Riverrock returns to Richmond, dog agility and Air Dogs draw crowds

Riverrock’s loudest cheers will probably come from the dogs. On the Richmond riverfront, athletes with four legs will be racing through tunnels, flying over jumps and launching off docks, giving active-dog owners a weekend that looks a lot more like a sport show than a standard pet-friendly festival.

Dominion Energy Riverrock is set for May 15-17 in Richmond, and organizers say the festival is now in its 18th year after beginning in 2009. This edition comes with a noticeably different map: because of the Brown’s Island Improvement Project, the festival footprint will shift across Tredegar Street, Tredegar Green and nearby downtown spaces instead of clustering around Brown’s Island. The music remains central, with all 11 acts free and staged at Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront, the new concert home for the weekend. A new series, Riverside Chats at The Foundry, will add outdoor talks on river conservation, access and stewardship to the mix.

For dog people, the marquee addition is that Riverrock is doubling down on canine athleticism rather than just allowing dogs to attend. The dog agility competition, hosted for a second year by Zoom Room, will return as a spectator draw with runs built around tunnels, jumps, weave poles and the A-frame. Ultimate Air Dogs will be back too, with dock-diving action scheduled for Friday evening, all day Saturday and again on Sunday during posted times.

The Air Dogs setup is built for high-drive dogs and the people who know exactly how much energy is still left in the tank after a long walk. All breeds and mixes are welcome, registration is open, and Milt Wilcox, president of Ultimate Air Dogs, will direct and announce the competition. The listed registration price runs from $30 to $45 depending on the window, while agility is priced at $25 to $30. The 2026 schedule also includes a K9 Super Wall event on Saturday and Sunday, adding another canine challenge to a lineup that now feels intentionally athletic.

That matters because Riverrock is not a tiny local pet event trying to fill a corner of a park. A 2024 wrap-up said more than 100,000 people attended, and this year’s expanded downtown footprint suggests organizers are trying to keep that scale while making room for more action. For handlers, spectators and anyone who wants a festival where the dogs are the headliners, Riverrock’s refreshed layout gives Richmond’s outdoor weekend a sharper, more competitive edge.