Virago Alley

How can you help support the Richmond Renaissance Faire and why do we need your support?

This initiative is founded and created by Virago Alley, a 501 c(3) non profit organization whose mission is to provide an accessible & inclusive platform for the exploration, education & preservation of historical martial arts & artisan trades. To be an authentic project created for and by our community, we understand the importance of this initiative being formed at a grassroots level. This ensures that our local community of artists & organizations have a voice and are truly represented through and through.

The Richmond Renaissance Faire brings awareness to underrepresented historical art forms including the skilled craftsmen who work in these traditional mediums and trades. This project aims to be different from any Ren Faire in the country not only because we plan to embrace local arts, culture and historical non profit groups through brand new collaborations crafted specifically for this project, but by making this a true multi cultural celebration of historical artisans from around the globe. Our Ren Faire will be an artisan era Silk Road experience found only in Richmond highlighting dozens of cultural Chamber's of Commerce, artists and businesses including representatives from our East Asian, Middle Eastern, Native American, Indigenous Americas, African and European communities.

The purpose of this initiative is to highlight these artisans through live demonstrations, performances and merchant representation including but not limited to historical blacksmithing, leatherwork, glassblowing, metalsmith, ceramics, weaving and textiles, sword & armor making, illuminated manuscripts, calligraphy, woodworking, costumes and more as well as numerous martial arts guilds, reenactors, and performance groups showcasing styles & stories relevant to the 13th-17th century.