Tall ships, firework, music and food at Norfolk Harborfest
Compiled by Staff
Hampton Roads is home to a plethora of festivals featuring food, music, craft beer and a range of activities. There really is something for everyone. Here’s what we recommend this late spring through summer. Enjoy!
Salute to Summer
May 27-29
17th, 24th & 31st Streets at Oceanfront
www.beachstreetusa.com
Salute to Summer is an unabashed “Star-Spangled” salute to great music, fun in the sun, and the military men and women who have sacrificed their lives throughout our history. Live, free entertainment on three outdoor stages features music presented by local and regional bands.
Entertainment Schedule:
Friday, May 27
17th Street DQ Grill & Chill Park
8:00pm-10:45pm, Snackbar Jones
24th Street Park
8:00pm-10:45pm, Roosterfoot
31st Street Park
8:00pm-10:45pm, The Deloreans
Saturday, May 28
17th Street DQ Grill & Chill Park
8:00pm-10:45pm, Llamas at Brunch
24th Street Park
8:00pm-10:45pm, Jesse Chong Band
31st Street Park
8:00pm-10:45pm, Parrots of the Caribbean
Sunday, May 29
17th Street DQ Grill & Chill Park
8:00pm-10:45pm, Party Fins
24th Street Park
8:00pm-10:45pm, Strictly Bizzness
31st Street Park
8:00pm-10:45pm, Buckshot
Umoja Festival
May 27-29
Portsmouth Pavilion Park
www.portsvaevents.com
A festival celebrating African-American culture. Music headliner features KEM.
Lava Music Festival
May 28
O’Connor Brewing Company
www.lavafestival.com
An all-day indie rock festival in the parking lot of the region’s largest brewery. Bands include Minus the Bear, Natalie Prass, Blitzen Trapper and more
Pungo Strawberry Festival
May 28-29
Pungo
www.pungostrawberryfestival.info
Strawberries galore with numerous displays, music and food for the whole family. A Virginia Beach tradition.
Steel Pier Classic & Surf Art Expo
May 28-30
Between 2nd & 7th Streets at Oceanfront
www.steelpierclassic.com
A showcase for surfer art, music and culture on the oceanfront.
Attucks Community Day
May 29
Church Street Park
www.vafest.org
A family-friendly celebration of music, faith and food.
Brew at The Zoo & Vino Too
June 2
Virginia Zoo
www.culturalli.org
A fund raising event for the Cultural Alliance. Beer and wine served.
Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival
June 3-5
5th Street at Oceanfront
A festival celebrating the US military.
Entertainment
Friday, June 3: Chris Young
Saturday, June 4: Sam Hunt
Sunday, June 5: Big & Rich
O’Connoroo
June 4
O’Connor Brewing Company
www.oconnorbrewing.com
A day-long festival of local music and O’Connor craft beer.
Black Beard Pirate Festival
June 4-5
Downtown Hampton
www.blackbeardfestival.com
Kids of all ages transform into pirates for fun. Games, storytelling, food, music and more.
Caribbean Food & Music Festival
June 5
Portside, Portsmouth
www.portsvaevents.com
A laidback fest of Island music and flavors.
Seawall Festival
June 10-11
Downtown Portsmouth
www.portsvaevents.com
Music, art and food on the Portsmouth side of the Elizabeth River.
40th Annual Norfolk Harborfest
June 9-12
Town Point Park
www.festevents.org
Celebrating America’s largest, longest-running, free maritime festival in its 40th Anniversary year, Norfolk Harborfest will return June 9-12.
For four memorable days, the historic waterfront festival offers a weekend packed with thrilling activities on land and sea to include tall ships and the Parade of Sail, artisan foods and beverages, work boat races, unique and unusual performances, one of the largest fireworks shows on the East Coast, family games and activities, national and regional entertainment, and much more.
Revolutionary Beer Festival
June 11
Chesapeake City Park
How about a beer festival in Chesapeake? Cheers!
Boardwalk Art Show
June 16-19
Virginia Beach Boardwalk
www.virginiamoca.org
The region’s largest visual art festival features artists from all over the USA. Great setting: Oceanfront on the Boardwalk.
