Entertainment list
The complete 2026 Richmond VegFest entertainment schedule will be announced at a later date.
Main stage
Mary Moore (folk, rock, indie pop)
@mary_moore_music
Mary is a folk singer-songwriter hailing from Richmond, VA, now living in Nashville, TN. Mary took her passion for environmental sustainability and talent of writing folk songs to create a world where any person could step into and leave caring about our planet a little more than when they arrived. Growing up in Richmond, she filled her life with music and performance. She played piano, french horn, and mellophone, and participated in dance, show choir, choir, musicals, marching band, and wind ensemble. Mary was the lead singer for a classic rock cover band touring in Virginia from ages 13-18! At the University of Virginia during college, she became the Music Director of the award winning acapella group the Virginia Belles. After graduation, Mary relocated to Nashville to hone her craft. She has found growing success as a force on stage, her music has been heard on Lightning 100 and at notable indie venues in Nashville like the Listening Room Cafe and The Basement. Mary has played at Musicians Corner and Lighting of the Nations, and other festivals in the Nashville area. Her debut EP “Rooted Heart” was released in the summer of 2019, the songs gushing with imagery of the natural world and showcasing Mary’s writing and vocal chops. The title track “Redwoods” was promoted on NPR “All Things Considered” blog. The EP release followed with a tour playing house concerts and Sofar Sounds shows from Boston’s cobble stone streets to the Redwood forest in San Francisco. Mary has racked up 100k streams on her music, gaining fans on US and UK tours, and releasing two EP’s and a multitude of singles. In early 2025, Mary visited a composting facility and recycling facility, and something sparked in Mary that she hadn’t felt before – the magic that is stumbling on to the muse and not just want, but need to create her first album. The idea slowly germinated that Mary could protect the planet with songs centered around environmentalism, a love of nature, and musing about the human condition – all with her effortless crafting of catchy melodies and build to emotion shattering lyricism. For the first time, an album concept felt deeply unique and important – it wasn’t just an idea written on a forgotten sticky note, it became the northern light that has guided Mary for 18 months now. Mary has written 20 songs for the project, hoping to write another 15-20 songs, to then whittle down to the most impactful songs to record a 12 song long album in Dec 2026 – Jan 2027.
Laterna Dance Company (fusion bellydance)
@laternadanceco
Founded in 2016 by the lovely vegetarian artist Twila Jane, Laterna is a fusion dance troupe, now led by Andrea Rogers. Laterna blends the elegance of bellydance with each dancer’s unique flair. Drawing inspiration from American Cabaret, Swing, Hip-hop, Modern, and FatChanceBellyDance styles, their performances are a mesmerizing mix of tradition and innovation.
J. Kirven
@j.kirven
J. Kirven is a multidisciplinary artist, DJ, and community organizer based in Richmond, VA. As the founder of Electric Sun Society, he is at the forefront of curating immersive events that center healing, Black joy, and global dance music culture. Through signature experiences like Vibes At Sunset and the upcoming Electric Sun Festival, Kirven weaves together sound, wellness, and artistry—bridging diasporic rhythms from South Africa, the Black American South, and beyond. Known for his genre-fluid DJ sets rooted in amapiano, Afro house, and alternative soul, Kirven creates sonic experiences that uplift and transport. His work lives at the intersection of music, movement, and meaning—always honoring ancestral pulse while inviting the future in. In 2025, J. Kirven continues to grow his vision through music-centered wellness retreats, monthly dance parties like FREQUENCIES, and collaborations that champion Black creatives and culture.
Richmond Urban Dance
@richmondurbandance
Richmond Urban Dance (RUD) began in 2015 with nothing more than a boombox, a few 8-counts of choreography, an open street corner, and a passion to ignite a new love for dance in Richmond, VA. Starting with weekly street sessions in any available public space, RUD quickly grew into a thriving hip hop and street dance community that continues to inspire and move the city today. Now located in downtown Richmond, just outside VCU, RUD serves as both a premier dance training facility and a ministry-focused organization with a strong emphasis on community outreach and inclusive programs, welcoming dancers of all ages and skill levels.
GriefCat
@griefcatpartytime
Rising musical comedy duo Griefcat emerged in 2019 as the brainchild of Annie Nardolilli and Louisa Hall, two songwriters from Washington, DC whose shared wit and undeniable musical chemistry made their collaboration feel like fate. Now established as modern, genre-hopping troubadours unafraid of sonic experimentation, Griefcat builds on influences from Tenacious D to Dolly Parton and beyond, infusing the result with a healthy dose of campiness and a talent for tongue-in-cheek sociopolitical commentary — a winning combination that has earned them the backing of a diverse and growing fanbase, a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, 150m+ social media views, and critical acclaim from outlets including The Washington Post over a string of releases and electric live gigs to date. Their third album, Dirty Laundry, dropped September 2026, and they continue to drop a slew of singles, music videos, and live performances at a non-stop pace.
Høly River
@holyrivermusic
Høly River is a musical duo known for their ethereal pop soundscapes, transcendent melodies, and environmental activism. Rooted in themes of nature, spirituality, and human connection, their music weaves together elements of indie folk, world, and ambient genres.
Vegucation Tent
Cooking Demonstrations
Joyce Fontenot aka Raw Chef JJ
@cookedbygod
Joyce hails from St Charles, Louisiana! She’s a National Gold Star Mom, a raw food chef, and lifelong wellness advocate with over 50 years of vegan living. After surviving stage 4 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a bone marrow stem cell transplant, she has dedicated her life to sharing the power of plant-based nourishment, resilience, and hope. At the festival she’ll be demonstrating a raw vegan Walnut ‘mock salmon Pâté.
