About

This September, find your way to historic Essex County and the town of Tappahannock on the beautiful Rappahannock River, the longest free flowing river in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Rise and Fall Festival will highlight the rich natural, cultural, and creative history of the Virginia Tidewater with a three-day celebration featuring live music, local authors, and a variety of cultural, historical, and recreational experiences.

The festivities will begin on Friday afternoon with a reception at the Essex County Museum. Friday evening there will be live music featuring members of the Ship’s Company Chanteymen, a professional sea shanty group that have been performing for nearly thirty years!

On Saturday, there will be a Book Fair under the big tent along with walking tours of the historic district, poetry readings, live music, presentations by local authors, and topping off the evening will be the headlining concert featuring Dom Flemons under the big tent!

On Sunday, enjoy live music from Good Hope Nu Generation Youth Choir, publishing workshops featuring editors and literary agents, and we will announce the winners of our writing contest.

Plus, for all three days of the festival, you can stop by and the VA250 Mobile Museum!

This event is sponsored in part by a grant from the Chesapeake Gateways Program through the National Park Service.