Hampton Roads Pride Fest
June 18
Town Point Park, Norfolk
www.hamptonroadspride.org
The region’s largest LGBT community festival. Concert headliner is Betty Who.
Hardee’s Latin Fest
June 24-25
24th Street at Oceanfront
www.beachstreetusa.com
For two days, Virginia Beach celebrates the sights and sounds of the Latin experience.
Entertainment Schedule
Friday, June 24
Main Beach Stage
5:30pm-6:45pm, Caique Vidal & Batuque
7:15pm-8:45pm, Los Rabanes
9:15pm-10:45pm, Diana Reyes
Saturday, June 25
Marketplace
1:00pm-1:30pm, Painalli
1:45pm-2:15pm, Caique Vidal & Batuque
2:30pm-3:00pm, Painalli
Main Beach Stage
3:30pm-4:45pm, DJ
5:15pm-6:45pm, Mirella Cesa
7:15pm-8:45pm, Plena Libre
9:15pm-10:45pm, El Chaval de la Bachata
Hampton Jazz Festival
June 24-26
Hampton Coliseum
Entertainment:
Friday, June 24: Michael McDonald, Gladys Knight and more
Saturday, June 25: New Edition, Baby Face and more
Sunday, June 26: Boney James, Charlie Wilson and more
Bayou Boogaloo
June 24-26
Town Point Park, Norfolk
www.festevents.org
The music, art and food of New Orleans is showcased in Norfolk.
Entertainment:
Friday, June 24: Anders Osborne, New Breed Brass Band and more
Saturday, June 25: Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco and more
Sunday, June 26: TBA
Funhouse Fest
June 24-26
Williamsburg
www.vafest.org
Grammy Award-winning pop star Bruce Hornsby curates his first music festival.
Friday, June 24: Bruce Hornsby & Ricky Scaggs
Saturday, June 25: Ravi Coltrane, Railroad Earth, Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, Hornsby
Sunday, June 26: Bruce Hornsby, Taj Mahal, Aoife O’Donovan
Sandstock: A Musical Tribute
July 1-3
24th Street Stage at Oceanfront
www.beachstreetusa.com
Sandstock – A Tribute to Rock & Roll, is a beach-inspired variation on “Woodstock.” National and regional tribute artists who cover performers from The Who to Van Halen to Led Zeppelin will crank out hit after hit on two beach stages at the Virginia Beach oceanfront!
Entertainment Schedule:
Friday, July 1
Hippy Dippy Stage (South stage) 6:30-7:30pm Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi tribute)
Flower Power Stage (North stage) 7:30-8:30pm Pandora’s Box (Aerosmith tribute)
Hippy Dippy Stage (South stage) 8:30-9:30pm Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi tribute)
Flower Power Stage (North stage) 9:30-11:00pm Pandora’s Box (Aerosmith tribute)
Saturday, July 2
Hippy Dippy Stage (South stage) 6:30-7:30pm Tuesday’s Gone (Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute)
Flower Power Stage (North stage) 7:30-8:30pm Eliminator KC (ZZ Top tribute)
Hippy Dippy Stage (South stage) 8:30-9:30pm Tuesday’s Gone (Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute)
Flower Power Stage (North stage) 9:30-11:00pm Eliminator KC (ZZ Top tribute)
Sunday, July 3
Hippy Dippy Stage (South stage) 6:30-7:30pm Rumours (Fleetwood Mac tribute)
Flower Power Stage (North stage) 7:30-8:30pm Chicago Reloaded (Chicago tribute)
Hippy Dippy Stage (South stage) 8:30-9:30pm Rumours (Fleetwood Mac tribute)
Flower Power Stage (North stage) 9:30-11:00pm Chicago Reloaded (Chicago tribute)
Summer Brew Fest
July 8
Town Point Park
www.festevents.org
Over 36 craft beers served on the banks of the Elizabeth River.
Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival
July 15-16
Town Point Park
www.festevents.org
A multi-day jazz festival in the evening on the Elizabeth River.
