September 2022
Enjoy one last taste of summer in Virginia Beach! There’s still plenty of coastal fun in the sun to enjoy – from the Oceanfront to the Chesapeake Bay and everywhere in between. Whether you’re looking to make one more beach memory with your family, have a quintessentially VB experience or have yourself a festive Labor Day weekend, you’ll find something to enjoy when you visit us this month.
LABOR DAY WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
There’s still plenty of time to soak up a Virginia Beach summer with these outdoor festivities taking place on the beach this Labor Day weekend.
Live! On Atlantic
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Sept. 1-4
Enjoy live performances and entertainment up and down the Virginia Beach Oceanfront with Live! On Atlantic. Performances take place across Atlantic Avenue – at 17th Street, 19th Street, 24th Street and 31st Street Parks from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. All are free and open to the public. For a schedule of events, visit the event website.
Labor Day Weekend Oceanfront Concert Series
On the Beach at 17th, 24th & 31st Street Parks
Sept. 2-4
Pick your beach, 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 weekly musical performances by the shore during the Oceanfront Concert Series. Bring your beach chair or your beach blanket for an unforgettable evening saluting all things music. The free performances begin at 7 p.m. Visit the event website for the schedule of events.
Sunset Beach Boil
On the Beach at 24th Street Park
Sept. 2
Join the Culinary Institute of Virginia for an authentic Sunset Beach Boil on the sand. Celebrate the end of summer with family and friends during this ticketed culinary experience, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy delicious local fare, North Carolina shrimp, Eastern Shore clams, live music, a cash bar and ocean breezes. Limited tickets are available and may be purchased on the event website ($75/person).
OUTDOOR EVENTS
Soak up some of Virginia Beach’s best under the sun with these outdoor family-friendly events.
SonRise Music Festival
On the Beach at 24th Street
Sept. 16-18
One of Coastal Virginia’s largest inspirational music festivals returns with three days of Christian Rock, Pop, Hip Hop and Dance musical performances, family-friendly activities and impactful speakers. The seventh annual SonRise Music Festival takes place on the beach at 24th Street at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Tickets and a full schedule of events are now available on the event website.
Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show
NAS Oceana
Sept. 17-18
Attend one of Virginia Beach’s most iconic events and The Navy’s largest open house in North America and experience a thrilling showcase of military and civilian aviation performances up in the sky! The Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show welcomes visitors from around the world onboard the Navy’s East Coast Master Jet Base for an unforgettable two-day air show by high-performance aircraft and a salute to the men and women of naval aviation. For a schedule of events, upgraded seating tickets and more information, visit the event website.
NEPTUNE FESTIVAL KICKOFF
The cooler temps of September mark the kickoff to all things Neptune – Neptune Festival, that is – ushering in the 48th anniversary of the Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend and much more.
Fall Wine Festival
31st Street Park at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Sept. 10-11
Join Virginia’s leading vineyards for an unforgettable weekend of wine, food and live entertainment at the annual Fall Wine Festival. Taste more than 60 wines and learn from the purveyors bringing them to life – and purchase the ones you like by the bottle or the case. Your tasting ticket includes entry to the event and a commemorative wine glass. Tickets, including reserved tables, are now available for purchase and expected to sell out.
48th Annual Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend
6th - 36th Streets at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Sept. 30 - Oct. 2
The grand culmination of The Neptune Festival series of events, Boardwalk Weekend – now in its 48th 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. 30 - Oct. 9
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!
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Live entertainment continues to be the star of the show in Virginia Beach with a month-long schedule of live performances that’ll have you singing, laughing and dancing along.
Concerts at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater
Sept. 11: Outlaw Music Festival
Sept. 18: Shinedown
Sept. 23: Zac Brown Band
Summer may be winding down, but there’s still a plethora of concerts to enjoy at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach. Enjoy live performances from some of the world’s most renowned recording artists, either on the lawn or tucked under the comfort of the fixed-seat canopy area. Ticket prices vary; visit the venue’s website for details.
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes Who Do I Think I Am? Tour
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Sept. 18
Laugh until you cry during this performance by comedic sensation Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, who’ll take the stage at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts as part of her nationwide Who Do I Think I Am? tour. The show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased on the event website.
Dr. Seuss at the Symphony
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Sept. 18
Books + music = a perfect combination! Enjoy your favorite Dr. Seuss stories as told by songs and music, as performed by the Virginia Symphony during this unforgettable family-friendly event. Pre-concert activities begin at 2 p.m.; the show starts at 3 p.m. Tickets may be purchased on the event website.
The Music of Burt Bacharach
Miller Studio Theatre at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Sept. 22
Enjoy the music of pop composer Burt Bacharach with the Miller Jazz flavor of Liz Terrell on vocals, Eddie Williams on saxophone, John Toomey on piano, Jimmy Masters on bass and Emre Kartari on drums. The performance, part of the Miller Jazz Series begins at 7:30 p.m. in the intimate Miller Studio Theatre. Tickets may be purchased on the event website.
LAST CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE
September is your last chance to enjoy these unique and family-friendly Virginia Beach experiences before they’re gone.
The Jurassic Encounter Dino Adventure
19th Street & Arctic Avenue
Now – Sept. 5
Dinosaurs at the beach? Seriously! Experience the ultimate dino walk-thru encounter with the whole family. Get up close and personal with more than 45 life-size animatronic and static dinosaurs, including the large-and-in-charge T-Rex, in the heart of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Experience dinos, games, food and much more daily, now through Sept. 5 (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.). Tickets are now available for purchase on the attraction’s website; admission for children under 2 is free.
Maya Lin: A Study of Water Exhibition
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
Now - Sept. 4
Join the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art for its breathtaking and inspiring installation of Maya Lin’s thought-provoking works, including never before-exhibited sculptures and prints. “A Study of Water” focuses on an environmental concern specific to our region, asking visitors to reconsider their relationship with nature at a critical moment. A wide array of public programs will also complement the solo exhibition.
Symphony by the Sea Concert Series
31st Street Park at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Sept. 8
Presented by The Breeden Company, Neptune Festival’s Symphony by the Sea Concert Series season comes to a close with its Sept. 8 performance by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
