📖 Our Story

We live and work by Richmond’s picturesque riverfront. With a network of trails and amazing views just steps away from a vibrant downtown, we knew we had to let everyone in on the secret that was Richmond, VA. And what better way to celebrate than with the nation’s premier outdoor sports and music festival?!

Sports Backers and Venture Richmond both work to make RVA a vibrant place to live. Bringing our two nonprofit organizations together to create one of the nation’s most beloved outdoor festivals was a no-brainer! Venture Richmond provides the entertainment, and Sports Backers brings the athletes. It all adds up to a great showcase of Richmond’s riverfront and all it has to offer!

Sports Backers is a nationally recognized nonprofit whose mission is to inspire people from all corners of our community to live actively. Since 1991, Sports Backers has fostered a culture of active living in Central Virginia through its participatory sporting events and community-based programs that have inspired hundreds of thousands of people in the region to set fitness goals and pursue an active lifestyle. In everything that we do, we strive to promote health equity and create accessible opportunities for active living throughout our region. We fulfill our mission by: (1) advocating for bike and pedestrian infrastructure; (2) energizing the community through events; and (3) building a network of community-led group fitness programs in schools and neighborhoods. 

Venture Richmond is a nonprofit organization formed to engage business and community leaders in partnering with the City to enhance the vitality of the community, particularly Downtown, through economic development, marketing, promotion, advocacy and events, to include: Friday Cheers, the 2nd Street Festival, the Richmond Folk Festival, and more.