Things to Do in Richmond in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Richmond
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- November cuts the humidity to 70% and drops temperatures to a comfortable 15°C (59°F) high - the first month locals stop complaining about the heat and start heading outdoors again
- Foliage along the James River hits peak color around mid-November, turning the 8-km (5-mile) riverside path into a tunnel of red maples and gold ginkgos that few tourists ever see
- Museum crowds thin dramatically after October's leaf-peepers leave - you can walk straight into the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on a Tuesday morning without the usual 20-minute queue
- Restaurant reservations get easier overnight - the James Beard-nominated spots that required calling two weeks ahead suddenly have tables available with 48-hours notice
Considerations
- November is Richmond's transition month - the 70% humidity means you'll still sweat through cotton shirts, but the 5°C (41°F) mornings require layers that you'll peel off by noon
- Some outdoor activities shut down early - Belle Isle's suspension bridge closes if the James River rises above 3 m (9.8 ft), which happens more often after November storms
- Hotel rates spike the weekend before Thanksgiving when families visit University of Richmond students, turning downtown into a parking nightmare with parents circling the Fan District for street spots
Best Activities in November
James River Park System hiking and cycling
November's cool mornings and clear skies make the 8-km (5-mile) riverside trail perfect for bikes - the leaves crunch under tires while the river's low enough to spot blue herons fishing the shallows. By afternoon when temperatures hit 15°C (59°F), locals strip down to t-shirts and jump the 4.5-m (15-ft) rock ledges at Belle Isle into the still-warm water below.
Richmond craft brewery tours
November kicks off Richmond's stout and porter season - breweries like Hardywood and The Veil release their winter beers when the 15°C (59°F) weather makes a 6% ABV coffee stout appealing instead of oppressive. The brewery district's outdoor patios stay open with heat lamps, and tour groups drop to 8-10 people instead of summer's 25-person crowds.
Carytown historic district food walking tours
November transforms Carytown into a cozy neighborhood where the smell of roasted coffee from Rostov's drifts down the 2-km (1.2-mile) shopping strip. Food tours work well in 15°C (59°F) weather - comfortable for walking between the 1920s storefronts while sampling Richmond's signature pimento cheese biscuits and locally-made chocolate that melts in your mouth instead of your hands.
Virginia State Capitol architecture tours
November's soft 15°C (59°F) light makes Thomas Jefferson's Capitol building glow - the afternoon sun hits the neoclassical columns at the perfect angle for photos without the harsh shadows of summer. The 45-minute tours run every hour, and with November's thinner crowds, you'll hear the guide explain how Jefferson borrowed from a Roman temple in Nîmes, France.
Canal Walk Segway and bike tours
November's cool breeze along the 2.4-km (1.5-mile) Canal Walk makes Segway tours enjoyable - you're not sweating through your helmet like summer, and the flat paved path handles the occasional November drizzle without getting muddy. The canal's historic locks and 19th-century warehouse district look dramatically different with fall colors reflecting in the water.
November Events & Festivals
Richmond Folk Festival
The city's biggest free event takes over Brown's Island for three days in early November - 200,000 people show up for blues on the river stage while food trucks line the 1-km (0.6-mile) waterfront selling Richmond's best barbecue and locally-brewed beer in plastic cups
University of Richmond Homecoming Weekend
The whole town turns red and blue for the Spiders - campus tours, museum open houses, and the Saturday football game that brings 8,000 alumni back to the Coliseum for tailgates that smell like charcoal and cheap beer