This Month, Fireworks Light Up Virginia Beach, Cover Bands Pay Homage to the Rock & Roll Greats, Chalk Artists Turn the Boardwalk their Canvas, the Beach Comes Alive with Music, and Much More

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (June 19, 2017) – Hit your summer stride in July as Virginia Beach rolls out even more fun and festivities. Events range from artistic to adventurous, guaranteeing a great and distinct experience for everyone. Get your live music fix, cruise around the coastline to watch for Fourth of July fireworks, and experience art all around you. Visitors and locals alike won’t want to miss out on the nonstop action and excitement that Virginia Beach has to offer!

FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES

Virginia Beach kicks off free fireworks displays starting June 25th, igniting the night all season long. Visitors can sink down into the sand or take a stroll beside the ocean. The fireworks shows can be seen anywhere along the oceanfront boardwalk. Weekly displays are 100% free, fun and last all summer! Schedule is as follows.

  • Fourth of July | July 4 – 9:30 p.m.

  • Weekly Displays

    • July 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30 - 10:00 p.m.

    • August 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20 - 10:00 p.m.

  • Virginia Beach FunkFest | August 26 - 10:30 p.m.

  • American Music Festival | September 1,2 – 10:30 p.m.

Also held at the 24th Street Park, along with the 17th and 31st Street parks, the Stars and Stripes Explosion will pay a musical tribute to Independence Day (July 4). The main stage at 24th Street will feature the Quantico Marine Corps Rock and Concert Bands, while the 17th Street Stage will feature Chester B’s Motown Review. Running from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the shows will culminate in a massive fireworks display that will send beautiful colors and patterns shooting across the horizon.

If you want to take a breather from the beaches, you can’t beat the annual 4th of July Firework Cruise with Rudee Tours for a relaxing evening on the water (July 4). Climb aboard one of Rudee Tours’ roomy headboats, featuring upper and lower decks, for an ideal view of the fireworks lighting up the Virginia Beach Oceanfront! Reserve your tickets now for just $15 a pop (children under 3 are free). Boats will begin boarding at 8 p.m., taking off at 8:45 p.m. No need to worry about refreshments, as sodas, snacks, and adult beverages will be available for purchase on board! After a long day at the crowded beach or boardwalk, head out onto the water for a leisurely change of pace.

SEASIDE MASTERPIECES

Bask in the nostalgia of childhood afternoons while exploring the work of local artists at the Chalk the Walk ARTsplosion at the Resort Beach (July 8). Spanning three blocks from 16th through 18th Street, the quirky competition will prompt hundreds of artists and aspiring artists to create their best four-by-four mini mural for trophies and prizes. A panel of esteemed judges from the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) will evaluate the entries on composition, creativity, use of color and adherence to theme. Anyone can register on the boardwalk at 17th Street, choosing from amateur, professional, and youth divisions.

COASTAL CONCERTS

Taking over the beach at 24th Street, Sandstock - A Tribute to Rock & Roll (June 30 - July 2), is a beach-inspired variation on “Woodstock.”  National and regional tribute artists, who cover everything from Led Zeppelin and Boston to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Matthews Band, will crank out hit after hit on two beach stages at the Virginia Beach oceanfront! All performances, which are free to the public, will be held on “dueling” stages on the beach at 24th Street, adjacent to the 24th Street Park.  Merchandise vendors will be featured in the park itself.

Enjoy music, ranging from rock to blues to Motown, delicious food and local artists’ crafts at the eighth annual “Summer Nights at Town Center” concert series. This local favorite, Ynot Wednesday, takes place every Wednesday night until Aug. 30 on the Sandler Center Outdoor Plaza. The Virginia Beach Farmers’ Market will have local farmers with their fresh fruits, vegetables and other homegrown items on the plaza. Check out the work of Virginia Beach local artists, who will set up their handcrafted items inside the Sandler Center lobby.

The Resort Beach sidewalks transform into a stage during Beach Street USA, when musicians and novelty acts perform along Atlantic Avenue during the summer and fall months (through Labor Day Weekend). From 7:30 p.m. - 11 p.m., an eight-block corridor will transform into a magical world of its own that is part-circus, part-outdoor music festival and a complete family-friendly zone. Performers from all over the U.S. and Canada visit Virginia Beach each year for the opportunity to entertain visitors during this month-long event.

Come stay with us this summer or begin planning your adventure 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.