Best Annual Charity Event
First Place: Richmond SPCA Fur Ball, Richmond, RichmondSPCA.org, 804-521-1300
You might have heard that the Fur Ball has gone to the dogs, but that’s only because it’s one of the few black-tie events where guests include both people and pets. Featuring the Parade of Pets down the Jefferson Hotel’s grand staircase, the event raises money for the SPCA’s Cinderella Fund, which cares for orphaned, sick and injured animals.
Second place: Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K, Richmond, SportsBackers.org, 804-285-9495
Third place: Children’s Hospital Foundation Ball, Richmond CHFRichmond.org, 804-228-5814
Best Art Event
First place: Arts in the Park, The Carillon at Byrd Park, Richmond, RichmondArtsInThePark.com
Now in its 45th year of showcasing the work of artists and craftsmen from across the country, Arts in the Park celebrates creativity from weaving and woodwork to painting and sculpture. An event for both art connoisseurs and crafters, it appeals to even the most discerning tastes.
Second place: First Fridays Art Walk, Richmond, RVAFirstFridays.com
Third place: InLight, Richmond, 1708Gallery.org, 804-643-1708
Best Charity
First place: Richmond SPCA, Richmond RichmondSPCA.org, 804-521-1300
The Richmond SPCA is all about the care and well-being of animals, but it’s also interested in matching up new best friends. Happy and colorful, its facilities make for a fun day of meeting potential furry companions. The SPCA even hosts kids’ birthday parties that include—you guessed it—lots of time to play with the animals.
Second place: FeedMore, Richmond, FeedMore.org, 804-521-2500
Third place: VCU Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, Massey.VCU.edu, 804-828-0450
Best Family Entertainment
First place: Maymont, Richmond, Maymont.org, 804-358-7166
A visit to Maymont is like stepping into a fairy tale. Children and adults alike awaken imaginations with a stroll through the magnificent Gilded Age home, a visit to the goats and other barnyard animals at the Children’s Farm, or a carriage ride across the 100-acre estate—Maymont offers all the fun of Cinderella, sans the hassle of magic pumpkins.
Second place: Wintergreen Resort, WintergreenResort.com, 434-325-2200
Third place: Amazement Square, Lynchburg, AmazementSquare.org, 434-845-1888
Best Food Festival
First place: Greek Food Festival, Richmond, GreekFestival.com, 804-358-5996
Pronounce it correctly—YEE-row, not JIE-row—and maybe you’ll get an extra bit of delicious haloumi cheese on your gyro at one of Richmond’s favorite festivals. It’s all Greek with tours through Richmond’s Orthodox Christian Church and traditional folk dancing and music throughout the week, and of course, the food. Dine in or drive-thru.
Second place: Broad Appétit, Richmond BroadAppetit.com
Third place: Carytown Watermelon Festival, Richmond CarytownRVA.org
Best Movie Theater
First place: The Byrd Theatre, Richmond, ByrdTheatre.com, 804-353-9911
Just visiting the historic Byrd Theatre is an event, given that the movie palace has remained almost unchanged since opening in 1928. But the Byrd doesn’t rest on its laurels. The theater frequently hosts events like filmmaker John Waters’ one-man show, and updated screenings of old classics, even live scoring of silent films.
Second place: Movieland Bow-Tie Cinemas, Richmond, BowTieCinemas.com, 804-354-6008
Third place: CinéBistro, Richmond, CobbCineBistro.com/Stony, 804-864-0460
Best Music Venue
First place: The National, Richmond, TheNationalVa.com, 804-612-1900
Above all, the National aims to please a variety of tastes. Hosting shows as diverse as Greg Allman of the Allman Brothers to Slayer, the National’s vintage vibe, top of the line sound system, and seven full service bars provide the perfect setting for almost any performance.
Second place: The Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, JeffersonTheater.com, 434-245-4980
Third place: Innsbrook After Hours, Glen Allen, InnsbrookAfterHours.com, 804-423-1779
Best Museum
First place: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VMFA.museum, 804-340-1405
The VMFA has had a busy year. After expanding its collection with the new McGlothlin Collection of American Art and hosting special exhibition Rodin: Evolution of a Genius, the museum will continue breaking new ground this June with Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic, a retrospective of the New York artist known for his Old Masters-style portraits of contemporary African-American subjects.
Second place: Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, SMV.org, 804-864-1400
Third place: Amazement Square, Lynchburg, AmazementSquare.org, 434-845-1888
Best Performing Arts Company
First place: Richmond Ballet, Richmond, RichmondBallet.com, 804-344-0906
Virginia’s state ballet anchors an exciting 2016-2017 season with its first ever performance of George Balanchine’s Slaughter on Tenth Avenue and excerpts from Marius Petipa’s La Bayadere. The ballet has introduced new initiatives like In Studio, which invites audiences into the company’s black box theater to enjoy an interactive rehearsal viewing.
Second place: Virginia Repertory Theatre, Richmond, VirginiaRep.org, 804-282-2620
Third place: Richmond Symphony, Richmond, RichmondSymphony.com, 804-788-1212
Best Special Event Venue
First place: Craddock Terry Hotel & Event Center, Lynchburg, CraddockTerryHotel.com, 434-455-1510
An event’s every detail is accounted for at the Craddock Terry, a former shoe factory in Lynchburg’s re-energized and newly chic downtown district. Converted into a boutique hotel and event destination, kitschy shoe-themed décor remains as a salute to its past life, including a giant red shoe perched on its façade that welcomes guests.
Second place: Brown’s Island, Richmond, VentureRichmond.com, 804-788-6466
Third place: Altria Theater, Richmond, AltriaTheater.com, 804-592-3673