October 2023
It’s officially fall in Virginia Beach, but as the coastal temps drop (ever so slightly), the family-friendly fun continues to rise! This month, enjoy some of our most favorite and classic Virginia Beach experiences along the Oceanfront, as well as festive, season-themed celebrations city-wide.
QUINTESSENTIAL VB FESTIVITIES
This month, join visitors from around the world as they descend to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront for three long-running and quintessentially VB festivities: the 49th Annual Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend, the International Sandsculpting Championship, and the 67th Annual Boardwalk Art Show.
49th Annual Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend
6th - 36th Streets at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Sept. 29 - Oct. 1
The grand culmination of The Neptune Festival series of events, Boardwalk Weekend – now in its 49th year – brings together an array of family-friendly festivities for one unforgettable weekend on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Enjoy free concerts daily at festival stages scattered along 30 blocks of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and featuring more than 20 local, regional and national recording artists. Browse the works of more than 200 artisans at the Art & Craft Show, or marvel at the magnificent sand sculptures displayed at the International Sandsculpting Championship. Weekend events also include races, a volleyball tournament, a regatta, a Youth Art Show, a Family Fun Zone, the Neptune Festival Grand Parade, a race and so much more. So, take your pick!
International Sandsculpting Championship
6th-8th Streets at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Sept. 29 - Oct. 8
Watch sculptors from around the world turn grains of sand into works of art in just three days! The signature event of the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival since its inception, the International Sandsculpting Championship has distinguished itself as the most prestigious event of its kind in the nation – and is sure to leave you in awe!
67th Annual Boardwalk Art Show
20th-35th Streets at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Oct. 20-22
As one of the only outdoor art shows produced by an accredited museum, the Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show has been ranked as one of the “Top 15 Fine Art Shows of the Decade” by Sunshine Magazine, the three-day festival welcomes nearly 200 artists from around the country to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Family Park at 24th Street Park will feature FREE activities for kids of all ages – including pumpkin-picking, art kits, face-painting, balloon animals and live entertainment – on Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m.
HALLOWEEN HAUNTS
Get in the spirit of the ghoulish season with these fun festivities across Virginia Beach.
Harvest Fair
Hunt Club Farm
Sept. 30 - Oct. 31
The crisp fall weather marks the start of the ever-popular Harvest Fair at Hunt Club Farm, featuring a bushel of activities for the whole family. Experience Virginia Beach’s largest pumpkin patch and the city’s only Petting Farm and Birdwalk Aviary. Climb into the branches of Hunt Club Farm’s new TreeWalk Adventure or let the kids take a ride on the farm’s sure-footed ponies. Festivities include seasonal foods, specialty gifts, and a DJ with music and games on the weekends. As the sun sets, the spookier the experiences become!
Haunted Hunt Club Farm
Hunt Club Farm
Sept. 29 - Oct. 31
Let the fright nights begin! Bring the whole family for the ultimate Halloween-themed experience at Haunted Hunt Club Farm – a festival of terrifying attractions, creepy characters, and ghastly ghouls. This year, experience an all-new Scream Team and Extreme Halloween featured events. The farm’s cast of blood-curdling characters (always at a safe distance) appear when you least expect them for a night of spine-tingling terrors sure to make you scream. If you dare, venture into the haunted cornfields or chance what awaits you in the farm’s wicked woods. For fates, times and ticket information, visit Haunted Hunt Club Farm online.
Town & Treat
Virginia Beach Town Center
Saturday, Oct. 29
Come dressed in your Halloween best and enjoy an afternoon of FREE family-friendly activities during the annual https://www.cbda.net/events/ in Town Center. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., families can enjoy FREE performances by princesses and other special characters, a live DJ. face-painting, halloween crafts, costume contests for both kids and pets, and plenty of trick-or-treating, too! The event, produced by the Central Business District Association, is free and open to the public, courtesy of the business of Town Center of Virginia Beach, Armada Hoffler Properties and the City of Virginia Beach.
Halloween Parade
Along Atlantic Avenue at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Oct. 30
FAMILY-FRIENDLY NIGHTS IN TOWN CENTER
Grab the whole family and head to the Virginia Beach Town Center all month-long for a unique, al-fresco experience!
Movies in the Plaza
Town Center Fountain Plaza
Oct. 7, 14, 21, & 28
Enjoy family-friendly movies at the Fountain Plaza in the Virginia Beach Town Center every Saturday in October. The free outdoor movie series are held at sunset beginning at 6:30 p.m. The films are presented on a large outdoor screen, and the screenings are first-come, first-serve. Bring your own chairs and/or blankets and prepare for an evening of family-friendly fun under the autumn sky. FREE popcorn is also available on a limited, while-supplies-last basis. For a true dinner-and-a-movie experience, plan to dine at one of Town Center’s various restaurants before the show. For event updates, visit the event organizer online. This month’s movie lineup:
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Oct. 7: Frozen
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Oct. 14: Hocus Pocus
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Oct. 21: Super Mario Brothers
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Oct. 28: American Underdog
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
These memorable live performances at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts will have you singing and dancing along.
Disney's The Little Mermaid
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Oct. 6, 7, & 8
In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.” Tickets are now on sale online and at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts box office.
Halloween Spooktacular Heros & Villains
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Oct. 29
Kids and grown-ups! Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume and join the VSO for a ghoulish afternoon of monstrous fun! The VSO and the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform music from some of your favorite films featuring heroes and villains – this concert is more TREAT than TRICK! Tickets on sale online.
HERE’S TO THE BRIDES
Ready to start planning your happily ever after? Virginia Beach has you covered.
Virginia Bridal & Wedding Expo
Virginia Beach Convention Center
Oct. 29
Let an amazing selection of wedding professionals help you find the perfect gown, venue, invitations, photographer, music, menu, honeymoon destination and much more at the Virginia Bridal & Wedding Expo, taking place Oct. 29, from 1:00 - 5 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Convention Centers. FREE tickets are available online now or for purchase ($10) at the door on the day of the event.
FOR THE MIND, BODY & SPIRIT
As the busy holiday season approaches, relax your senses in Virginia Beach…
Moonlightenment Community Festival
Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E.
Oct. 28
Free and open to the public, the A.R.E’s Moonlightenment Community Festival l features dancing, treats for kids, knowledgeable vendors and more – all aimed at helping you nurture your spirit. The thoughtfully curated festival takes place at the A.R.E., from 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. Make it a full day at the A.R.E. and plan to experience lunch at the center’s Graze Kitchen. Visit the A.R.E’s website for more details.