Entertainment:
Friday, July 15: Steve Cole, Jeff Kashiwa and more
Saturday, July 16: Gerald Albright, Jazz Funk Soul and more
Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge
July 23
30th Street at Oceanfront
www.beachstreetusa.com
Preliminary hermit crab races lead to the Crustacean 500, where the winner is awarded the “Order of the Mercury Claw” trophy. Crabs race on a specially-designed circular track, where all the “crabtestants” are placed in the center. At the sound of the starting horn, crabs scurry to the outer ring of the track. Whichever claw crosses the line first wins. It’s the survival of the “crabbiest!”
Mid-Summer Fantasy
July 29-31
Town Point Park
www.festevents.org
Norfolk Festevents presents an interactive performance art event that will explore a meditation of Shakespearean themes with visual and performance artists, large scale art installations, musicians and event designers. This exuberant three day event is free and open to the public of all ages.
It is inspired by such innovative events as Burning Man in the Nevada desert, the Figment movement and New York’s immersive theater Sleep No More, and is the first interactive performance art project for Hampton Roads and introduces the largest collaboration of diverse performing and visual artists in a public project in this region.
Battle of the Beers
August 6, 1-6pm
Hunt Club Farm
www.beachambassadors.com
ALL open-for-business 757 breweries (as of August 2016) compete on behalf of their chosen charity in 3 unique categories including: Best IPA, Brewer’s Choice, People’s Choice. Ticket includes tastings, one meal, and live music. Proceeds benefit St. Mary’s Home and other local charities.
Whistle Belly Pub Craft Beer Festival
Aug. 7, 12-5pm
Merchants Square, Williamsburg
www.dogstreetpub.com
Virginia beer & top notched food tastings, live music, and raffle prizes.
Bob Zentz’s Ramblin’ Road Show
August 10
Town Fountain Park, Norfolk
www.festevents.org
The Ramblin’ Conrad Story began on Hampton Blvd. one rainy November night 50 years ago, when a young man met the inspiration of a lifetime — Ramblin’ Conrad Buhler. That chance meeting brought the Great American Folk Revival and all things folklife to Hampton Roads in a big way for generations to come. Join Tidewater Troubadour Bob Zentz — the man who put the “folk” in Norfolk! — and all local folkies of all ages and persuasions for a joyous musical and cultural ramble though our shared folk tradition
Norfolk Latino Music Festival
August 13
Town Point Park
www.festevents.org
The sun goes down, the stars come out, and the largest outdoor, waterfront dance floor in Hampton Roads heats up with the hottest salsa, meringue, and guaguanco dancing on the East Coast. Live explosive Latin music by local, regional and national recording artists will fill Town Point Park and keep you moving all night long! This cultural celebration not only features great music, it also serves up mouth watering Latin cuisine and libations.
Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival
August 20
Hunt Club Farm
www.beerandbourbon.com
60 beers on tap, 40 bourbons, great BBQ, education seminars, and live music.
Carib Fest
August 20
Town Point Park
www.festevents.org
A celebration of Caribbean culture. Music performances include Morgan Heritage.
Funk Fest
August 26-28
24th Street at Oceanfront
www.beachstreetusa.com
The FunkFest Beach Party is the heart and soul of this weekend event, featuring music generated over the years by influential legends such as James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, George Clinton, and The Ohio Players. Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid-to late-1960’s when African-American musicians blended soul music, soulful jazz, and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground. Funk music was a major influence on the development of 1970’s disco music, and has even impacted house music and hip-hop.
Entertainment announced for 2016:
Friday, August 26 – 9:30pm-10:45pm, The Bar-Kays
Saturday, August 27 – 9:35pm-11:00pm, Cameo
American Music Festival
September 2-4
5th, 17th, 24th & 31st Street Stages at Oceanfront
www.beachstreetusa.com
The sounds of rock, jazz, country, R&B, and more flood the Virginia Beach oceanfront for three sun-filled days over Labor Day Weekend at the American Music Festival. The largest outdoor music event on the East Coast, the American Music Festival brings together national, regional, and local acts to play on a stage on the beach at 5th Street, as well as stages in all the parks along the boardwalk. With just about every music genre, there’s “something for everyone.” Performers to be announced