WINTER EVENTS

 

Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout

January 9 – 11

Get ready to reel fast and hard as the largest rockfish tournament in the country comes to the beach. More than 1,000 anglers battle it out for the top bragging rights and a guaranteed minimum cash prize of $100,000. There will be two divisions – one for live bait and one for artificial bait. www.midatlanticrockfishshootout.com.

 

Virginia Beach Restaurant Week

January 12 - 19

Virginia Beach Restaurant Association presents its 7th year of Virginia Beach Restaurant Week. The city's finest establishments are offering specially priced two or three-course meals. www.dineinvb.com.

 

Coastal Virginia Wine Fest

January 25 - 26

Enjoy this first annual two-day event at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Celebrate Virginia wines with tastings, educational seminars and entertainment. Up to 90 vendors, including over 30 Virginia wineries, will be on hand to make this winter weekend one to remember. www.coastalvirginiawinefest.com.  

  21st annual Polar Plunge and Winter Festival

February 8-9

Take a plunge into the breath-taking Atlantic Ocean at the 21st Annual Polar Plunge Winter Festival to benefit Special Olympics Virginia at the oceanfront. Little ones can join in the fun with the Pee Wee Plunge into a kiddie pool. Since its inception 20 years ago, more than 33,000 plungers have raised more than $7.5 million for Special Olympics Virginia. www.polarplunge.com.

 

SPRING EVENTS

 

Yuengling Shamrock Marathon

March 15-16

Runners need more than the luck of the Irish to compete in one of the most challenging physical tests of strength and endurance, a qualifying race for the famous Boston Marathon.

 

This St. Patrick's Day weekend, the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach challenges race enthusiasts with the traditional annual marathon, Anthem half-marathon, 8K middle school challenge, Operation Smile Final Mile, TowneBank 8K and Leprechaun Dash a.k.a children's marathon. A sports and fitness expo will be held at the oceanfront in the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Friday and Saturday. www.shamrockmarathon.com.

 

East Coast She Crab Soup Classic

April 26

The East Coast She Crab Soup Classic at 24th Street Park is an open competition among Coastal Virginia restaurants. This event focuses on one of Virginia Beach's signature dishes and a staple of area menus for decades. Based on tastings, there are two categories for best recipe winners, with three places in each. One category is decided by a panel of Hampton Roads food critics and “The People's Choice” is decided by the general public. www.beachstreetusa.com.

 

The Town Center Craft beer festival  

May 3

Something's brewing at the first-ever craft beer festival at Town Center. Visitors can sample approximately 50 craft beers from over 25 breweries as well as enjoy live entertainment featuring Seth Stainback & Roosterfoot. www.vabeachtowncenter.com.

 

The Town Center Art and Wine Festival at the Fountain  

May 10

Set by the fountain at Town Center, visitors can peruse approximately 50 fine artists representing an appealing array of art genres interspersed with international wines poured by Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro and four Virginia Vineyards at the annual festival. The event also will feature performances from local bands. www.vabeachtowncenter.com.  

 

Neptune's Spring International Wine Tasting

May 17

Sip wines by the sea at this casual, international wine tasting extravaganza and kick-off to the Neptune Festival's line-up of fall events. Leave your passport at home while you sample different wines from nine countries, savor delicious foods, and dance to the music of the best local bands at Neptune Park at 31st Street. www.neptunefestival.com

 

Salute to Summer May 23 - 25

This weekend celebration pays tribute to great music from the past and present, good food and the U.S. military, reminding us of the sacrifices our armed forces have made every day for decades. Enjoy live bands representing different musical genres on the 17th Street, 24th Street and 31st Street stages along the oceanfront and peruse the “Hero's Walk” displayed along the boardwalk from 17th to 31st Streets.  A fireworks show on Sunday night completes the weekend, with bursts of red, white, and blue light reflecting over the ocean in a thrilling culmination to this Memorial Day weekend event. www.beachstreetusa.com

 

 

31st Annual Pungo Strawberry Festival

May 24 - 25

Held in Virginia Beach's charming farming community, Virginia Beach celebrates the deliciousness of local plump, fresh strawberries. All the strawberries you can eat are prepared in over 50 different ways. A crowd of more than 120,000 strawberry-lovers enjoy a variety of activities including a pie-eating contest, racing car exhibits, a carnival, continuous entertainment on four stages, a parade, livestock sale and show, a military display, pig races, youth art show and unique arts and crafts. Visit www.pungostrawberryfestival.info for info.

