Things to Do in Richmond in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Richmond
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Cherry blossoms along the James River start their peak bloom around March 20th - the riverbanks turn into a pink tunnel that locals fight for parking spots to photograph
- Restaurant Week runs the first two weeks of March, when places like Lemaire at The Jefferson and Heritage drop their prix-fixe barriers and the city's food scene becomes surprisingly democratic
- The Fan District's streets are still quiet enough that you can hear the 1920s trolley tracks under your feet on Floyd Avenue before the university crowds return
- Colonial Williamsburg day trips are finally tolerable again - the 80 km (50 mile) drive south means 14°C (57°F) walking weather instead of the July death march
Considerations
- March is Virginia's mood swing month - you'll pack for 16°C (61°F) and wake up to sleet that melts into 70% humidity by lunch
- The Byrd Theatre's classic movie series skips March entirely (they're closed for their annual spring cleaning), so you'll miss the 25-cent Tuesday screenings
- Belle Isle gets muddy enough that the 1.2 km (0.7 mile) loop turns into a slip-and-slide, and the James River's water level stays too high for safe rock hopping
Best Activities in March
James River Park hiking and photography tours
March's variable weather creates the perfect lighting for the river's granite boulders and emerging spring growth. The 14 km (8.7 mile) trail system stays quiet until 10 AM, when locals bring their dogs for the same morning routine. The humidity keeps the river misty enough for dramatic sunrise photos, but you'll want to start early before the afternoon winds pick up.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts extended spring hours
VMFA starts staying open until 9 PM on Thursdays in March, meaning you can see the Fabergé collection after work like Richmonders do. The museum's temperature-controlled 21°C (70°F) galleries become a refuge when March weather turns spiteful, and the Thursday night wine bar draws artists from the VCU film department.
Church Hill food walking tours
March's mild temperatures make the uphill climb from Libby Hill Park to St. John's Church bearable for the first time since October. The neighborhood's 19th-century brick sidewalks echo differently when you walk them at dusk, and restaurants like The Roosevelt and Dutch & Co. start their spring menu rollouts mid-month.
Belle Isle cycling routes
March's firming ground makes the island bikeable again after February's mudpit conditions. The 5 km (3.1 mile) river loop gives you Virginia's version of wilderness - osprey nests, granite quarries, and the remains of a 19th-century hydroelectric plant - all within city limits.
Hollywood Cemetery historical walking tours
March's 16°C (61°F) afternoons are perfect for the 3 km (1.9 mile) cemetery loop where Richmond's 19th-century elite keep eternal watch over the James. The dogwoods start blooming around March 15th, creating natural archways over the graves of Presidents Tyler and Monroe.
March Events & Festivals
Richmond Folk Festival planning weekend
The first weekend in March, you can watch the real festival get built in the parking lot behind the Science Museum - stage crews test lighting while local food trucks practice their set-ups. It's like seeing the city get dressed for its biggest party.
VCU basketball playoff games
If VCU makes the NCAA tournament, the entire city turns into a black-and-gold block party. The Siegel Center sells out instantly, but every bar within 3 km (1.9 miles) becomes a watch party with the same energy.