This July, Celebrate Independence Day, Enjoy the Hermit Crab Challenge, Take in a Performance from Cirque du Soleil or Immerse Yourself in Arts and Cultural Events
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (June 29, 2015) – Few cities throw a patriotic beach bash like Virginia Beach! This July, visitors can sit underneath a colorful display of red, white and blue along the oceanfront. The fun kicks off with the Fourth of July weekend festivities, including ViBe First Friday and the Stars and Stripes Explosion, then culminate with the quirky Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge and thrilling Kooza performance from Cirque du Soleil.
STARS, STRIPES AND COLORFUL CRUSTACEANS
Celebrate Independence Day at the Stars and Stripes Explosion (July 4), a star-spangled salute to the U.S.A., featuring live performers lining the Resort Beach boardwalk and bands cranking out tribute tunes to the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Journey and U2. The 20th Street stage will be the focal point of the event, with Symphonicity and the Virginia Beach Chorale performing patriotic songs, Broadway standards and folk music. The grand finale begins with a magical fireworks show over the oceanfront, lighting up the sky with brilliant colors and patterns. Watch the display from the ocean by hopping aboard the 4th of July Fireworks Cruise (July 4), departing at 8:45 p.m. It is an eight-legged race to the finish, where the fastest crab will be awarded the “Order of the Mercury Claw” trophy during the Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge 2015 (July 25), truly a one-of-a-kind event! Enter the Curvaceous Crustacean Beauty Pageant with a uniquely-decorated display sure to be judged on beauty and creativity. Participation is free and everyone receives a medal for being a part of the fun!
ARTS AND CULTURE
Indulge in authentic, savory dishes such as baklava, gyros and stuffed pita at My Big Fat Greek Party (July 10-12), a three-day Greek-American party featuring Greek cuisine, music and festivities. Learn traditional Greek dances, browse the market or savor the flavors of Greek dishes, desserts and pastries. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, and children 12 or younger receive free admission. Come out to Chalk the Walk ARTsplosion (July 11) and help turn a portion of Virginia Beach’s iconic three-mile boardwalk into a canvas of color! Participating artists receive a four-by-four-foot piece of real estate between 17th and 15th Streets to create a masterpiece. Judges from the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), located in Virginia Beach just blocks from the Resort Beach, will award trophies and cash prizes in professional, amateur and youth divisions based on composition, use of color, theme and creativity. A magical, adrenaline-filled display of acrobatics will be coming to life in Virginia Beach for the first time! Kooza from Cirque du Soleil (July 16 – Aug. 16) explores the themes of fear, identity, recognition and power through a wonderful spectacle of two circus traditions: acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. This live performance, held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, is set in an electrifying and exotic kingdom full of surprises, thrills and chills, sure to keep the rapt attention of children of all ages. Ticket prices begin at $35. Calling all writers, poets, musicians and comedians to MOCA Nights (July 21)! Every third Tuesday of each month, MOCA Night offers free admission to the museum and provides a variety of entertainment, including open-mic performances, gallery tours, hands-on art classes and grown-up scavenger hunts in addition to a cash bar, “757 Eat the Streets” Food Truck Rodeo and live music, courtesy of Bonfire Magazine.
RUNNING ALL SUMMER LONG
Explore Virginia Beach’s ViBe Creative District during First Friday ViBe (July 3), when local artisans and shops extend their hours to feature special events, music, food and other entertainment throughout the neighborhood’s galleries and stores, located just steps off the oceanfront boardwalk at the Resort Beach. The Virginia Aquarium Family Great Adventure Series (July 9 & 23) also offers discovery and entertainment at the Resort Beach, where families can take part in an interactive adventure that leads to various sites along the boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue with the hopes of unraveling a mystery. During each adventure, participants dress up as characters to make the contest come alive. To wind down, settle into the sand for a family-friendly themed movie shown on a giant inflatable screen on the beach! All events are free and open to the public. Head downtown for the Town Fair at Town Center (July 17), featuring locally handmade art, jewelry, goods and fair-trade merchandise. On the third Friday of each month, now through September, residents and visitors alike can stroll around the fountain plaza of Town Center to view more than 30 merchants’ handmade and fair-trade goods. Spend sweet summertime at these unforgettable events in Virginia Beach, or begin planning your visit for later in the year. To learn more about Virginia Beach, plan a stay or request a complimentary vacation guide, contact the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau by calling 1-800-VA-BEACH or going to www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com.