 

Summer Events

 

Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival

May 30 – June 1

Virginia Beach once again is hosting the Patriotic Festival—A Military Celebration at the oceanfront to honor our armed forces personnel and their families. The event will feature exciting live military demonstrations and displays and headlining artists including Little Big Town, The Band Perry and Jake Owen at the 5th Street stage. The icing on the cake is an oceanfront performance by Kirby Chambliss & the Red Bull Air Force Sky Divers. www.patrioticfestival.com

 

North American Sand Soccer Championships

June 6 - 8

The 20th edition of the world's largest sand soccer tournament annually takes place in Virginia Beach along 22 blocks on the beach, showcasing approximately 10,000 players and 950 teams. Featuring incredible Pro/Am matches with cash prizes at stake, hundreds of youth teams aged 9 thru 19 battle on the beach as well as men's and women's single gender squads, college teams and even "corporate-coed" competitors from businesses and military organizations. The brackets are seeded to support all levels of play - from the beginner to the most professional. www.sandsoccer.com

 

58th Annual Boardwalk Art Show & Festival

June 12 - 15 

Browse more than 40,000 pieces of art with the ocean as a backdrop during the 58th Annual Boardwalk Art Show & Festival. Approximately 250 exhibits featuring 400 national and international craftsmen and contemporary artists convene on the Virginia Beach oceanfront boardwalk to display and sell their fine paintings, ceramics, crafts, jewelry, sculptures, photography and more in this highly-acclaimed juried art show. The Boardwalk Art Show & Festival is one of the oldest outdoor art shows in the U.S. and was recently ranked fourth by Successful Meetings. www.virginiamoca.org

 

Stars & Stripes Explosion

July 4 (Independence Day)

The Stars & Stripes Explosion showcases great music with breathtaking fireworks creating a patriotic tapestry. Enjoy the stirring sounds of the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Beach Chorale as they perform your favorite patriotic, classical and Broadway standards on a stage built right on the beach at 20th Street. End the night with the “good ole” sounds of classic Rock 'n Roll and one of the most dramatic fireworks displays on the East Coast. www.beachstreetusa.com

 

Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge

July 26

Neptune may reign over the ocean, but on this weekend, the Crab is King at this one-of-a-kind event. The day begins with the Miss Curvaceous Crustacean Beauty Pageant, where hermit crabs are presented in their own unique decorated displays and judged on creativity and flair on the beach at 30th Street. Past winners have included themed entries like “Spider Crab,” “Hermit the Hulk,” “Beauty and the Crab,” and “Pirates of the Crabibbean!'” Hermit crab preliminary races lead to the Crustacean 500, where the winner is crowned and awarded the Order of the Mercury Claw trophy. It's the survival of the “crabbiest!” www.beachstreetusa.com

 

52nd annual East Coast Surfing Championships

August 18 - 24

The Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships presented by Vans will be back and celebrating its 52nd year in Virginia Beach. The competition will have a combined surfing prize purse of $155,000 for the Pro Men's and Pro Junior Men's, and another $15,000 for other Pro surfing divisions. Held annually in Virginia Beach since 1963, the ECSC is North America's oldest running surfing competition and the second oldest continuously-run surfing contest in the world. The competition hosts approximately 100 of the world's top professional male and female surfers and more than 300 amateur surfers. In addition to the surfing competitions, spectators can enjoy BMX and skateboard exhibitions on a half-pipe, a vendor village with lots of free goodies and regular entertainment on two oceanfront stages. www.surfecsc.com

 

Verizon Wireless American Music Festival

August 29 – 31

This non-stop party features some of the biggest names in the recording industry, as well as a showcase for some of the most popular local and regional bands. Dance, jazz, rock, country and R&B are all represented. Past national acts have included 3 Doors Down, the B52's, Charlie Daniels Band, Kool & the Gang, Eddie Money, Journey and many others over the course of 15 thrilling years. This festival is the premiere music event on the East Coast. Performances take place at the 17th Street, 24th Street and 31st Street parks and stages along the boardwalk at 5th and 7th Streets. Most performances are free, although some headliners require a ticket. www.beachstreetusa.com

 

FALL EVENTS

 

Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon

August 31

Virginia Beach has proven to be a favorite destination for runners. Runner's World and Blue Ridge Outdoors magazines recognized Virginia Beach as a premier destination for half-marathons. During the annual Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, approximately 20,000 runners and walkers from around the world test their strength and endurance as they strive for the oceanfront finish line. The race consists of a 13.1-mile primarily oceanfront course. More than 20 local bands and 16 local high school cheerleading squads are spaced every mile on 14 stages along the course to motivate the runners with sounds of classic rock, R&B, reggae and the ever-popular disco. http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/virginia-beach

 

18th Annual Neptune Festival's Fall Wine Festival

September 6 - 7

Indulge your senses with the ripe, lush fruit of Virginia's leading vineyards. Sample wines from over 20 of Virginia's vineyards at Neptune Park at 31st Street along with delightful food and live music. With Virginia ranking 5th in domestic commercial grape production, the list of wines will be vast and well-balanced. www.neptunefestival.com

 

Neptune Festival Sandman Triathlon

September 21

The 32nd Annual Sandman Triathlon tests one's physical conditioning and stamina, beginning with a grueling .62-mile open ocean swim, moving on to a 14-mile bike ride and finishing with a 3.1-mile run. Known as one of the best triathlons in the Mid-Atlantic region, this event has hosted over 700 participants and thousands of spectators. www.neptunefestival.com

 

