Experience Diwali for the first time at Lewis Ginther Botanical Gardens

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Experience Diwali for the first time at the Lewis Ginther Botanical Garden this Saturday from 12 to 8 p.m.

The one-day event will feature a market featuring Indian and other types of food items, as well as other activities.

“We will also have henna artists creating different henna tattoos, as well as Bollywood music and dancers, Bollywood dancers,” said Michelle Israel, director of exhibitions for Lewis Ginther. “So it will be a variety of entertainment that celebrates the culture as a whole.”

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is a holiday that celebrates the victory of light over darkness, Israel said.

The festival is associated with various religious events, deities and personalities such as Rama, the Hindu god who defeats the evil king Ravana.

“And to learn more about this story, we will have a puppet show here that will tell this story for people of all ages,” Israel said. “They will learn about how this history came about and also celebrate the culture, music and different instruments.”

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Then on Sunday, families are invited back to the garden to celebrate the Harvest Festival to celebrate “all things fall.”

“We celebrate nature, we celebrate abundance. We celebrate family traditions,” Israel said.

The harvest festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes family stories, fall food, cider and more.

“We’ll have pumpkin painting… a photo booth, live music by The Pollux,” Israel said. “And we’ll end the day at two, from two to three we’ll have dancing.”

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Additionally, the Dominion Energy Gardenfest of Lights returns to Lewes Ginther from November 18 to January 5, 2025.

Antoinette Essa will attend Second Baptist Church of the West End and the Randolph Neighborhood Association’s 25th Annual Black Love Community Festival, sponsored by Dominion Energy, this Saturday. The free festival includes a vintage car show, health screenings and community programs, food and family activities from noon to 4 p.m. Second Baptist Church – West End at 1400 Idlewood Avenue.

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