October 2026
October in Virginia Beach is an absolute blast. Catch an unbeatable show from the touring musicians, bands or comedians stopping into town, or embrace the fall spirit with family-friendly autumn festivals and spooky Halloween happenings. Here are the October events in Virginia Beach you definitely don’t want to miss.
Sharks After Dark
October 1
Say hello to your favorite sea creatures after dark at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Taking place on the first Thursday of every month, this 21+ event features tasty bites and drinks, party games, a DJ and the highlight: nocturnal animal encounters. Spot sharks and moray eels at their liveliest! Tickets start at $38 for non-members.
Oyster Week VA
October 1–October 7
Get your fill of delicious Virginia-grown oysters at Oyster Week VA, held in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Throughout the week, some of the best restaurants in the state feature local oysters on their menu, including the lovely Chic’s Laundry of Virginia Beach. 15% of the oyster sales from this event will go to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to help them keep the bay and its creatures healthy and thriving.
Fil Fest
October 2–October 4
Since 2015, Fil Fest has been sharing the best of Filipino and Filipino-American culture with the Virginia Beach community. Held at Rudee Loop, this incredible free event features lumpia-eating contests, cosplay contests, traditional Filipino dance and music, local vendors and more.
ViBe Mural Festival
October 2–October 11
Each year, ten artists are welcomed to the ViBe Creative District to each create an incredible mural. Over the course of this ten-day festival, these artists do what they do best, painting massive walls in the neighborhood in their signature styles. Watch them as they work or pop by after the festival has wrapped up to see the completed pieces.
India Fest
October 3
Held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, India Fest is a vibrant, day-long celebration of Indian culture. Enjoy Bollywood dancing and music, yoga demonstrations, fashion shows and jewelry, henna/mehendi and face-painting, an Indian bazaar and vendors, plus plenty of flavorful Indian cuisine. Even better, admission and parking are both free.
Plantella
October 3
Stock up on houseplants galore at Plantella, a new-to-Virginia-Beach houseplant expo held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Snag hard-to-find flora and chat with fellow plant enthusiasts all day long. Tickets start at $18.60.
Virginia Beach Coin Show
October 9
Presented by the Tidewater Coin Club, the Virginia Beach Coin Show brings together collectors, investors and dealers at the Virginia Beach Convention Center with an impressive selection of domestic and foreign coins, currency, rare finds and artifacts. As you peruse the in-demand wares, you’ll also have the chance to win items for free through ongoing door prizes and raffles.
Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show
October 9–October 11
The Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show is one of the greatest showings of creativity around. Dozens of artists come together on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk in the Oceanfront to share just about every form of visual arts under the sun – from painting to leatherworking. All the while, enjoy live music, dance and theater performances and sunny Virginia Beach skies.
Hampton Roads Black Food Festival
October 18
Experience the best of Black food culture at the Hampton Roads Black Food Festival at Mount Trashmore Park. Featuring the region’s finest Black-owned vendors, try everything from fresh seafood to barbecue, vegan eats to baked goods. General admission is completely free, and doors open at noon. Arrive early, because booths will sell out.
Virginia Bridal & Wedding Expo
October 25
Planning a wedding sometime soon? Your job will be much easier with a visit to the Virginia Bridal & Wedding Expo, where you can meet everyone you’ll need to know as you plan the big day. Chat with caterers, florists, DJs and photographers as you roam the Virginia Beach Convention Center, and get a good chunk of your planning done in one fell swoop.
Pig & Oyster Fest
October 25
Dig into a spread of locally sourced oysters and flavorful pork barbecue at Pig & Oyster Fest. Hosted by the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum, this annual fundraiser is always a hit, giving guests delicious food while supporting the museum for months to come. Tickets start at $70.
Halloween Events
Haunted Hunt Club Farm
September 25–October 31
Get ready to feel chills running down your spine at Hunt Club Farm, which eerily transforms after dark into Haunted Hunt Club Farm. The farm’s “Festival of Fear” features four spine-tingling attractions, including Haunted Hayride, Forbidden Fields, Death Alley and Village of the Dead. Dozens of actors, all with a talent for terror, will be on hand to maximize the fear factor. When you’re ready to scream, doors open at 6:30 p.m. on weekends and select weeknights in October.
Hunt Club Harvest Fair
September 26–November 1
Though Hunt Club Farm is extra sinister at night, it’s a family-friendly extravaganza during the day with its Harvest Fair. Dive into a gigantic pumpkin patch, meet adorable animals at the petting farm and enjoy pony rides and hay rides. On weekends, the fun ramps up with carnival rides, food vendors and a DJ, making this fall festival the place to be.
