Guide to Virginia Beach for summer 2024: What not to miss
WHAT’S NEW
Point Break Reggae Festival
JUNE 1-2: Virginia Beach will be jammin’ following the Memorial Day holiday as a new, seaside festival spotlights reggae music, food and culture. Gates open daily at noon with more than 20 concerts headlined by Grammy-nominated Rebelution and alternative rock band Sublime plus performances by Steel Pulse, Stephen Marley and Wiz Khalifa. General admission starts at $149 for 2-day tickets. pointbreakfestival.com
Virginia Beach Street Art Festival
MAY 30 – JUNE 2: Outdoor street corner sculptures that dot the primary corridors of Virginia Beach’s ViBe District add color and creativity to the walkable arts community. A group of 15 artists will paint all the neighborhood identifiers during the inaugural festival weekend, and an interactive and family-friendly community mural invites all visitors to contribute to its design. Shop a vibrant community of artisans, crafters and restaurants that add to the appeal of the free, new event just steps from the beach. vibecreativedistrict.org/event/vb-street-art-festival
EVENTS
Jackalope Festival
MAY 31 – JUNE 2: More than 500 athletes from eight countries bring their skills back to the beach when the nation’s premier adventure sports competition returns this summer. Adrenaline rushes fuel competitors and spectators alike with mind-blowing exhibitions in street and vert skateboarding, bouldering, freestyle motocross, BASE jumping and skimboarding. This free event held at 31st Street Park and on oceanfront courses is a perfect match for thrill seekers this summer. jackalope.tribu.co/virginia-beach
USO Experience
MAY 30 – JUNE 2: Virginia Beach is home to four military installations and thousands of U.S. military servicemembers, and the city celebrates its service with a series of live concerts and informational exhibits in the 17th and 24th Street Parks on the oceanfront. Visit the military village to learn more about the mission of each branch of service and the people who protect and defend our nation every day at this free weekend festival. 7:30 p.m. Free. uso.org/usoexperience-vb
The North American Sand Soccer Championship
JUNE 7-9: Kick off the summer with the North American Sand Soccer Championship. More than 11,000 players will rock the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Gather 10 friends to join your team and design some fun shirts or watch the fun. There are over 80 brackets seeded to support all levels of play — from the beginner to the most professional. sandsoccer.com
62nd Annual Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships
AUG. 18-25: Surfs up! Hang 10 at the Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships. Gather oceanfront at 1st Street Jetty through 9th Street to watch the pros shred waves. Celebrate the surfing lifestyle and watch other competitions like beach volleyball, swimsuit and skateboarding. surfecsc.com
50th Annual Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend
SEPT. 27-29: Daily concerts at two festival stages feature more than 20 performances from local and national bands. Over 200 artisans display handmade work at Neptune’s Art & Craft Show, and 200 more food and shopping vendors fill 33 blocks of boardwalk. On the beach, you will find nearly two dozen magnificent sand sculptures created by world-renowned sculptors at Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship. Other weekend events include Neptune’s 8k Race, Grand Parade, Volleyball Tournament, Poseidon’s Playground, Healthy Haven, Atlantic Regatta, Youth Art Show and more. neptunefestival.com