Lamb Arts Fest

Free hands-on Lamb Arts Fest brings VMFA, Richmond artists to downtown Hopewell Oct. 3

Forget the "look don't touch" rule, come get your hands dirty! A Hopewell nonprofit is celebrating 10 years by inviting Tri-City residents to make art, meet working artists, and experience live music at its seventh annual free street festival in downtown Hopewell.

Lamb Arts Fest is happening this Saturday, October 3rd, in downtown Hopewell from 1 to 4 p.m.

* Attendees of all ages can create their own masterpieces and step inside the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ traveling ArtMobile

* You can get your hands dirty at 25 free art-making stations, enjoy live music from local youth marching bands, and chat with real working Richmond artists as they perform live demonstrations

* Unlike traditional art festivals, where you pay to view or buy art, Lamb Arts Fest is entirely cost-free and fully interactive for all ages

* This year’s festival includes a special birthday candle-making station and free birthday cake to help Lamb Center for Arts and Healings celebrate a decade of using art to heal, empower, and strengthen the Tri-Cities

The festival takes place on East Broadway in Hopewell. To learn more, visit lambarts.org/artsfest http://lambarts.org/artsfest.

Make it a Day Out in Historic Downtown Hopewell, VA

Within a five minute walk of the festival, you can:

* Grab lunch or dinner at award-winning Good Ship Brewing & Eatery, named Best New Restaurant of the Year for 2026 by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association

* Calm down at the Hopewell Public Library's indoor children's play area

* Get tickets for the evening's special Marvin Gay tribute show at the historic Beacon Theater

* Treat yourself to an Instagram-worthy dessert at City Point Ice Cream & Burgers

Celebrating 10 Years of Free Arts Programming in the Tri-Cities Area

This year's festival comes the same week that Lamb Center for Arts and Healing marks 10 years in Hopewell. Dr. Eliza Lamb and her father, Charles Lamb, founded the organization in 2016, believing that access to art can support individual well-being while giving people tools to strengthen their community.

A decade later, the nonprofit provides free arts and mind-body-spirit programs to more than 8,000 Tri-City-area residents each year.

That includes the Creative Change Makers, a teen leadership program that helps young residents use art to explore issues affecting their community and turn ideas into projects. Members of the 2026 cohort as well as alumni will help lead Arts Fest as paid staff and volunteers.

“We believe in a holistic approach to impacting our community,” says Dr. Lamb. “By combining local research and national best practices, we have spent the past decade meeting our community where they are, listening to what they need, and coming up with creative ways to provide inspiration and solutions.”

Central Virginia Community Partners & Festival Sponsors

Participating organizations and artists include: Studio Two Three, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond Performing Arts Alliance, Art on Wheels, Hand Thrown, Raven & Crow Studios, Federico Infante, Michael-Birch Pierce, Appomattox Regional Governor's School, Hopewell Recreation and Parks, Hopewell High School Marching Band, Good Lovin Urban Farm, Friends of the Lower Appomattox River, Podium RVA, Lamb on the Loom and CultureWorks.

The 2026 Lamb Arts Fest is supported by community sponsors including Dominion Energy, John Randolph Foundation, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Bank of Southside Virginia, Carraway Glass Company, Colonial Plumbing & Heating Co., Hopewell Downtown Partnership, Hopewell Optimist Club, Ligon Jones Insurance Services and individual donors. City Point Ice Cream + Burgers, Coca-Cola and Lamar Advertising provide in-kind support.

About the Lamb Center for Arts and Healing in Hopewell, VA

Founded in Hopewell in 2016, the Lamb Center for Arts and Healing is a nonprofit organization founded on the belief that access to art can support individual well-being while giving people tools to strengthen their community. Lamb Arts serves more than 8,000 Tri-City residents each year through arts education, public art, material access, creative aging, youth programs and community partnerships.

Community event in Hopewell, Hopewell city County, VA 23860.