Halloween Nights at the Aquarium
October 16–October 17
Don your favorite costume and head to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center with Halloween Nights at the Aquarium. The perfect balance of spooky and family-friendly, this event features mind-blowing science experiments, costumed scuba divers, a DJ, bubble magic and an epic costume contest. Tickets start at $33 for kids and $38 for adults for non-members.
Wicked 10k
October 30–October 31
Lace up your sneakers and head to the Virginia Beach Convention Center for tricks, treats and the starting line for an unforgettable Wicked 10K Halloween run. Race along the famous three-mile oceanfront boardwalk on a breezy “Monster Mile” Friday evening, or a bright and early 5K or 10K on Saturday. All runners earn a medal.
Up for a challenge and an extra medal? Run the Monster Mile on Friday, then the 10K (Pumpkin Smash Challenge) or 5K (Bat’s Brew Challenge) on Saturday for bonus race bling. Oh, and don’t forget to flaunt your best costume
Scary Shack at The Shack on 8th
October 30–October 31
Get ready for two nights of spooky festivities during the Scary Shack event at The Shack on 8th. This 21+ event features more than its fair share of drinks and music, tricks and treats. And don’t forget to don your creepiest costume – $1,000 in cash prizes are up for grabs. Tickets start at $23.70.
Nightmare Mansion
Now–October 31
As one of Virginia’s longest-running walk-through haunted houses, Nightmare Mansion is the place to go when you want to scream your head off this Halloween. It claims to be the world’s first live-streaming haunted house, so you can watch in real-time as visitors face their worst nightmares. You can even take the terror to the next level with an escape room experience called ESCAPE! Nightmare Mansion—designed to double the thrills and double the fear.
Do note that both the haunted house and the escape room are very intense and were designed with adults in mind. Neither is recommended for children. For the escape room in particular, brave souls must be at least 15.
Live Performances
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
October 17
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater has just one performance in October: the iconic heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch (October 17). For more information, visit the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater website.
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Throughout October
The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts has a solid October lineup. The month starts off with several performances of Frozen by the Virginia Beach Musical Theatre (October 9–October 11), which will be an absolute blast for kids, and a show by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, a Grammy-nominated trombone player that’ll take you back to New Orleans.
Later in the month, the adults get their fair share of entertainment, with shows by John Cusack (October 22) and Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (October 23). And don’t miss the center’s fresh new take on the beloved ballet Swan Lake (October 24), now with vivid light design and illuminated costumes that make the dancers and storyline pop even more. For a full list of performances, check out the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts’ event page.
The Dome
Throughout October
No matter what genre of music you’re into, The Dome will have something for you this October. Listen to rap with Chief Keef (October 9), rock with Polyphia (October 11) and Brand New (October 15), and R&B with Steve Lacy (October 20). For more information, visit The Dome’s website.
Funny Bone Comedy Club
Throughout October
Of all the Virginia Beach venues, Funny Bone Comedy Club has the most packed lineup, with plenty of performers every week! See Rene Vaca (October 2–October 3), Tacarra Williams (October 9–October 10), Don “DC” Curry (October 16–October 17), DeRay Davis (October 30–October 31) and many more amazing comedians. For a full list of performances, refer to Funny Bone Comedy Club’s event calendar.
Little Theatre of Virginia Beach
September 18–October 11
The laugh-out-loud comedy, Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo, is taking the stage at the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach this fall. When two fading 1950s theatre stars get one last shot at Hollywood stardom, everything that can go wrong does. Mistaken identities, ridiculous misunderstandings and pure slapstick chaos are just the beginning. Tickets start at $30.
Zeiders American Dream Theater
Throughout October
This October, Zeiders American Dream Theater has two must-see performances. Families will love the production of The Grimm Sister (October 3 & October 10) put on by the Children’s Theater of Hampton Roads. And adults will have a blast at Nocturnia: A Broadway Halloween Concert (October 8–October 10), a full set of spooky Halloween Broadway tunes – come dressed in your Halloween best! For a full list of events, refer to Zeiders American Dream Theater’s event calendar.
Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center
October 9–October 11 and October 16–October 19
Located on the Batten University campus, the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center is hosting several showings of Seussical the Musical this month. Meet many of Dr. Seuss’ most famous characters – including The Cat in the Hat and Horton a la Horton Hears a Who! – in a whimsical, family-friendly story.
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Written by Sarah Etinas
As a full-time freelance travel writer and editor, Sarah Etinas is always on the lookout for her next adventure. With a passion for exploring new destinations, she's covered everything from the vibrant food scene in Hawaii to the stunning outdoor landscapes of Florida. Her work has been featured in renowned publications like TimeOut, TripAdvisor, Thrillist, and Lonely Planet. When she's not writing, Sarah practices what she preaches by hiking to beautiful waterfalls, visiting local markets, and dining on the most unique dishes she can find.
