How to Spend Your Labor Day Weekend in Virginia Beach
We love it when holidays grant us the opportunity to extend our weekend fun, and Labor Day brings with it an opportunity to squeeze in one last taste of summer. With plentiful weekend-long experiences sure to fill your (sand) bucket, you won’t lack in options. Whether you visit us for a day, for the weekend or for an extended getaway, we hope you enjoy mixing and matching the experiences of your choice from our picks below.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, and there’s a work week behind you and worth toasting to. So, find your Virginia Beach happy hour and get the long weekend started!
Want to dive right into beach mode? Kick things off in elevated coastal style with handcrafted cocktails, shareable plates and plenty of oysters at The Atlantic on Pacific, or toast to the weekend beachside at Tulu Seaside Bar & Grill.
Plan to wind down your evening at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront to enjoy Live! On Atlantic – free live performances and entertainment across various Atlantic Avenue parks from 7 to 11 p.m.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
Kick off your first full day in Virginia Beach with a quintessential VB brunch at Doc Taylor’s, a one-time doctor’s home serving up delicious comfort breakfast and lunch food, bloody Marys and mimosas, just footsteps away from the Oceanfront beach.
Once you’ve fueled up with some yummy food, spend the day basking in the sun and enjoying the warm waters and calm waves of the Atlantic Ocean. When hunger strikes, head to VB’s favorite local sandwich shop, Taste Unlimited, and order yourself the North Ender to lunch like a local. Make your way back to the sand with a ride on a four-wheeled surrey; you’ll burn off some lunch and take in the Virginia Beach Boardwalk in a classic (and fun) way!
In the evening, pick your beach and pick your Labor Day weekend entertainment – all weekend long! National recording artists (including Smash Mouth, Ben Folds, Ricky Scaggs & Kentucky Thunder and more) take to Virginia Beach’s oceanfront park stages with free musical performances by the shore during the season finale of the Oceanfront Concert Series. Bring your beach chair or your beach blanket for an unforgettable evening saluting all things music, beginning at 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
Want to change up your beach scene – or your Sunday Virginia Beach scene altogether? We’ve got you covered!
Gear up for the day with an invigorating hike through preserved marshland dotted with Bald Cypress Trees adorned with Spanish moss at First Landing State Park. Then, grab a Honey Cinnamon Latte and a tasty bite at nearby American Brew before strategizing your spot in the sand at the Chesapeake Bay Beach. The Chesapeake Bay offers two miles of beaches to enjoy, spanning from the Lynnhaven Inlet to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, so take your pick! And be sure to leave plenty of time on the itinerary for a seafood lunch (or dinner) at one of the nearby seafood restaurants serving up their fresh menus dockside.
Want to stay away from the beach altogether but still want to enjoy some traditional VB fun? Embark on a Mural Walking Tour throughout the ViBe Creative District to take in colorful and thought-provoking murals created by local artists. Prefer to soak up the local culture indoors? Check out the last few days of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, where admission is always free.
In the evening, soak in the uptown vibes at the Virginia Beach Town Center. Enjoy a classic martini at Twist then grab a tasty bite at one of Town Center’s multitude of restaurants and bars, including Three Notch’d Brewing Co., Cantina Laredo, Bravo Cucina Italiana, Keagan’s Irish Pub and so much more, before winding down your Friday with laughs at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, featuring comedian and actor Don “DC” Curry for a weekend-long special engagement.
MONDAY, SEPT. 4 - LABOR DAY
Change up your pace today with a scenic drive through the lush farmland of Pungo and onto Little Island Park in Sandbridge. Lay on the beach, walk along the ocean’s edge on the Little Island Pier or ride fat tire bikes on the sand (you can rent them nearby from Surf and Adventure Co.).
We have a feeling this might be one of the most relaxing Mondays you’ve spent yet. Cheers to that!
