphere on Broad Street. The fun run course will have 16 themed 1-mile walk/run courses like the Kids Mascot Mile, the Family Stroll-a-Mile and the VCU Ram Run where you’re encouraged to dress in VCU apparel. Plus the Zombie Run, the Foodie Run where you’ll run with local chefs, and the RVA-themed run. There will be music all day from the Project Band, Pouncey Quartet, Japanese drumming, slam poetry and more. The event is family friendly. The Window World Kids Zone will have face painting, inflatables, carnival games and sports games. There will be tasty food from local restaurants Mama J’s, Green Leaf Restaurant and Arabello Bistro, just to name a few. Happening on Broad Street between Belvidere and Hermitage. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $10-$30 to register. https://www.vcubroadstreetmile.com/

FUTURE EVENTS:

BBQ, Beer & Bands, Saturday, October 5th, noon- 7pm, in Libby Hill Park, Church Hill, Alamo BBQ, Buz & Ned’s Real Barbecue, Extra Billy’s BBQ, The Halligan Bar & Grill, P&T Kitchen /Mosaic, details www.hogtober.com.

3rd annual Fall BRAzaar, Saturday, Saturday, October 5, 10am-8pm, at Southside Speedway, 12899 Genito Road, Midlothian, live music, children’s activities, vendors benefits Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, for details www.fallBRAzaar.com.

The Central Virginia Celtic Festival & Highland Games, October 19 & 20 at Richmond Raceway Complex, gates open 9am -6pm both days, more information visit www.vacelticfestival.com.

Mustache Dash 5K Run & Party, November 11, 11am-3pm, Join in the fun with the 5K run/walk and post party that pays tribute to the borderlands between your upper lip and nose. All participants are encouraged to enjoy wearing a mustache, real or fake. This run is 100% silly, so embrace your nose neighbor and get growing.  After the race stick around for the Hairiest Post Party! Stangeways Brewing is the post party spot with  great food , “strange” beverages, live music and a Peach Fuzz Kids Dash after the 5K.  Show your creativity, put a team together and compete for best team and individual “best mustache” awards! For details visit www.rvamustachedash.com or call 804-303-4336.

“Like” my FaceBook page for all the up dates on all the events happening around town and sign up for my weekend E-Blast on www.WTVR.com. Make sure to watch CBS 6 News at 7 p.m.