Mardi Gras parties and a dark beer festival
Our picks for what’s happening in the Hampton Roads region and North Carolina:
Chocolate hunt
Join the Historic Main Street Merchants of Chincoteague for its 17th annual Death by Chocolate. Pick up a chocolate treat from participating businesses and validate your scavenger hunt card. Those who cross the finish line are eligible for prize drawings.
4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 17 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 18. Chincoteague Island. 443-614-6801. Free. tinyurl.com/ cideathbychocolate
Let the good times roll
Get jazzed up about the Krewe De Radegast Bourbon Street Bash. The evening includes a New Orleans-style dinner buffet, cocktails and music. Sip a Fat Tuesday slushy while doing a jig.
7 to 11 p.m. Feb. 18. New Realm Brewing Co., 1209 Craft Lane, Virginia Beach. 757-3028550. Tickets $55. tinyurl.com/ krewederadegast
Eat and be merry
Eagle Creek Golf Club and Grill is celebrating Mardi Gras. Enjoy Cajun shrimp and crawfish dip and creole catfish bites for starters; shrimp, chicken and sausage gumbo over rice, and Cajun mac and cheese for main dishes; bananas foster for dessert. Live music starts at 8 p.m.
7 to 11 p.m. Feb. 18. 109 Green View Road, Moyock, N.C. 252-2329902. Make reservations by phone. tinyurl.com/eaglecreekmardigras
Beer fest
Meet friends at the Dark Knight of Winter Beer Festival. It features more than 20 breweries and the list keeps growing. Get unlimited dark beer samples and a festival glass.
Noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 19. St. George Brewing Co., 204 Challenger Way, Hampton. Tickets start at $10. tinyurl.com/ darkknightbeer
Other events to explore
Gal-entine’s Wine and Chocolate: 6 to 7 pm. Feb. 16. Williamsburg Winery, 5800 Wessex Hundred, Williamsburg.
757-229-0999. Tickets $30. tinyurl. com/wmbgpairing
Mardi Gras Fat Saturday Bash: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Feb. 18. Eagles
Nest Rockin’ Country Bar, 1723 Parkview Drive, Chesapeake. 757-420-9191. tinyurl.com/ fatsaturday
The Cajun Occasion Mardi Gras Celebration: Noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 18. Sanctuary Vineyards, 7005 Caratoke Highway, Jarvisburg, N.C. 252-491-2387. Tickets start at $20. tinyurl.com/cajunoccasion
We Love Microgreens! Grow Your Own Superfood: Noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 18. Slover Library, 235 E. Plume St., Norfolk. 757-431-7491. Free, reserve a seat. tinyurl.com/ slovermicrogreens