Fall Meets Fun in Virginia – A Season of Surprises in Virginia Beach
As fall approaches, Virginia adorns itself with new events, attractions, and culinary delights. Explore the city of Virginia Beach and its outdoor activities and art displays, enjoying the seasonal shift with more options to savor local celebrations and autumn experiences along its scenic shores.
OUTDOOR FUN REIGNS WITH MUSIC, SPORTS AND FESTIVALS
Something in the Water returns October 12 – 13– The blockbuster music festival produced by Virginia Beach native and Grammy Award winner Pharrell Williams is back! Something in the Water promises to bring a star-studded lineup to the shores of Virginia Beach on a new fall weekend full of music, fun, and culture. The “Piece by Piece” Lego biopic on Williams also is set to debut on Oct. 11th.
Neptune Festival celebrates its golden anniversary– King Neptune has the Midas touch this year, celebrating 50 years of Boardwalk Weekend Sept. 27 – 29. Spanning more than 30 blocks along the oceanfront, festivities include an oceanfront art and craft show, grand parade, outdoor concerts, family fun zone, athletic events and more. The signature International Sandsculpting Championship features master sculptors from around the world crafting art from 450 tons of sand.
Fan-favourite Jeep Fest expands to four days– Jeep enthusiasts now have a long weekend dedicated to the automotive brand. A new Holiday Lights Crawl kicks off the Nov. 8 – 11 celebrations, granting early access to the city’s popular oceanfront light display and the only time of year vehicles are permitted to drive on the Boardwalk. Other weekend events include sunrise beach cruises and a 4×4 sand course with day and LED-illuminated night runs.
ART AND CULTURE TAKE CENTER STAGE THIS SEASON
Virginia Aquarium debuts new outdoor art exhibition– The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center opens its newest changing exhibit, “TROLLS: Save the Humans” on September 13. Six giant, folklore-inspired troll sculptures by artist Thomas Dambo will be installed along the Aquarium’s Nature Trail, inspiring visitors to explore nature and treat our earth with care. The whimsical sculptures, crafted from reclaimed and recycled materials, will live at the Aquarium until January 20, 2025, and sightings are included with general admission. Additionally, the Aquarium will reopen the 900-foot-long trail’s scenic overlook this fall following the installation of a new observation deck.
Mural Festival announces new fall dates– The 7th Annual ViBe District Mural Festival splashes a rainbow of hues into a new season when it returns from September 27 to October 6. Across the span of 10 days, 10 featured artists paint original murals on buildings in Virginia Beach’s creative district as a celebration of its rich art scene. The outdoor festival complements the city’s legendary Boardwalk Art
Nearly 200 juried fine artists and craftsmen will be showcasing and selling work from October 4-6.
Africana Arts & Music Festival makes long-awaited return– The oceanfront park at 17th Street comes alive with cultures of the African continent celebrated through live soul and R&B performances, uplifting spoken word poetry, creative visual arts, and wine tastings between Oct. 4 – 6.
First Landing & False Cape State Parks install viewfinders for colorblind guests- A pair of Virginia Beach parks are among the nation’s first to install EnChroma-adapted viewfinders to help red-green colorblind guests better distinguish between colors in nature while also making colors appear more vibrant to those with normal vision. Led by Natural Tunnel State Park Chief Ranger Ethan Howes, who is colorblind himself, the Virginia State Parks system recently installed the new viewfinders at all 43 state park locations including Virginia Beach’s First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park.
Old Beach Farmers Market relocates to new permanent site– The weekly outdoor marketplace, Old Beach Farmers Market, now in ViBe District, features fresh seasonal produce, scratch-made bread and desserts, artisan soaps and skincare, pet products, and more from local farmers and vendors. Live music, outdoor art and food trucks set the scene for year-round, sustainable shopping.
Posh Surf Shop– Gear up for a surf sesh at the newly-opened Posh Surf Shop emphasizing affordable, locally sourced products and featuring local artists. Choose from a variety of boards plus beach apparel, accessories, kids’ toys and more from this ViBe District boutique.
“Fear No Ice” sculpting– Professional sculptors transform giant blocks of ice into masterful designs during this free series of outdoor performances on an oceanfront stage. The unique and interactive event on November 23rd in 31st Street Park will kick off the holiday season.
CULTURE FLAVORS NEW COFFEE AND ICE CREAM SHOPS
Yorkie’s– The newest endeavour from local chef Kip Poole, a contestant on HBO Max’s “The Big Brunch,” opened August 19. Yorkie’s, a modern deli at the gateway to the city on 21st Street, is a celebration of the connection and collaboration offered by partnerships with local farmers and purveyors. Culinary students from Poole’s nonprofit, the CROP Foundation, will be the deli’s servers and cooks. In addition to a variety of unique, farm-to-table sandwiches, the menu also includes tasty options for vegetarian and gluten-free guests. It is open seven days a week for both dine-in and takeout service.
Project Seed Coffee– A vibrant blend of Filipino tradition and coffee, Project Seed Coffee offers coffee and pastries inspired by Filipino flavours. Owner Erene Henninger incorporates ingredients from her native Philippines such as ube, pandan and toasted black sesame crafted in the city’s historic Kemps Landing Manor House (circa 1886). Enjoy specialty drinks like the ube iced latte topped with creamy ube foam and a selection of baked goods including ube Spanish bread and ensaymada.
PopLove Gelato Shop– Cool off with a handmade popsicle at the newly-opened PopLove Gelato Shop. The Colombian-owned ice cream shop is the perfect place to treat yourself to any of their 35 flavours of refreshing artisanal sweets. The store serves delicious smoothies, milkshakes and juices, though their speciality is gelato on a stick. Take your gelato popsicle on its own or paired with one of their drinks to make any day feel like endless summer.
The Deck Seagrill & Bar– The Cavalier Beach Club’s new restaurant, The Deck Seagrill & Bar, is a seafood lover’s paradise with a dock-to-table menu featuring fresh salads, soups, starters, steamed platters, coastal boils, handhelds and more. Enjoy delicious, locally sourced seafood and cocktails just steps from the beach with an open-air, panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean for lunch or dinner.
Handsome Biscuit– Known for baking some of the best biscuits in the south, Handsome Biscuit is slated to open near Virginia Beach’s Town Center by mid-September. Open daily with a variety of savory biscuit sandwiches anchored by juicy fried chicken, it is an artistic marriage of comfort food and Southern cooking is almost too pretty to eat.
