Church Hill Hosts First BooFest on Broad

Neighbors in Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood closed a busy trick-or-treating street for an all-volunteer Halloween event.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Seasonal Events

Church Hill Hosts First BooFest on Broad

Live Poll

Would you support closing your neighborhood's streets for Halloween trick-or-treating?

Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood held its first-ever BooFest on Broad on Halloween 2026, closing East Broad Street between North 29th and North 32nd streets from 4 to 9 p.m. The event was organized by a grassroots group of neighbors.

Why it matters

The street closure was intended to make a popular trick-or-treating corridor safer for pedestrians of all ages. Organizers said funds raised will cover printing and candy stockpiles for neighbors in the closed zone.

The closure ran for five hours, from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, along East Broad Street between North 29th and North 32nd streets. Attendance and total funds raised have not been reported.

The players

Church Hill neighborhood

A historic Richmond, Virginia neighborhood known for its nineteenth-century architecture and dense residential blocks along East Broad Street.

The details

Church Hill neighbors organized BooFest on Broad as an all-volunteer effort, closing the busy trick-or-treating corridor to traffic during the evening. The city reportedly required fundraising to cover costs including off-duty police officers, event insurance, traffic-control equipment rentals and application fees.

Saturday, October 31, 2026, 4 to 9 p.m. Eastern: BooFest on Broad held and East Broad Street closed

Seasonal Patterns

Community-run Halloween street closures have become a recurring feature of Richmond neighborhood life, with BooFest on Broad marking the first such organized event on this stretch of East Broad Street. The closure reflects neighbors taking on pedestrian safety and event costs themselves rather than relying solely on city-sponsored programming.

Residents planning to visit the Church Hill trick-or-treating corridor should expect East Broad Street closures between North 29th and North 32nd streets during the event window. Drivers should use alternate routes and allow extra time for travel in the neighborhood.

The takeaway

Neighborhood volunteers can turn a busy street into a safer shared space when they organize and fund the logistics themselves. Anyone planning similar local events should budget for police, insurance and traffic-control costs early.