Richmond Folk Festival Any concerns that the inaugural Richmond Folk Festival might not succeed to the extent of its national predecessor were quickly quieted last night.

Tens of thousands of people swarmed the downtown riverfront area as music tents overflowed into the walkways and lines sometimes ran a dozen deep at food vendors.

This year's festival replaces the National Folk Festival, which has moved on to Butte, Mont., its next three-year home.

Local organizers Venture Richmond were hopeful that the Richmond Folk Festival will continue the tradition -- and draw similar crowds -- as the National Folk Festival did during its three years in the city.

Last year, the national festival attracted an all-time record of 175,000 people during the three-day weekend.

Hours for today's festival are noon until 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 6:30 p.m.

While Venture Richmond didn't have an exact crowd number, Lisa Sims, director of events, said, "This was the largest crowd we've seen at an opening ceremony -- I think people got the message that [the Richmond Folk Festival] is going to be just as great."

The layout of the festival appeared almost exactly as in years past.

Volunteers sporting bright red or green T-shirts flooded the event, handing out maps and answering questions from attendees.

Those holding bright orange buckets collected donations for the free festival, as they will do all weekend. One volunteer, Lisa Ballard, said the most popular question was the location of ATMs.

The Richmond Folk Festival launched at sundown with a visually stunning sight -- the Tezcatlipoca Voladores' twirl down a 95-foot pole erected near the Ukrop's/First Market Bank Stage.

Standing outside the Wachovia/Wachovia Securities tent where later the San Jose Taiko pounded Japanese drums, Ram Bhagat declared himself impressed with what he had seen last night.

The Voladores performance, he said, "was very spiritual."

"That was magical," he said. "I believe it's going to be a unifying weekend for the city."

After greeting the crowd, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine acknowledged that the festival was a welcome respite after a brutal week of budget cuts.

"I've got to go to a blues performance, I really do," he said in reference to the difficult week. "I kind of have a weight off my shoulder for five days."

As for his stint playing harmonica with the Dan Tyminski Band, Kaine said before taking the stage with the bluegrass favorites, "I'm gonna try to stand a little back from the microphone. That's my goal."

On Brown's Island, dozens of couples took advantage of the wooden dance floor running the length of The Times-Dispatch Dance Pavilion to two-step and do-si-do to BeauSoleil's spirited Cajun music.

The band's amalgamation of fiddle, accordion and double percussion proved infectious for the several hundred who packed the tent.

Lisa Fuller of Midlothian was attending the festival for the fourth consecutive year. "It's free. It's quality. It's all of that. And it's family-oriented," she said.

Her husband, Wendell, lauded the diversity of the music. And Mario Chambers of Powhatan County suggested that events such as the festival could change the perception of Richmond.

"It broadens the city's horizon," he said. "It makes it more metropolitan."

Fan District residents Will Pattie and Jackie MacDonald, both 26, sounded similar themes about the festival.

"It shows off Richmond's desire for cultural experiences," he said.

"And brings the community together," she added.

Daniel Thompson and Meredith Bishop of Goochland County stood in line waiting for Cajun food with Hannah Abbey of Richmond. "I've been looking forward to it all week," said Abbey, 29.

"I've been here 15 minutes, and it's got me swaying already," Thompson said as he moved to the African rhythms of Vieux Farka Toure.

If you're looking for the long-lost link between medical school leadership and funky, home-crafted jewelry, head for the Crafts Marketplace along Tredegar Street.

Carol Savage, once an administrator with a medical school in South Carolina, is showing off and selling an assortment of necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry crafted from used and recycled parts.

"I've always had an interest in things that are irregular," she said.

She's drawn to an odd assortment of pieces that ranges from broken jewelry to scraps of silk to used chains to plumbing supplies. Plastic o-rings play a big part in her collection.

"Oh, they're great for mothers with toddlers," she told a customer, showing how the piece could easily be ripped off without harm to neck or necklace.

"This is freedom," she said, looking around her tent. "I've been able to travel everywhere."
Contact Melissa Ruggieri at (804) 649-6120 or Mruggieri@timesdispatch.com.

Staff writers Michael Paul Williams and Zachary Reid contributed to this report.