7 Virginia Beach Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss

Virginia Beach is a beautiful oceanfront city, but there’s plenty to do beyond lounging on its sunny shores. This coastal destination hosts dozens of festivals every year. Did you know you can enter a sand sculpture contest, sample dozens of craft beers or dance in the sand to the sounds of your favorite music? With food festivals in the spring and holiday lights on the beach in the winter, there’s always an excuse to get outside and experience the events in Virginia Beach no matter what time of the year you’re visiting.

Spring

Taste the fruit of the season at the Pungo Strawberry Festival

The Dolly Madison biscuit, one of many sweet treats available at the Pungo Strawberry Festival, is best enjoyed with a fork and knife. Photo credit: The Handsome Biscuit

You can try strawberry tacos, the Dolly Madison strawberry biscuit and about 50 more fruity concoctions at this family-friendly, outdoor festival over Memorial Day weekend. Pause between bites for live entertainment, arts and crafts, a parade and more. Admission to the Pungo Strawberry Festival is free, but there is a charge for carnival rides.

Summer

Salute the troops at the Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival

National artists perform on the oceanfront stage during the Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival.

Climb aboard an amphibious Navy hovercraft and other military vehicles during this June event, then play on the beach as you listen to the rousing sounds of a military band at the Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival. It’s only fitting that this city, home to one of the largest military bases in the world, would host this huge three-day outdoor festival, where you can salute the troops by enjoying concerts from national acts such as Darius Rucker and Jake Owen, see military demonstrations from a Marine Corps silent drill platoon and more.

Get inspired by the ocean air at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art Boardwalk Art Show

Hundreds of paintings, woodworkings, sculptures, jewelry and mixed-media works by artists from around the country are framed by an ocean backdrop as 250,000 people stroll 15 blocks of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk during this four-day art festival in June. Live entertainment, food and a pop-up beer garden add the finishing touches to this fine art show, which has been attracting talented artists for more than 60 years.

Dance on the beach at the American Music Festival

Feel the sand beneath your toes at the American Music Festival where you can sway to the sounds of rock, country and R&B. More than 20 artists appear on several boardwalk stages during the three-day Labor Day weekend; previous performers include Sheryl Crow, the Steve Miller Band, Travis Tritt, Culture Club and Blue Öyster Cult. In addition to being conveniently located near beachfront hotels, many of the concerts are free.

Fall

See stunning sandcastles at the Neptune Festival

The Neptune Festival, one of Virginia Beach’s most popular events, typically draws more than 400,000 people to the boardwalk. Photo credit: Neptunefestival.com

There are many events to help celebrate the end of summer at the Neptune Festival (which normally takes place in late September or early October), including a regatta, an arts and crafts show, concerts and the famous International Sand Sculpting Championship. Among the sand sculptures that have placed in previous years is The Color Purple, a tribute to Prince complete with doves, Neptune’s Organ and Time Spinner.

Sip brews with a view at the Virginia Beach Craft Beer Festival

The crisp October air marks the perfect time to sample more than 50 craft beers from dozens of state and national breweries at the Virginia Beach Craft Beer Festival. Sip your brews while enjoying live music at this outdoor festival on the waterfront. A limited number of tickets are available each day, so advance purchase is recommended; one ticket scores you unlimited sampling and a commemorative cup.

Winter

Visit a water wonderland with Holiday Lights at the Beach

Pelicans and porpoises join Santa and his elves as part of the 30 blocks of light displays at the annual Holiday Lights Merry Mile which kicks off in late November. Especially impressive are the 20- to 30-foot tall fixtures in the gigantic 12 Days of Christmas display, which sparkle against the night sky. Turn on the holiday music, sip some hot chocolate and feel like a kid again as you drive down the boardwalk after dark.

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