The 2nd Street Festival returns for the 19th year Oct. 3-5, 2008, to celebrate the rich culture of the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood. Highlights of this year’s event are a Saturday evening performance by Pieces of a Dream, an R&B/Jazz fusion group from Philadelphia. Also, on Friday, October 3, the hugely popular Friday night kick-off party returns with Johnny Houston and the Legends, as well as an unveiling of a specially-commissioned painting by renowned artist Larry “Poncho” Brown. Venture Richmond commissioned the artwork in celebration of the Festival, and it will be re-produced in the form of posters for sale at the event. As part of the popular First Fridays Artwalk, the unveiling will take place at the Metropolitan Business League.

2008 Second Street Festival Entertainment Schedule

(subject to change)

Friday, October 3

WAVERLY R. CRAWLEY MAIN STAGE (2nd & Marshall Streets)
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Friday Night Kickoff Dance Party featuring Johnny Houston & The Legends

METROPOLITAN BUSINESS LEAGUE – 115 East Marshall Street
6:00p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 2008 Second Street Poster Unveiling featuring a work by Larry “Poncho” Brown

Saturday, October 4

WAVERLY R. CRAWLEY MAIN STAGE (2nd & Marshall Streets)
12 noon – 1:00 p.m. Johnny Peyton Renaissance Big Band
1:30 p.m. – 2:30p.m. NYCE
3:00p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Grace & Company Fashion Show
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Big Payback
5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Radio One
6:20 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Horizon
8:15 p.m. – 9:50 p.m. PIECES OF A DREAM

JOE KENNEDY JR STAGE (3rd & Clay Streets)
12:15pm – 1:05pm Kip Williams Quartet 
1:25pm – 2:15pm QuintEssential Jazz
2:35pm – 3:25pm SoulArmy
3:45pm – 4:35pm Carlton Ayles & Legacy
4:55pm – 5:45pm Jim Branch Quartet
6:05pm – 6:55pm “Against All Odds” (from Hampton Roads, VA)
7:15pm – 8:05pm “Son Sabroso” – Latin Jazz
8:25pm – 9:25pm James “Saxsmo” Gates Quartet

BISTRO STAGE (1ST & Clay Streets)
12 noon – 12:45 p.m. Ban Caribe
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. String Improv N Me
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Rumba Drummers
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Spoken Word Poets
4:00 p.m. – 4:45p.m. DJ Williams
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Skyline Band

COMMUNITY STAGE (2nd & Leigh Streets)
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Richmond Boys Choir
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. One Voice Choir
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Milestone Dancers
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. African American Repertory Company
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. City Dance Theatre
5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Sisterly Grace Fashion Show & Ministries

Sunday, October 5

WAVERLY R. CRAWLEY MAIN STAGE (2nd & Marshall Streets)
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. M’Renee
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. TBA
3:00 p.m. – 3: 40p.m. Glorious
4:00 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. Bloodline
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. VCU Black Awakening Choir

JOE KENNEDY JR STAGE (3rd & Clay Streets)
1:00pm – 1:50pm Jason Jenkins Quartet
2:10pm – 3:00pm Saxophonist Richard D’Abreu “Jazz In The Spirit”
3:20pm – 4:10pm Dave Hoggard Quartet
4:30pm – 5:30pm Debo Dabney & The Happy Band

BISTRO STAGE ( 1ST & Clay Streets)
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. F.L.T.I. Steel Pan Orchestra
2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Ephesus Drumline
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Sharon Baptist Church Praise Dancers
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Grace & Company Fashion Show

COMMUNITY STAGE (2nd & Leigh Streets)
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. The Young Voices of VA
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sharon Baptist Church Choir
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sixth Mt. Zion Church Mime Ministry
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. First African Baptist Church Orchestra

ARTIST’S ROW – 2nd & Clay Streets
Larry “Poncho” Brown – Featured Guest Artist
Purchase the limited edition 2nd Street posted created and designed by this nationally renowned artist. Mr Brown’s tent is located on the corner of 2nd & Clay Streets.
Other invited artists: Randy Walters, James E. Murphy Jr., Greg Paige, Kelvin Henderson

CAPITAL ONE KIDZ ZONE – Jackson Center Lot (on 2nd Street between Clay & Leigh Streets
Featuring, Ronald McDonald, Black History Museum, Ibe the Storyteller, hands-on activities, balloon twisting and temporary tattoos by Balloons by Extreme