Virginia Beach Swings into Spring with Coastal Cuisine, Fitness and Seasonally-Themed Shows

Spring blooms with Shamrock Marathon, Spring Classic Soccer Tournament, Town Center Restaurant Week, Spring Love Wedding Show and Mid-Atlantic Home & Garden Show

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (March xx, 2014) – The weather is warming up and Virginia Beach is welcoming visitors to cure their winter blues and swing into spring with events celebrating fitness, cuisine, wedding and gardening.

Shamrock Marathon

March 14-16

More than 28,000 runners are expected to descend on Virginia Beach over St Patrick’s Day weekend for the annual Shamrock Marathon – ranked #1 among the 15 Best Spring Marathons in the U.S. This Boston Marathon qualifier features a scenic oceanfront route, course-long entertainment, a two-day sports and fitness expo and huge post-race parties featuring live entertainment, ice cold Yuengling beer and much more. Attendees and participants are encouraged to get in the spirit by tagging their social media posts with the hashtags #VBcharms and #VisitVaBeach when sharing the weekend-long festivities on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. www.ShamrockMarathon.com

Virginia Beach Spring Classic Soccer Tournament

March 15-16

Beach FC’s Virginia Beach Spring Classic is one of the leading early-season soccer tournaments in the Northeast and offers three competitive levels of competition offered for soccer players ages nine through 20. The event also gives high school players the opportunity to get in front of the many college coaches that attend the tournament each year. Spectators can watch the tournament games at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex and Princess Anne Athletic Complex, both located in Virginia Beach. www.BeachFC.com Town Center Restaurant Week March 23-29 Virginia Beach visitors can indulge in prix fixe specials from 19 dining establishments during Town Center Restaurant Week, when downtown restaurants, such as Sonoma Wine Bar, Zushi, Saffron, Gordon Biersch Brewing Company and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, among others, will offer special three-course lunch and dinner menus for just $10, $20 and $30. www.VABeachTownCenter.com

Spring Love Wedding Show

March 30

Show Bride will host the Spring Love Wedding Show at the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach, showcasing vendors from around Hampton Roads and culminating in a bridal fashion show. Attendees can take advantage of a number of freebies and giveaways, including complimentary printed wedding invitations and a chance to win the honeymoon of their dreams.

Tickets are $5 online or $10 at the door. Grooms attend for free. www.ShowBride.com

Mid-Atlantic Home & Garden Show

April 11-13

The Tidewater Builders Association is sponsoring the Mid-Atlantic Home & Garden show, featuring area exhibitors and an exciting line-up of HGTV celebrity home and garden experts such as William Moss of HGTV's "Dig In" and Alison Victoria, host of the popular “Crashes” series. Other event highlights include the Xpogo Stunt Team and Great Meatball Challenge, in which area chefs will create their best meatballs that will be judged by Top Chef Mike Isabella and the first 100 attendees. Admission is $10 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under. www.MidAtlanticHomeShow.com

What better way to soothe cabin fever than a dose of sunshine and sandy beaches? This spring, travelers can enjoy Virginia Beach’s variety of year-round offerings – from a vibrant downtown scene to abundant parks and waterways. To learn more about the resort city or request a complimentary vacation guide, contact the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau by calling 1-800-VA-BEACH.