Weekend Top 5

Lakeside's annual Halloween party, Halloween in the Hub, will take place Friday, Oct. 17 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the parking lot of SB's Lakeside Love Shack, located at 6935 Lakeside Avenue. In addition to trunk-or-treating, the event will include a costume contest for kids and dogs, a haunted house, music and dancing, a maker's market, raffles, face painting and more. There also will be food and drink specials. Cost is $5 for ages 13 and older; kids under 13 are admitted free. Click here for details.

The 55th Annual Richmond Oktoberfest will take place at the Richmond Raceway Complex Oct. 17 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Oct. 18 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Enjoy German wines and a variety of German beer from three of the best-known German breweries – Warsteiner, Paulaner and Bitburger – including Oktoberfest styles, Pilsners, Lagers, Hefe–Weisse, Märzens, Dunkels and non-alcoholic beers. There also will be German food including sausages, roast pork, broiled chicken, sauerkraut, potato salad, red cabbage, German potato pancakes, filled pretzels, German tortes, pastries, breads and more. Entertainment will include Die Lustigen Almdudler, one of the best German party bands, as well as Bavarian dancers and music in the beer garden. There also will be stein hoisting contests, games and activities for children, door prizes and vendors. Admission is $10 for ages 16 and older; a two-day ticket is $15. For details, visit richmondoktoberfestinc.com.

The 1st annual Locke A. Taylor Compassion Project Walk n' Wag will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at Crump Park in Glen Allen. The event will feature a 5k starting at 9 a.m. (same day registration begins at 8 a.m.). There also will be a kids zone, dog agility course, pet costume contests, vendors, a photo booth, food trucks and more. Nutzy and Natasha will make an appearance, as well as some of the local Star Wars troop. The event raises funds and awareness for the Locke A. Taylor Compassion Project, which helps pet owners in the community afford sometimes life-saving vet care for their pets. For details and to register, visit compassionproject.vet.

Keep Henrico Beautiful, along with the Henrico County Division of Recreation and Parks, Dorey Park Farmers Market and Plant RVA Natives, will host the 2025 Plant Native! Festival from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Dorey Park. The festival is a celebration of native plants, the ecosystems they support and local organizations working hard to protect the environment. The event will feature native plant vendors, a potted tree giveaway, information booths and food trucks, as well as an insect costume contest and kids’ costume showcase, in which all participants ages 12 and under will receive a prize. Dorey Park Farmers Market also will distribute $10 vouchers for guests to redeem for native plants. Vouchers are only available to use at the festival and are limited to one per household. For details, click here.

RVA MakerFest, a family-friendly festival showcasing the Richmond region's creativity and ingenuity, will take place Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Deep Run High School. In addition to demonstrations from local makers, artists, engineers and tinkerers, attendees will experience hands-on workshops, STEAM activities, and the opportunity to purchase handmade goods directly from their makers. There also will be interactive exhibits on a wide range of projects, from robotics and 3D printing to traditional crafts, textiles and sustainable technologies. Admission is free and all ages are invited. The festival is presented by Blue Cheese Robotics and Build, RVA of The Build Forward Foundation. For details, visit rvamakerfest.org.

Looking for more fun things to do in Henrico? Check out our enhanced community calendar where you can search by date, event type or location. Click here to submit an event for inclusion in the calendar.