Jake Fralin, RD, LDN - Iron Heart Nutrition
@ironheartnutrition
Jake will be making Hoisin BBQ sandwiches with pink slaw & dill pickles with Say Grace protein.
He’s a Registered Dietitian specializing in digestive health and GI disorders, plant-based nutrition, and body recomposition. His approach combines evidence-based nutrition with practical, personalized coaching to help clients feel better, perform better, and build a healthier relationship with food, without unnecessary restriction. He’ll provide context around the complexities of nutrition to reduce conflicting or confusing information.
As a plant-based athlete himself, Jake understands that you shouldn’t have to choose between your health, performance, values, and enjoying food. He works with vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike, meeting each client where they are.
Iron Heart Nutrition (IHN) provides personalized nutrition coaching and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for a wide range of goals. Working with health insurance, counseling with IHN is often available to clients with little to no out-of-pocket cost, depending on their individual plan. Cash-based coaching is also available for clients whose plans don’t cover nutrition counseling.
Stop by the Vegucation Tent to watch his cooking demo and the Iron Heart Nutrition booth to say hello and learn how personalized, evidence-based nutrition can fit into your life.
https://ironheartnutrition.com/
Brionna Jones - Vegan Eats with Bri
@veganeatswithbri
Bri will be making Sunflower seed ground “meat” and guacamole, served in taco cups.
Vegan Eats with Bri is a Richmond-based business offering personalized plant-based food experiences. Led by Bri, her business mission is to help build a better relationship with plant based foods. Services offered include coaching, catering, and pop-up events. Bri provides one-on-one support for clients transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle, assisting with meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking. The customizable catering menu is designed to meet specific event needs, while pop-up meals are available for preorder. Vegan Eats with Bri also offers an online store with a variety of vegan products, including food items, fresh-pressed lemonades, desserts, salad dressings, and more, helping individuals build a healthier relationship with plant-based foods.
https://www.veganeatswithbri.com/
Panel Discussion
Lauren Z. Ray
“Raising Vegan Families: From Pregnancy to Parenthood” @veganclubrva
Lauren is a Richmond-based content creator, filmmaker, vegan mom, and founder of Vegan Club RVA. Through her content, she shares her journey with vegan pregnancy, motherhood, and helps others discover the best vegan food and experiences in Richmond.
Speaker
Kim Giovacco - Founder, Veg Jaunts and Journeys
“Creating Community through Vegan Travel” @vegjauntsandjourneys
“When I was in my 20s and 30s, I loved nothing more than grabbing a guidebook, booking a flight, and jaunting through some incredible destinations. As a vegetarian at the time, I never felt I could join an organized tour because I knew food choices would be limited at the restaurants chosen for the group. Then, a few years ago, when I became a vegan, my travel choices were even more limited. Not only for food, but for animal compassion. Many tour companies offer the chance to ride an elephant, or visit a local leather market — but that was not for me. I loved traveling solo — but I knew there was something missing. There were places I longed to visit but did not feel quite comfortable traveling alone. I was definitely missing a sense of camaraderie, the “instant friends” a tour provides. And, having everything planned for me. What was a vegan filled with wanderlust to do? After decades spent on the periphery of the travel industry – working at a well-known map publisher, the Korean tourist office, then the economic development board for Singapore – complemented by my 25 years of personal travel experiences – I founded Veg Jaunts and Journeys in 2016. I created this company to give travelers like us the kinds of tours and experiences I had missed out on. My tours and custom vacations are crafted exclusively for travelers who follow a vegan lifestyle. Of course, I seek out all vegan restaurants for us and engage travelers in vegan-friendly activities and excursions along the way – such as visiting an animal sanctuary or taking a vegan market tour, along with activities that reflect the history or culture of the destination.”
https://vegjauntsandjourneys.com/
Master of Ceremonies
Mike Goldberg
Meteorologist and musician Mike Goldberg will be emceeing the Richmond VegFest for the 24th year! Mike is an Emmy-winning meteorologist for CBS 6 and the afternoon classical music host at VPM Music, where he also serves as the station’s Coordinator of Classical Music Initiatives.
Mike is always out in the community, promoting music and science education in the schools and presenting talks to various groups of all ages. He has served as a judge for the Virginia Science and Engineering Fair and the Metro Richmond Science Fair, and has also been the Master of Ceremonies for various events including the Richmond Vegetarian Society, Richmond SPCA, and the Richmond Animal League. An avid animal lover, Mike is dedicated to helping local animal adoption and welfare groups, and hosts the Paws for Pets segments on CBS 6 every weekend morning. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Henrico Humane Society and has received a Guardian Angel Award from Save Our Shelters for outstanding contribution to animal welfare in Virginia.
Mike remains active as a musician and is both the founder and Artistic Director for Crescendo, a professional chamber music ensemble. Passionate about music education, he serves as Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet at Randolph-Macon College, while maintaining a private clarinet studio of younger students. Also an accomplished conductor, he is co-founder and Music Director of the Central Virginia Wind Symphony, a group of the most talented high school musicians in the region.
You can catch Mike on CBS 6 Saturday and Sunday evenings. You can hear him on VPM Music (93.1 and 107.3FM) hosting “Classical Music with Mike Goldberg” each weekday afternoon and “Breakfast Classics” each weekend morning from 8AM-10AM.
Roaming Performer
Jonathan Austin
Juggler & Magician @jonathanthejuggler
Style Weekly writes: ‘Jonathan Austin… is arguably Richmond’s most popular individual performer. He has delighted crowds of all ages… since he was 14 years old. He is a staple at every major Richmond festival and he typically draws the biggest crowds… Jonathan combines an outstanding personality that relates to children and adults of all ages, with a hilarious sense of humor, timing, skill and feats to provide a truly “must see” show that you will be talking about for a long time.’
www.facebook.com/jonathan.austin.754