Festivals
250,000 people, organizers say. The event will feature more than 275 artists, as well as live entertainment, food and beverage vendors and family activities.
Admission: Free.
Information :757-425-0000 or
virginiamoca.org. LATIN FEST
When: Friday-Saturday, June 21-22. Where: Virginia Beach oceanfront. Details: A celebration of Latin culture, with lots of food, activities and live music. Among the highlights is a Zumba workout marathon.
Admission: General admission tickets are
$5 per day.
Information :757-385-7873 or
liveonatlantic.com. BAYOU BOOGALOO MUSIC & CAJUN FOOD FESTIVAL
When: Friday-Sunday, June 28-30; noon to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Town Point Park, downtown
Norfolk.
Details: Norfolk’s annual “second line” with New Orleans’ spirit and culture takes place along the Norfolk waterfront. The festival seeks to recreate the best of Louisiana. Two stages featuring national recording artists provide musical entertainment for the weekend. Arts and crafts and authentic food will also be part of the fun.
Admission: Friday night through Sunday requires paid admission. A three-day ticket is $30. Single-day admission is $15.
Information :757-441-2345 or
festevents.org. HAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL
When: Friday-Sunday, June 28-30. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Hampton Coliseum.
Details: Friday’s lineup includes Maxwell, Tamia, Najee with special guest Eric Roberson, and Ashley Felder; Saturday’s lineup includes KEM, Anthony Hamilton, Will Downing and Maysa, and The Gap Experience; Sunday’s lineup includes Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Babyface, Ledisi and Gerald Albright.
Admission: $76 per seat, per day from the Coliseum box office and Ticketmaster.
Information :757-838-4203 or hamptonjazzfestival.com. GWYNN’S ISLAND FESTIVAL When: Friday-Saturday, June 28-29. From 4:30-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday.
Where: Gwynn’s Island Community Building and grounds, Mathews County.
Details: Activities include music, antique cars, food, arts and crafts, pet parade and other family activities. 5K, 8K and 1-mile runs begin Saturday morning.
Admission: Free, but $12 for chicken dinner Friday night.
Information: 804-725-7860 or visitmathews.com/event/ 71st-annual-gwynns-island-festival. SANDSTOCK: A TRIBUTE TO ROCK AND ROLL
When: Friday-Sunday, June 28-30.
Where: Virginia Beach oceanfront, at 24th Street.
Details: A weekend of “tribute bands” covering a wide variety of classic rock acts.
Admission: Free.
Information :757-385-7873 or
liveonatlantic.com.
August
NORFOLK WATERFRONT JAZZ FESTIVAL
When: Friday-Saturday, August 23-24; 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Where: Town Point Park, downtown Norfolk.
Details: Two days of cool jazz in an outdoor setting. Friday’s lineup includes Sax to the Max, West Coast Jam and Shelia E. Saturday’s lineup includes Lindsey Webster, Jazz Funk Soul and Brian McKnight.
Admission: $30-$80 tickets and $200 VIP
package.
Information :757-441-2345 or
festevents.org. AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL When: Friday-Sunday, Aug. 30-Sept. 1.
Where: Virginia Beach oceanfront.
Details: More than 30 bands, including national recording artists, perform on stages on the beach and along the oceanfront. This year’s full roster has not yet been announced.
Admission: Most concerts are free but some require tickets.
Information :757-385-7873 or
liveonatlantic.com.
October
NEWPORT NEWS FALL FESTIVAL When: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 5-6.
Where: Newport News Park, Jefferson Avenue and Fort Eustis Boulevard, Newport News.
Details: Craft show features more than 150 vendors, folk musicians, craft demonstrations, children’s activities and food. Admission: Free, but $5 per car parking fee.
Information: nnparks.com.
AN OCCASION FOR THE ARTS When: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 4-6.
Where: Merchants Square, Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg.
Details: 51st annual event features nearly
140 artists in various media, juried art show, children’s activities, entertainment on several stages and food.
Admission: Free.
Information: aofta.org.
PORT WARWICK ART & SCULPTURE FESTIVAL
When: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 12-13.
Where: Styron Square, Port Warwick, Newport News
Details: 15th annual juried fine arts festival features up to 120 artists, children’s activities, entertainment throughout the weekend, food, beer and wine.
Admission: Free.
Information: pwartfest.org.
POQUOSON SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
When: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 18-20.
Where: Poquoson Municipal Park, 830 Poquoson Ave., Poquoson.
Details: A weekend celebrating the men and women who work the bay and harvest its bounty. Features arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, children’s activities, dozens of food vendors, watermen’s heritage display and fireworks. Lots and lots of fresh seafood.
Admission: Free, but a $5 per car parking
fee.
Information:
poquosonseafoodfestival.com YORKTOWN VICTORY CELEBRATION
When: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 19-20.
Where: American Revolution Museum, Old Route 238, Yorktown.
Details: Marks the anniversary of the decisive Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown on Oct. 19, 1781. Enjoy hands-on activities, military music and historic reenactors.
Admission: Included with museum admission, which is $12 for adults, $7 for ages 6-12, free for children 6 and younger. Residents of Williamsburg and York and James City counties get in free with proof of residency.
Information :757-253-4838 or
historyisfun.org. VIRGINIA FALL WINE FESTIVAL When: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 19-20.
Where: Town Point Park, downtown Nor
folk.
Details: Sample over 200 Virginia wines from 30 wineries.
Admission: General admission starting at $20, tasting tickets starting at $30.
Information: 7 5 7- 4 41-2 3 4 5 or
festevents.org.
November
URBANNA OYSTER FESTIVAL When: Friday-Saturday, Nov. 1-2. Where: Throughout the town of Urbanna.
Details: Parade, arts and crafts, oysters cooked many different ways at this annual feast and celebration.
Admission: Free other than $10 parking Friday and $20 parking Saturday.
Information :804-758-0368 or urbannaoysterfestival.com OYSTER ROAST
When: Typically a Saturday in November. Date is to-be-determined.
Where: Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News.
Details: All-you-can-eat Rappahannock oysters, fried seafood, chowder, sausages, dessert buffet, craft beers, wine, music, raffles and more.
Admission: TBD.
Information: 757-595-1900 or thevlm.org
December
GRAND ILLUMINATION When: Sunday, Dec. 8.
Where: Colonial Williamsburg. Parking at the visitor center, 101 Visitor Center Drive, Williamsburg.
Details: An 18th-century tradition of fireworks and revelry.
Admission: Free, though some events are
ticketed.
Information :888-965-7254 or colonialwilliamsburg.com.
January 2020
WINTER BLUES JAZZ FESTIVAL When: Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 16-19. Where: Merchant’s Square and other areas of downtown Williamsburg.
Details: Lineup includes several blues and jazz artists, special food-related events and more. Admission: Ticket information TBD.
Information :757-592-4289 or winterbluesjazzfest.com
February 2020
BACCHUS WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL When: Exact day TBD.
Where: Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News.
Details: Food samples, wines, craft beer and music from local artists.
Admission: TBD.
Information: 757-595-1900 or thevlm.org.
April 2019
DAFFODIL FESTIVAL When: Late March/early April.
Where: Along Main Street in Gloucester. Details: Annual celebration of daffodils, with parade, crafts and food vendors and showing of prize daffodils.
Admission: Free.
Information: daffodilfestivalva.org.