40th Annual Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend

September 26 – 28

Virginia Beach's boisterous send-off to summer is Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend. Activities include the internationally-renowned North American Sand Sculpting Competition and daily concerts alfresco in tented festival stages scattered along 30 blocks of the boardwalk. Over 250 artisans line the boardwalk for the Neptune Art and Craft Show, interspersed with a veritable smorgasbord of food vendors dishing out delectable delights guaranteed to please any palette. www.neptunefestival.com

 

Neptune Festival Grand Parade and Fireworks Extravaganza

September 27

Atlantic Avenue becomes a sea of festivities between 16th and 32nd Streets with colorful floats, larger-than-life balloons and marching bands during the Neptune Festival's Grand Parade. Following the parade, head to the sand and watch an exciting display of fireworks as the sky bursts with color during this annual send off to summer. The parade and fireworks are free and open to the public. www.neptunefestival.com

 

Craft Beer Festival

October 18 - 19

More than 50 craft beers from over 25 breweries are available for sampling at the Craft Beer Festival at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, including several from the Coastal Virginia region. Live music sets the stage for tasting at the 24th Street Park. Each ticket includes a commemorative glass and unlimited tastings. www.beachstreetusa.com

 

Blue Moon Wicked 10K

October 25

Sometimes it's not just how you run the race, but how good you look doing it. Runners in the Wicked 10K are invited to test their endurance and creativity for the annual race. Starting at the Virginia Beach Convention Center and finishing at 19th Street on the boardwalk, runners are encouraged to dress up in their best Halloween costume while proving their stamina. Prizes are awarded to the best costumes. The post race party is a good old fashioned beach party, featuring live music from Rock Star Parking, Blue Moon beer and food provided by Baker's Crust. www.wicked10k.com

 

Halloween Town & Treat at Town Center

October 25

Ghouls and goblins of all kinds will come out to celebrate Halloween during the Town & Treat at The Town Center of Virginia Beach. Kids will enjoy trick or treating throughout the day, as well as costume contests, face painting, entertainment, food and much more. Adults can return in the evening – in costume - for various Halloween parties throughout the Town Center restaurants. www.vabeachtowncenter.com

 

Hunt Club Farm's Haunted Halloween Fest

October TBD

For 20 years, Hunt Club Farm has been haunting Virginia Beach! Three scary attractions include Virginia Beach's Original Haunted Hayride, The Village of the Dead and the Field of Screams. The festivities also include amusement rides, games, concessions, pumpkins and more. Grab some friends and come out to the farm for an evening of spooky good Halloween fun. www.huntclubfarm.com

 

WINTER HOLIDAY EVENTS

 

McDonald's Holiday Lights at the Beach, Presented by nTelos Wireless

November 21 – January 1

Dolphins are leaping, maids are milkingand Santas are surfing at Virginia Beach's Holiday Lights at the Beach. More than a half million twinkling bulbs transform the Virginia Beach boardwalk to a wonderland of magically-lit “fanta-sea” of lights between 2nd and 34th Streets. This is the only time of year motorists are allowed on the boardwalk. www.beachstreetusa.com

 

Light Up The Town Illumination and Parade

November 22

Get into the holiday spirit as The Town Center of Virginia Beach lights up and transforms into a holiday wonderland complete with a parade, laser light show, musical entertainment, hot chocolate, cookies, and Santa Claus himself. www.vabeachtowncenter.com

 

TowneBank's Holiday Parade at the Beach

December 6

Giant balloons, marching bands, lighted floats, antique autos, decorated fire trucks and even Santa himself arrives on his own special lighted float during this holiday tradition. Over 20,000 spectators line the street for the event that “officially” begins the holiday season at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. With marching bands from area schools and some of the most creative and festive floats to be featured in a local parade, be prepared for an evening of spectacle guaranteed to dazzle and delight. www.beachstreetusa.com

 

3rd Annual Samuel Adams Surf-n-Santa 10 Miler Race

December 6

Celebrate the holiday season during the 4th Annual Samuel Adams Surf-n-Santa 10 Miler and Frosty's 5k. Enjoy a flat, fast course where runners will both start and finish at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. At the conclusion of the race, all runners will get to enjoy a rockin' after-party. Each runner receives a Santa hat and a medal. www.surfnsanta10miler.com

 

Hunt Club Farm's Winter Wonderland

December TBD

Experience every child's dream with thousands of sparkling lights and hundreds of animated holiday figures as they come to life for a journey through the toy workshop at Hunt Club Farm.  Families can also pick their own special Virginia-grown Christmas trees or participate in the handmade wreath demonstrations. Hunt Club Farm is a 23-acre family-owned farm nestled in the heart of Virginia Beach which provides agriculturally-based education and entertainment for the local community. www.huntclubfarm.com

 

All events are subject to change without notice.

 

 

Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.visitvirginiabeach.com)

The Virginia Beach CVB is responsible for promoting year-round leisure, business, meetings and conventions, international and sports travel to Virginia's most populous city. For media information and images, visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com/pressroom. Follow Virginia Beach on Twitter at twitter.com/VisitVaBch, Instagram at instagram.com/visitvabeach, Facebook at www.facebook.com/VirginiaBeachVA and Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/visitvabeach.